Golden Gate Model Engineers Guild

History
Ken Shattock writes:

You might say that this was the group that "started it all" in terms of the beginnings of a couple of well-known railway clubs.

The "Guild" was formed about 1930 and had a fairly good sized membership comprised of hobbyists who were interested in electric model railroads, Live Steam model building, Boats, Race Cars and model airplanes.

In 1933, a few members broke away and formed the Eastbay Model Engineers Society whose members modeled in O and HO scales.

In 1936, a few members broke away and formed the Golden Gate Live Steamers.

The model boat builders increased the ranks of the "San Francisco Model Yacht Club" at Spreckels Lake, and so forth.

The name of the club's bulletin, was "The Guildsman".

They would put on public displays by having their models displayed in the windows of major San Francisco department stores such as "The Emporium" on Market Street.



In the photograph shown to the right, we will concentrate on the two(2) RIGHT rows of individuals.

In the far RIGHT row, 2nd person back from the camera (sitting back further than the rest) is "my" grandfather, Victor Shattock ... To his right, 3rd from the camera (leaning out over the front table edge) is Vic's oldest son, Ronald Shattock. (my "Uncle Ron") ...

In the 2nd seated row from the right, the guy at the front, closest to the camera, is "Fred Kraft", a well known modeler at the time.

Right behind Fred (2nd from the camera, with a "#10" near the back of his head, is famous O-scale manufacturer, "Rollin J. Lobaugh" (Standard of the World in O-Gauge)... Rollin also owned and operated the "Lobaugh Screw Machine Products Company" in San Francisco. It was here at this plant that Lobaugh rolled the scale 110-pound brass rail in 1/2-inch scale, for Vic Shattock's Live Steam basement railroad in East Oakland.

The fourth person down the table past Rollin Lobaugh, is well-known modeler and machinist "Boynton Green" ... Boynton modeled in O-scale as well as 2 1/2-inch gauge live steam. He was a respected professor at Stanford University at Palo Alto, CA. Besides "Boynton"-- he also went by the nickname, "Prof Green" ...

Speaking of nicknames, the Guild referred to my grandfather as "Big Smoke" Shattock... My Uncle Ron was known to the gang as "Little Smoke" ...

Ron was very adept at electrical things and because of that, he was responsible for installing the block signal system on his Dad's live steam layout (Vic's) and he also was the one who wired up the 55-inch Turntable that was gear driven by an old IVES electric train motor. Ron also built the bodies of a number of freight cars for the layout. He was also very adept at drafting. In later years, he worked for the Western Electric Company for some 42-years.

Around 1930, the Golden Gate Model Engineers Guild in San Francisco consisted of electric model railroaders, live steam enthusiasts, model plane, boat and model race car buffs. Rollin J. Lobaugh and my grandfather both belonged to the Guild! About 1933, the electric RR buffs split off and founded the Eastbay Model Engineers Society led by Walter I. Brown...

In 1936, my grandfather, Vic Shattock, took his followers and split off from the Guild and created the Golden Gate Live Steamers, the oldest live steam club in the U.S. today!

1932
From The Modelmaker, September 1932


 * The regular meeting of The Guild was held August 4th in the shop of The Lathe Tool Works. Many fine models were shown in course of construction.  Mr. Howard Lathe's triple expansion marine engine promises to be a fine job when finished.


 * At the next meeting officers will be nominated for the next year. It was also decided to hold the Annual Banquet the following month.


 * For full particulars write Mr. Francis J. Sperisen, Sec.-Trease., 166 Geary St., San Francisco, Calif.