Nile
21 posts
Jul 12, 2011
11:01 AM
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Anybody remember Dayton Model Railways on Wayne Ave, I think? There was also Hobby Haven on Salem and the owner also had a shop on Gettysburg Ave. Christmas time was a special thing for the family to go and I would ogle at the toys. My favorite was Dinky Toys.
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AllenN71
256 posts
Jul 12, 2011
12:00 PM
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Where was Smitty's located? I can't seem to remember except it was where I went to get both complete plastic and kit-form control-line model airplanes.
My first one was a "RUFFY" stunt plane held together with rubber bands so it could be put back together after a crash. Then I got a plastic JU-87 Stuka dive bomber with a third line to launch a plastic bomb. I tried to imitate the famous "Jericho Trompeten" sirens by taking two spent .22 casings, painting them and gluing them to the landing gear, but what I basically wound up with was dog whistles (dogs went nuts when I flew it, really).
I hand-built a Fokker DVIII "Flying Razor", which lived up to the original's rep for instability. It was my first radio-controlled model, and it performed what would have been an awesome aerobatic feat had it not crashed into smithereens.
I belonged to a model airplane club called the "Wingmasters" and most of the guys got their stuff ar Smitty's.
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pie8me
109 posts
Jul 12, 2011
2:04 PM
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From Smitty's web site:
"Welcome to Smitty's Hobby Shop - Dayton Model Railway's Website. 2008 marks our 68th year in the Dayton area. The hobby shop was first opened in 1938 on Salem Ave in Dayton, Ohio, in 1939 the store was moved to Brown Street in Dayton, Ohio.
In 1942 the store moved to 1318 Wayne Ave, Dayton Ohio, there is a picture of the old hobby shop below, in 1950 the shop was remodeled and remained open until 1973 when it was consolidated with the present store in Kettering.
The current Store opened in 1970, and is located at 3706 Wilmington Pike in Kettering Ohio, between Stroop and Dorothy Lane.
Some of the items you will find at Smitty's are the following but not limited to: Ho gauge trains, cars, locomotives, track, building & scenery materials. Plastic model kits, imported military kits, planes, armor, ships and cars. Race car sets and accessories, and Air brush accessories.
Enjoy this site, and please feel free to contact us with your comments"
There was another short lived hobby shop in the plaza where Dot's Market is at Watervaliet and Patterson. Can't remember the name but I remember scoring big during the clearance sale.
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Ol'Roy
3 posts
Jul 13, 2011
5:02 AM
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Newsnot,
I think the place you're thinking of was called The Hobby Center. It was owned by a man named Andy Martin. It was on the west side of Main. Old fire station 14 was a few doors away on the other side of the street.
Ol'Roy
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newsnot
262 posts
Jul 13, 2011
12:05 PM
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hi Ol'Roy,
thanks for the help on the name of the hobby shop. it has been years since i was there. it makes me sick to see what has happened to that neighborhood but that restaurant that is across the street is good. you enter from the back.
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JeffN
410 posts
Jul 13, 2011
9:06 PM
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I think Smitty's is where I bought my slot cars when I was into that.
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Nile
24 posts
Jul 18, 2011
3:00 PM
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When I entered the store, the blood started pumping. It was a real rush. Hobby shops are pretty much all gone now. Now it's Toys R' Us. Not the same thing.
Last Edited by on Aug 31, 2011 7:52 PM
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Riverdale Ghost
212 posts
Jul 18, 2011
5:31 PM
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Going back before most of the people in here, there was once a really great hobby shop just north of where the Tropics was eventually built -- middle of the block there.
Among other things it had these wonderful rubber molds for plaster of paris figurines such as Walt Disney characters. One mixed up the plaster of paris, poured it into a mold, and after it was set peeled off the mold and painted the figurine.
To this day I would love to have some of those again.
----------
 Honest Communications Is The Foundation of Civilizations.
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trolleyfan
19 posts
Aug 08, 2011
6:54 PM
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I was born n 1946 at the corner of Colwick Drive and Martell in Belmont. When i was bout 5, my Dad walked me down the block to Smithville, turn right and across the stree at the corner of Patterson and Smithville was the neatest little hobby shop called Baker Model Supply. It wasn't all that big, but was packed to the brim with airplanes and model Trains. Before Mr. Baker closed the store in about 1958, he had built a really nice HO Train Layout. He also carried Control Line models and all the Jim Walker backyard models like the A.J. Hornet, Interceptor and Firebaby.
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joeferrara
2 posts
Aug 10, 2011
6:23 PM
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There also used to be a small hobby place in Huber Heights in the early 70's, on Chambersburg, near Brandt. Can't remember the name.
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Steve K
186 posts
Aug 23, 2011
6:55 PM
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Somebody I know found a photo of "Smitty" (Gene Smith) and his wife that was maybe 50-60 years old.... I dropped a copy off at the store last week. He seems to be doing well.
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theWiz
6 posts
Sep 11, 2012
11:52 PM
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I work part-time at Smittys, and it's like a dream-come-true!!! My first time at Smittys was in the summer of 1960-we had just moved to east Kettering and a few of us kids would ride our bikes from there thru Belmont and down Wayne Ave. The building they are in now used to be Dooleys Pharmacy. There aren't many stores like Smittys left, the internet has taken away most of the hobby business- I only hope that Smittys can hang on.
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Calhoun
66 posts
Sep 12, 2012
7:53 PM
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What was the hobby shop in Kettering in the shopping center at the corner of Dorothy Ln and Woodman Dr? There's a Dollar Store there now. I remember back in the late 80s/early 90s when it went out of business, they had an auction to sell everything in the store. I bought some books, an expensive stunt kite, and a few other things at the auction.
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theWiz
13 posts
Sep 12, 2012
10:38 PM
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Calhoun-that was called the Toy Train. Back in the mid 60s there was a hobby shop in that strip mall called Hobby Kollege and it was located about where Christophers is now. I spent alot of my school lunch money in there on models.
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Calhoun
67 posts
Sep 13, 2012
6:43 AM
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I remember Hobby Kollege, it was there about the same time as Marlow's Market. Marlow's was in the same location as Toy Train, and now the Dollar Store.
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theWiz
17 posts
Sep 15, 2012
6:09 AM
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Calhoun--if you remember Hobby Kollege, then how about the Royal Cue?? It was between Marlows and the shoe store. I used to win alot of money in there shooting 9 ball!
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Calhoun
68 posts
Sep 15, 2012
6:41 PM
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*laughs* No, didn't visit alot of pool halls at age 5 or 6.
It's funny the things you remember, however. Marlow's had the first rotating converyor I'd ever seen. Up to that point, they were all straight conceryors that just moved your groceries down to the end of the counter and left them for bagging. At Marlow's, they rotated around until bagged. I thought that was neat!
Last Edited by on Sep 15, 2012 6:42 PM
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Calhoun
70 posts
Sep 15, 2012
9:20 PM
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We must have lived within a few blocks of one another back in the day.
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theWiz
20 posts
Sep 16, 2012
10:53 AM
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I lived on the SE corner of Galewood and S Aragon. When we moved there in May 60 there was a wooden foot bridge over the creek and in the early 60s city councilman Stan Krohn was instrumental in getting Galewood cut thru.
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wolfcreek
62 posts
Sep 17, 2012
5:23 PM
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Not a hobby shop, but I got the "heart pumping" feeling going into the old magic shop on Brown Street. Anyone remember that place?
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hunt69
385 posts
Sep 17, 2012
7:12 PM
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I visited the majic shop on Brown St. many times. I lived behind the Westword Ho. I lived at 13 Woodland St.The house
I lived in has been torn down for years.I used to walk through Woodland Cemetary frequently.It is a beautiful place.
Last Edited by on Sep 17, 2012 7:13 PM
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wrgood
2 posts
Sep 18, 2012
11:29 AM
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thewiz,
I remember the hobby shop. I worked at Marlowe's for a couple of years. Lived on Vale Dr. near Blackhawk till
'62.
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theWiz
23 posts
Sep 18, 2012
8:30 PM
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wrgood,
was Mr Stubblefield the manager when you worked at Marlows??
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wrgood
5 posts
Sep 19, 2012
5:19 AM
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Yes. Assistant managers.. Lowell & Jimmy. Stock clerks..Bobby, Dallas, Faine & myself, Bill.
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medvet84
24 posts
Oct 02, 2012
8:03 PM
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If you went to either Ruskin, Cleveland or Lincoln (sorry about the caps), you may have bought a model airplane kit at my fav shop in the '30s or maybe up into the 40s? Believe it or not, located in the basement of a Wyoming street home, south side, about a block west of St Paul. Went to the side door, knocked or rang the bell, most of the time someone opened it or yelled 'come on in' and there it was , basement full of the neatest kit stuff avaiable for the time , floor to ceiling. Don't know what it was called but, to this day, seem to remember a simple hanging sign in the front yard, 'Hobby Shop, side door) If I still lived in Dayton, I might pin down the enterprising individule in a city directory of the time believed he was active. Had to have been between 1935 and 1940. After that, girls had replaced even the thoughts of model plane kits. Before 1930, the most major thing I had built was a 10 cent kite. Maybe it was that Smitty dude?
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theWiz
27 posts
Oct 17, 2012
9:42 AM
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medvet84--your post intrigued me, so yesterday at work I talked to Gene Smith (my boss at Smittys) and he told me that they were the ones who had the hobby shop in the basement. The house was on Emmons in the Hearthstone district, real close to Wyoming. His Dad was the owner, and later they moved the store to Salem Ave. From there they moved to Brown St where the Magic Shop was. Then moved to Wayne Ave. In 1970 another store was opened in Kettering on Wilmington Pk-this store was ran by Don Smith while Gene stayed at the Wayne Ave location. In 1974 Gene closed up the Wayne store and joined Don at the current location. Don is currently semi-retired but still keeps the books and comes by the store 1-2 times a week.
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theWiz
28 posts
Oct 28, 2012
7:02 AM
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For those who haven't heard--last Thursday (25 Oct) Don Smith passed away. Don had been semi-retired from Smittys Hobby Shop for the past 3 years due to health issues. His brother Gene plans on keeping the store going for the time being. I first met Don in June of 1960. Smittys is probably the last of the "old-time" hobby shops in the area, and I consider it an honor to be working there. I will really miss Don......
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olds88
35 posts
Feb 01, 2013
7:07 PM
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There was a hobby store on south main just below the RR bridge.It had hobby stuff on one side and sweepers on the other. They could fix anything.
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Calhoun
93 posts
Feb 01, 2013
8:37 PM
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Don't think anyone has mentioned Knollwood Hobby Shop in Beavercreek. Seems like it was in two or three locations before closing for good. I think it was originially in a small strip mall on the south side of Dayton-Xenia Road, just across the street from the then Knollwood Pharmacy.
At some point it moved into the Lofinos Plaza, late 60s or the early 70s. For some reason I want to say it ended up in the old Knollwood Pharmacy building. Today that building houses a machine shop, a law office, and I think an insurance company.
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Perry401
121 posts
Feb 05, 2013
11:10 PM
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There used to be some type of hobby or train store at the corner of Patterson Road and Smithville. The building is still there. You parked in the "back". They had a model train display, complete with scenery and buildings. I think it was a Lionel but don't know for sure. This would have been in the late 1950's.
There used to be a slot-car "track" in an old building a the corner of Patterson and Woodman. This building was pretty old even then and seemed to have been some type of store before the slot car track people moved in. They had maybe 4-6 parallel tracks and would have races between people who brought their cars in. I think use of the track was free, but they sold cars, car parts, and snacks (to eat while watching the race). The total track length was probably close to 200 feet and there were many twists and turns -- sort of a grand prix type course -- where people would "wipe out" their cars.
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Calhoun
96 posts
Feb 06, 2013
8:00 AM
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There was also a slot-car track in the small strip mall across Allison Ave from the Xenia High School football stadium. As I recall, it was located between a laundry and a Revco Drug Store. As a youngster, used to enjoy watching the cars while the parents were waiting on a prescription to be filled.
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maxed out
388 posts
Feb 06, 2013
9:58 AM
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Calhoun... I remember the slot car track in Xenia... I think it was close to Cassano's and a barber shop. The same shopping center that Scott's was in. Calhoun, are you a Xenia? I graduated in 67 from XHS
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Calhoun
97 posts
Feb 06, 2013
10:38 AM
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Maxed--Lived in Xenia one year (62-63), then moved to Beavercreek. Lived in BC most of my life since then.
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KennyE11
102 posts
Feb 06, 2013
8:14 PM
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I remember a slot car track in Vandalia, off of National Road. Early 70's, I think.
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donm
22 posts
Nov 15, 2013
2:36 PM
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I learned to bild balsa airplanes using kits from the Hobby Shop next to the Tropics. It was really neat to go in and talk to the "old guys" in the store. My dad was fascinated with flying, and had been in the Air Force. He taught all the boys to build models. Some of those skills have come in real handy since then. I have boys of my own now, but they're more interested in video games. I remember one plane we built with a "jet" engine. We lit that off and never did know where it went, but it was awesome to watch it streak through the sky. Sure could use a hobby shop today.........
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Billd1952
133 posts
Nov 15, 2013
7:13 PM
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I had an HO set that I purchased from the Hobby Center, on N. Main St.. I had a nice layout with buildings , scenery the got a divorce. I ended up selling it all. I miss having a layout. I collect diecast fire trucks now, but, they arn't as fun.
I still stop at Smitty's.
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Nile
109 posts
Nov 16, 2013
3:02 PM
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There was a hobby shop on Salem Ave. near Catalpa called Hobby Haven. The owner also had another hobby shop, much smaller, on Gettysburg Ave, also called Hobby Haven that was in a store addition to his house that his wife ran. Not near as much stuff as the main store. I only went in a couple of times. I didn't care much for the wife. Almost like you are bothering her. Toy R Us is just not anything like a good hobby shop. Not many around any more.
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