Hello All, I just purchased a Frisco caboose made by KMT/Kusan. It should arrive by mail this week. I know nothing about it, and may have inadvertently purchased it, assuming it was HO. From the little I've found, it looks like it may be O. It has a centered cupola, and looks similar to the NEO cabs that the Frisco inherited. If anyone knows anything about this maker or the caboose, please enlighten me! If it turns out to be O scale, and you need one, let me know! Chris
It it is O-Gauge I may be interested I'd need to see photo's first. My Grandparents own an Frisco O-gauge shelf layout so it may fit in. Ship it on the Frisco!!! Murphy Millican
A quick and dirty history of KMT/Kusan. Kusan was the brainchild of Bill McLain in Nashville, Tennessee, who owned a plastic molding business that made auto parts. In 1953 He purchased AMT's (Auburn Model Toys) inventory and tooling - the former having fallen on hard times thru a marketing agreement that went bad. Kusan added new tooling and products to the already existing line. Kusan battled uphill until 1958 when it signed a lucrative marketing agreement with Sears, however, history tends to repeat and Kusan found itself with lots of unsold inventory and returned merchandise. In 1967 the tooling was again sold to Andrew Kriswalus who established KMT (Kris Model Trains). In the early 1980's, the tooling was sold to Williams. Williams sold the Kusan tooling to Muray Klein (K-Line) in 1985, but retained the original AMT tooling.
Well, I just received my KMT Frisco caboose--yes, everyone but me knew it was O scale! It looks brand new, with shine still on the wheel treads. It has the box, but the end flaps are missing. If anyone is really interested in this, please drop me a PM, and I'll see if I can get a pic sent to you. (I'd need about $25 total to cover shipping costs, etc.) Thanks, Chris
