i'm starting to compile an errata sheet for the "Greenberg Guide to AMERICAN FLYER Prewar O Gauge" (Schuweiler). this is a working copy (actually a 1st draft) for which i'd like to get any opinions, additions or corrections. i certainly don't believe i've caught them all and in fact i'm not even sure i found all the notes i've added to my well worn volume. i will try to add some pictures soon which will hopefully clarify some points.
thanks...gary
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Page 40: photos
type: error
both locomotives pictured are Type VII.
the dates for the heading of the left picture are more correctly (Ca. 1921 - 22)
the caption should more correctly start, "No. 13 Type VII (B) locomotive ..."
the heading for the photo on the right should read:
"Type VII (Ca. 1917 - 1920): Catalog No. 13"
the caption for the right hand photo should read:
"No. 13 Type VII locomotive (A)"
Page 41: 1 LOCOMOTIVE (Type IX cast-iron), etc
type: omission
add to end of description...
(E) Eight spoke stamped-steel drivers with "A.F. 1" below the cab window.
this is not an defective casting. the "A.F. 1" is not a damaged "10" or "11", it is spaced such (on both sides) that it is unmistakably a separate numbered version.
Page 46: Type XVII, etc.
type: contradiction
the second bullet point states, "... the windup has a solid front with a raised button in the center." ... which is correct. however, under the UNCATALOGED LOCOMOTIIVE, etc paragraph it reads, "... operating headlight in boiler front; ..." which is false.
Page 76: 1094 LOCOMOTIVE-TENDER COMBINATION, etc.
type: omission/ error
second paragraph; Type II locomotive: Ca. 1920-25, etc.
"... Order of features on top of boiler: headlamp, rivets, stack, bell, dome, boiler widening, rivets."
should read,
"... Order of features on top of boiler: headlamp, rivets, stack, bell, dome, rivets, boiler widening, dome."
or even more correctly,
" ... headlamp, rivets, stack, bell, dome, rivets around dome, rivets, boiler widening, dome, rivets around dome.
Page 81:
type: typo
top of page reads...
"... the side or 110 Type III tender. ..."
should read,
"... the side or 119 Type III tender. ..."
Page 195:
type: typo
CATALOGED EXPRESS SETS, last paragraph, end of first line reads...
"... the newer straight boiler Type XI casting ..."
should read,
"... the newer straight boiler Type XV casting ..."
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and one that i could use some help on...
Page 39: Type VI, etc
type: omission? error?
this one is the most perplexing. for the Type VI casting, nothing is mentioned of the left side air pump or a change in the casting assembly (a casting assembly pin vs no pin through the dome). both versions are very close to each other with little change in basic casting detail and in fact there are other shell mods that are noted by the author (boiler band, cab roof ventilator and under cab window detail), but i believe there should be two major sub-Types for the Type VI.
i have 4½ examples (one sans motor, shell only) of this locomotive.
the major differences in this Type are...
for the motor...
1) governed vs. non-governed motor
2) 6 vs. 10 spoke wheels
3) brake/ drive rods vs. none
to this i might add that sometime during the production of the Type VI (1916-1919), there seems to have been a change in the motor frame construction. i will try to show this in photos soon.
for the shell...
1) boiler band vs. no boiler band
2) plain vs. ventilator roof
3) red strip vs. no stripe vs. "A.F. 10" below cab windows
and i'll add,
4) air pump vs. no air pump
5) dome casting assembly pin vs. none
Schuweiler indicates three sub-types
0 LOCOMOTIVE (Ca. 1916 - 1918), most notably with a non-governed motor and as he notes "It appears that only the earliest versions came with a boiler band" though the holes in the casting remained in future production.
1 LOCOMOTIVE (Ca. 1919)... the only difference between the 1 and 0 is the addition of a governor to the motor.
2 LOCOMOTIVE (Ca. 1917 - 1919)... Schuweiler indicates this to be the "deluxe" version with drive rods and a brake.
interesting to note that the one picture of a Type VI included in the book unfortunately shows the right side, but with the dome assembly pin and boiler band (not to mention the 6 spoke drivers) i would guess this one was an early version which did not have the air pump casting. a good reason i may not have been mentioned.
without going into much detail, i'll just describe my examples.
all have 10 spoke cast wheels and none have drive rods or brake...
1) the only one i have with no governor. it has a boiler band, a plain cab roof, red stripe and NO air pump and WITH dome assembly pin. old style motor frame.
2) identical to (1) except the motor has a governor and there is no boiler band.
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3) (shell only) no boiler band, plain cab roof, no stripe below the cab window, WITH the air pump casting with NO dome assembly pin.
4 & 5) same shell details as (3) except with the cab roof ventilator. governed motor with new style frame.
probably nothing to do with the basic point i am trying to make, but an interesting note about two of my locomotives with 10-spoke drive wheels. at first it might appear that there are missing drive rods, but actually only one of the rear drive wheels on either locomotive has a drive rod attachment hub cast into the wheel. i tend to classify these assembly blunders as quaint.
generally, i believe there should be a differentiation between what i'd consider the early version (no air pump, dome assembly pin & old style motor frame) and the later version with the air pump, without the dome assembly pin and in the two examples i have with motors, the later style motor frame. i also feel that the cab roof ventilator was a late addition.
of course to base this on only a few examples is mostly speculation and i certainly realize that motors are easily swapped between many similar form-fit AF cast iron locomotives. i'd like to hear from other Type VI owners with the details of their locomotive(s).
thanks...gary
