French maker Louis Roussy produced some very interesting toy trains for approximately 30 years ending about 1956. Some history of the product line from the TCA Western Division website: http://www.tcawestern.org/lr.htm
Some pictures of the "Super Rapide" 4-8-2 that I understand is loosely based on the French 241 type steam locomotive. This is a most unusual piece circa 1936- it's an aluminum casting, and the 4 pairs of driving wheels are actually divided between two separate units, only one of which is powered. Mine is missing the pilot and pony wheel assemblies, as well as the pickup for the light on the tender.
At the moment it's not running, although its getting power and the brushes / commutator are OK. The motor is simple enough, but what has me puzzled is the apparent absence of a reverse unit. The armature and field wires instead come over to a set of discs in the second chassis, see the photos. Has anyone ever seen an arrangement like this before? Also very unusual is the use of traction tires on one axle- not something I'm used to seeing on old tinplate.
And finally, are there any books out there on LR?
And a photo of a super mint (or perhaps restored) one found on the internet:
