In the late 1950s, Japan was known for producing low cost toys and products for export. The first brass model trains were created during the occupation of Japan by Allied forces. Members of allied forces saw some of the models built by various craftsman and procured photos of American steam locomotive prototypes for these artisans to model. These were the early hand-built high quality brass models, built with relatively crude equipment in comparison to tools that became available later. Some people in the model railroad industry took note of what was being done and started importing these models to the United States. The scale of import increased with time. Bill Ryan of PFM (Pacific Fast Mail) was one of the early importers, and to this day the name PFM is synonymous with brass model trains.