AHM - 4446I - Covered Hopper, 4-Bay, Ribside - Naugatuck Plastics - 15256

Model Information: AHM contracted Roco to use the create the "jumbo hopper" in the late 1960s. The model scales to a prototypical length of about 60 feet. It was marketed in early AHM catalogs as simply a "Covered Hopper", which distinguished it from the "Center Flow Hopper" which is also made by Roco but has a distinctly different appearance. After AHM stopped ordering these from Roco, Con-Cor started releasing the same mold.

Prototype History: Right into the 1960s, grain typically was carried by 40' boxcars. They were difficult to load and to unload, but they had the huge advantage that they could be repurposed for other kinds of freight during the times when not needed for the grain rush. However, the 1960s were a tough time for the railroads. Due to competition from interstate trucking, the railroads were forced to innovate to stay competitive. This resulted in the development of the large volume covered grain hopper. The cars could handle any bulky low-density commodity that needed protection from the elements. Grain was the natural load for these cars, and Southern was a leading innovator with this type of car. They developed the 'Big John' which was quickly emulated by many other railroads.

Road Name History: Due to an increase in the price of sulfuric acid, which was needed to reclaim used rubber at the time, the United States Rubber Co. formed the Naugatuck Chemical Company subsidiary on June 1, 1904. This company started manufacturing sulfuric acid and was soon in the forefront of the chemical industry in the United States. Commodore Elias P. Benedict was the president, the position he held until 1914; James B. Ford was vice president; Charles E. Sholes, secretary; and Matthew Adgate, a veteran of acid manufacture, was plant superintendent. Adgate later became vice president. The plant, which was located on Elm Street and the railroad, had 43 buildings on twenty acres along the Naugatuck River. The company manufactured sulfuric acid, nitric acid, muriatic acid, hydrofluoric acid, acetic acid, nitrobenzene, aniline, and antimony sulfides. This was one of the larger concerns of Naugatuck, employing 160 people.

Brand/Importer Information: AHM is the initials for Associated Hobby Manufacturers, Inc. The company was founded in 1959 as a reseller of other companies' model railroad components. Initially an HO company, they entered into N Scale in the early 1970's as an importer of products made by Roco in Austria. For N Scale products, AHM apparently contracted to use the exact same molds as were used by Roco to produce early Atlas models. They also contracted with Rivarossi to make locomotives.

When AHM went out of business IHC picked up some of their line. Also, at least one body style was taken over by Eastern Seaboard models.

Manufacturer Information: The company was founded in 1960 by Ing. Heinz Rössler and started with a plastic Minitanks series of military vehicles. After export to the USA became successful, the model line was expanded with model trains in HO scale and the smaller N scale. TT scale was also subsequently added to the product line. The model rail product line covers many European countries including Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Spain, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Sweden and the Netherlands, and also the USA.

On July 15, 2005 ROCO Modellspielwaren GmbH was declared bankrupt. From July 25 the company continues as Modelleisenbahn GmbH, but still uses the Roco brand and associated logo. On October 1, 2007, distribution of the 'Minitank' product series was assigned to the German model car manufacturer Herpa.

Since February 2008 Modelleisenbahn also owns Fleischmann, which like Roco had gone bankrupt. The two companies continue as separate brands under Modelleisenbahn GmbH, while benefiting from economies of scale through joined development projects, marketing and procurement.

From Wikipedia