Fatman, what a great find. The HWN engine and cars is really beautiful. The KD crane wagon is also rather neat. Did you notice on the end of the crane cab was stamped "Made is US zone Germany" over the KD trademark. That would date the toy from 1948-1955 although Arnie has mentioned that toy makers were sometimes slow to remove the "zone" stamp. Beautiful cars/ engines for sure.
Well I thought I would start off the New Year, 2022 with something about one CENTURY old (1922-25) just for fun. These are the Lionel # 603 Pullman and #604 Observation car. Orange body and wood grained doors and trim date these cars from 1922 -1925 (IAW Greenbergs reference on Lionel Trains Vol 1). They have, what I find most interesting, Type 1s "latch / combination" couplers. These were made so that the newer latch coupler cars could be coupled up but the older tab/slot cars could still be attached.
I found these in an Antique Mall in or near Springfield Ohio. It was an enormous place but mostly held furniture (My wife's passion is turn of the century oak much of which we can no longer afford but still love to admire) . These cars were about the only toy / train items I could see and were stuck in the back of a rather dusty display cabinet. After a rather long search for some staff member with a key to that cabinet, they were mine!! They have what Fatman has labeled "Patina" which I like, it shows sometime in the distant past, some young person really played with them to great joy I expect.
Here is the #603 Pullman. Note that both these cars were illuminated which would have made them a premium offering in the day. The lamps on the inside pick up power from center rail contact rollers between the wheels of one of the trucks. With a proper bulb, they still work.
Here is the #604 Observation Car.
The observation railing on the rear platform. Yes I apologize for the accumulation of "patina" (i.e. dust) in the corners.
Here is what I think to be an interesting period detail. The so called "latch combination" couplers. Note the traditional latch coupler which was just beginning to be put onto cars in the 1920's plus the ability to use the older tab/slot type couplers by using the piece that extended outward from the latch.
Well here is wishing everyone a happy and HEALTHY new year!!
Don
