Hi:

This one is taken from info learned in the Osterhoff book, "The Lionel Trains Fun Factory"

As some of us know, Lionel in its heyday was a company which very much cared for its employees and which took steps to accomodate people with handicaps. In fact, one Charles Giaimo, Lionel works manager, contracted MS and ended up completely paralyzed at an early age, but through shear perseverance remained employed at Lionel. This disability made him all the more sensitive to the plight of a friend's son who was paralyzed as the result of a car accident.

Giaimo put together a box containing toy train items such as e-levers, parts from Airex fisihng reels, train motors,etc. The hand was attached to the box and could be activated by blowing into a small tube. The hand was a glove like device which allowed the person's fingers to move.

Lionel earned a lot of publicity on the hand device and intended to produce the prosthetic device and sell it on a non profit basis for $100.00.

Bob C.

I think an author might be upset about someone giving out his research on line for free especially for a new in print book. I have noticed that this is not the first time for you on this forum with the same book. A review and/or endorsement here would be ok but there are copyright issues involved otherwise. Just a heads up.

quote:

I think an author might be upset about someone giving out his research on line for free especially for a new in print book. I have noticed that this is not the first time for you on this forum with the same book. A review and/or endorsement here would be ok but there are copyright issues involved otherwise. Just a heads up.

Then again, this particular story has been in print before.
I have Mr. Osterhoff's book on order from Barnes and Noble. I am looking forward to receiving it.

Mechanix Illustrated 1955 for original article.

Bob C is at least attributing the source of his material, which is a change from some of his earlier entreaties. Fair use and de minimis copying probably would be affirmative defenses against copyright infringement if Bob O objected. Pragmatically, Bob C's posts may be responsible for more sales rather than lost sales ... and, as I recall, Bob O gave him an advance copy to promote.



What, me worry?

I think Bob C. has been very professional in his references to my book, and his comments on this Forum have been most appreciated. I also appreciate that other participants are interested enough to raise an awareness of copyright protection.

In producing the book, Project Roar Publishing, the publishers, and myself have spent many thousands of dollars in its production, not with the intent of getting rich (we won't!), but to share knowledge with the hobby and hopefully promote the serious study of Lionel Trains. Unlike some of the major book publishers, we are not able to flood the market with advertising. We therefore rely on word-of-mouth to hopefully promote the product.

Initial distribution of the book has been taking place over the past two weeks. Ultimately it will be the readers that decide if the book is a good value.

For those who have an opportunity to read the book, we would welcome any input on this Forum!

Bob Osterhoff
Author, Inside The Lionel Trains Fun Factory

I can tell you that Bob C's posts on this book are the main reason I plan on getting a copy!

I would never have known about the book until I read the posts about it here. I immediately ordered a copy. Regards, Paul Horgan

I love the history of the hobby so I'll be getting the book, thanks to Bob C. The Giaimo story was in CTT some years back.

Yes, we have long long ago discussed the copyright matters in depth. I am not entertaining posts on whether I should post a given topic, and I never have.

As I stated early on, the publisher of the Osterhoff book sent me a review copy just so that I could post newer and different history posts on the site. After 8 years posting many and various topics and with only three deleletions by the webmaster, I will keep my own counsel on what is to be posted. Whatever the webmaster allows is ok.

AND ANYWAY, BUY THE BOOK; it will help out some little kids who are in great need.

Also as I've said before, I have been selective on what parts of the new book I reavel. I plan on one more post on history from the book; to be posted just at York time. I am definitely pushing this book simply because I think that it is a great addition to the hobby and because the author will give over some of the profits to some good little kid causes.

I will also note that I am going paying for the copy of the book that was sent to me.

Actually the young man for whom Charles Giaimo designed the hand was finally able to feed himself some fruit by using the prosthetic device.

Bob and Bob,

Now you do know that after revealing this story, there will be several prosthetic hands on sale at York claiming to be the one and only!

I'll avoid more distasteful comments like, guess what happened when that kid was near a ZW and someone pressed the whistle button?

I'd better stop here!

Bob O., I am very much looking forward to obtaining my copy at York. Thank you.

Jim

JIM:

You bring up an interesting point. Given the nature of the York meet, I wouldn't be bowled over to learn that a Lionel electric hand or two showed up for sale.

As the publisher, I don't have any issues with Bob C.'s posts about stories in the book. They are the equivalent to a movie preview, i.e. they tell you enough about the movie that you want to see it. The standard copyright block in most books says that reviewers can quote brief passages with the approval of the publisher. Bob C. asked both Bob O. and I before he quoted anything.

There is a full page sidebar story in the Electric Hand featuring pictures of the orignal instruction sheet, the hand in use and even a how they marketed it at the American Medical Association Show. It was another example of Lionel's ingenuity and philantropic endeavors.

I've never seen a real one and it would be neat if one did appear at York. You'll never know what you'll find there.

Another fun story in the history of one of America's greatest manufacturers.

Enjoy!

John Schmid - Author Authoritative Guide to Lionel's Promotional Outfits 1960 - 1969
www.projectroar.com

It's really amazing to me just how many non-train things Lionel was into. The hand was just one of them. Before this book by Osterhoff, I hadn't realized just how much Lionel was always invvolved in government contracts even between and after the great wars.

quote:

Giaimo put together a box containing toy train items such as e-levers, parts from Airex fisihng reels, train motors,etc. The hand was attached to the box and could be activated by blowing into a small tube. The hand was a glove like device which allowed the person's fingers to move.

Hmn, a Works Manager at Lionel inventing an electro-pneumatic hand....

From an article by Roger Carp in

quote:

Classic Toy Trains

Magazine "Better living through electricity" May 1996 ppg 120-127, I understood Giaimo got named on THE PATENT for the hand, and Lionel Trains lost an MIT-graduated ENGINEER over that decision. The ENGINEER had also collaborated on the development of MAGNE-TRACTION, then designed a new Headset, a NOISE CANCELING headset/microphone, for the Military when Lionel got a Korean War contract. This ENGINEER, George Vitt,

quote:

WORKED

up a prototype for the hand, using several existing parts including Lionel motors and e-units and a drag mechanism from a fishing reel. His "electric hand" could be activated by air or voice. I have attempted to paraphrase here as much as possible, leaving out many details specified in the article, to avoid cr infringement. After reading this article, I didn't leave with the warm fuzzy impression that Lionel was some sort of big benevolent association, it looked to me to be very much the typical dog eat dog corporation.
I was saddened to learn that Lionel lost the war for talent much like many other companies, too big with too many Peter-principled hacks blocking the paths to success by hiding the genius within. The article's last section, entitled "Justice at Last," concludes by noting that Mr. Vitt was asked to come back to Lionel in the early sixties, after Mr. Giaimo had been let go.

Much much more detail is provided in the article, including pictures of the hand, pictures of the players, the court intrigue that played out, and of course all of this was put in print over 12 years ago by a widely circulated model trains magazine.

If a newbie who just started this hobby a few months ago can learn all this information in his spare time, I am surprised that a book purported to tell at least part of the story of Lionel was not afforded more research on this subject.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Sumgai,

Well, thanks to Robert’s publicity, I have indeed preordered this book. I was not sure where I could get it up here Canada, however, Amazon.ca had it at a great (I think!) preorder price of $23.28 CDN, which I thought was fair. So now I wait!

Don't worry, there's plenty of hard research in this book. And as for the mechanical hand, we now have two stories from which to choose at present, and I choose the Osterhoff story for now. So goes it in the world of Lionel history.

AND, several sources have pointed to Lionel's good treatment of its employees. Lion had about 160 handicapped employees on its payroll during its heyday as well as dental and medical services at work. Also works manager, Mario Caruso, was always said to be concerned about the well being of his people.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: robertconiglio,