Boston & Maine and the Armstrong Company

diningcartim · **Joined:** Fri Sep 20, 2013 2:34 pm **Posts:** 197

I found an old menu for the Flying Yankee that said food service was provided by the Armstrong Company and that they operated the Soda Fountain and Grill at North Station in Boston. Does anyone know anything about the Armstrong Company? Did they just provide food service for the Flying Yankee or did they have a Fred Harvey like relationship with the Boston & Maine?

CPR4000 · **Joined:** Thu Jun 11, 2009 11:07 pm **Posts:** 150

I have a vague recollection that Armstrong ran newsstands and the like (concessions) in New England.

Dave · **Posted:** Wed Apr 08, 2015 11:38 pm

Their turntables were in great demand before powered ones came into wide use.

dave

Brian Norden · **Posted:** Thu Apr 09, 2015 1:23 am

I make a Google search and found that there are a number of references to both the Boston & Maine and the Armstrong Company. There are references to Armstrong operating food service on board the B&M ski trains. Also it appears that on some king of discussion forum on ancestry.com there is mention of Armstrong operating newsstands and concessions at B&M facilities.

diningcartim · **Joined:** Fri Sep 20, 2013 2:34 pm **Posts:** 197

Thanks for the replies. It looks like the B&M used them at a number of their stations where food service and/or news stands were required. I found this legal case against the Armstrong Company that describes their business:

http://leagle.com/decision/194693868FSupp870_1711.xml/WALLING%20v.%20ARMSTRONG%20CO.

These companies that provided food service for railroads are interesting. Fred Harvey was of course the most famous but I have been researching the operations of the Union News Company and the John Murphy Company.

crij · **Joined:** Sun Aug 22, 2004 12:15 am **Posts:** 585

Dave,

From what I have heard Armstrong was never a manufacturer of turntables. Armstrong type turntables, like Armstrong switch levers refer to the need of the operator to have strong arms to operate the switch throws in the signal towers and to manually spin the turntable. As there is no power assist with these systems.

Rich C.

Dave wrote:

Their turntables were in great demand before powered ones came into wide use.

dave

Dave · **Posted:** Fri Apr 10, 2015 12:29 pm

Actually, that was a bit tongue in cheek, along with the badger thing..... I'm gratified somebody took it seriously, though.

dave

JimBoylan · **Posted:** Fri Apr 10, 2015 12:30 pm

Did the same Armstrong company also provide the cork or other flooring for
the passenger cars and eating establishments? Or, did the tongue sandwiches
just taste that way?

crij · **Joined:** Sun Aug 22, 2004 12:15 am **Posts:** 585

Wasn't positive you weren't joking and almost put in `not sure if you are joking or not' Hard to be sure if something is irony when typed.

Rich C.

Dave wrote:

Actually, that was a bit tongue in cheek, along with the badger thing..... I'm gratified somebody took it seriously, though.

dave