overlandflyer posted:there are a lot of old store catalog pages on the internet, so i thought it might be a challenge to see how many advertised sets i could make up. i'd like to keep this string with the theme of prewar tinplate, so if you have something to add, please be my guest. i will probably revisit this topic from time to time if only for my own amusement.
to start it off, a 1923, all American Flyer catalog page from ...
according to Schuweiler's dating, however, most of the drawings represent 1922 production.here is the complete page...
=====+++=====+++=====+++=====+++=====
headed up by the large Type XI locomotive, it is unusual to see a clockwork locomotive pulling 8wh cars. i could probably come up with the track and switches, but i can see right off that the accessories on this page will be a challenge. in 1923, an average labor union job paid on the order of $6-8/ day.
fun stuff...!
cheers...gary
I am a big paperwork person, and especially like the ones that show unusual uncataloged sets that included accessories. American Flyer sold a number of "7000 series sets", with the 7000 numbers denoting uncataloged sets. The original boxes, when found have a 7000 number on the box. Unfortunately, there is little information on these 7000 sets and the only way to find information about these sets is a) finding an original set in the setbox, which can be difficult as dealers have historically switched items over the years or come across empty boxes and filled them with whatever; or b) finding advertisements showing the sets.
Here is a Butler Brothers catalog page showing two 7000 series sets.
Both of these sets are interesting as they are headed by the 3020 and feature Illini / Columbia cars as well as featuring accessories. However, the most interesting set is set 7009, which shows the station flanked by 2 trees. American Flyer did catalog a scenery set, which featured trees, in the early 20s and apparently had some trees left over.
A number of years ago, I acquired a 3020 set from the late David Garrigues at the Great Midwest Train Show in Illinois. At the time I bought it, he stated that he had recently acquired it from the original owner's family. I bought the set because it had a nice dark green Illini observation car, which are somewhat difficult to find, as American Flyer introduced the observation cars in 1925, with the early series of Illini cars being dark green and sometime c. 1925 switching the Illini car coloring to light green. Oddly, the set I purchased features a dark green baggage, light green coach, and dark green observation. The next month at the show, David offered me a box full of boxed track and switches and 2 trees that he said came with the Illini set that I had purchased. I purchased the group and noted that the boxed track was all marked with Butler Brothers numbers. It was only later that I connected my Illini set and the two trees to the above advertisement. Once I had made the connection between the Illini set, the trees, and Butler Brothers marked track and this advertisement, I asked David if there were any accessories that came with the set, when he bought it. He indicated that there were some accessories, but he did not recall the specific items.
I realize that the advertisement for the 7009 set indicates that the set came with maroon engine/cars (ie the Columbia series cars), but having acquired the set with the green 3020 and cars, I suspect that they ran out of Maroon engine/cars (as American Flyer phased out the maroon Columbia cars c. 1925) and substituted a green set.
In late 2017, I began buying display cases and filling them with sets that came with accessories. When filling the 3rd cabinet, I came up with an extra shelf and decided to put this set together, based on the Illini set and two trees and history of the set that was related to me by David Garrigues.
NWL
