Well it looks like this week is my week for "Tinplate". Today I received this "Little Choo Choo" tinplate train from Distler that I won on an auction on E-bay. I was the only bidder and took the "prize" for $9.99, considering that all the other Distler trains I saw on the internet ranged from $125 -300 I think this was a good price, although the set is clearly on the "toy" side.
Johann Distler began making toys in Nuremberg in 1895 and the company went through similar history of other toy makers in Germany. In the 1930's the original owners of the company were forced out by the Nazi's due to Jewish ownership. Then the factory was 85% destroyed by WWII bombing but they started making toys again right after the war in 1945. From '45 to '49 their toys would be marked "made in the U.S.zone" but after "49 were marked (as this set is) "made in Western Germany"
It is 0 gauge and IAW the Western Division TCA website, Distler switched from 0 to H0 gauge trains ca 1957. So this little guy would likely to have been made between '49 and '57. I have seen similar Distler sets that have been dated 1952 so the 1950's seems like the most likely period of production.
Here is the set in the box, which has suffered some moisture damage and tearing on one corner. Luckily the moisture did not penetrate to the trains and there is little to no rust present on either trains or track.
Here is a close up of the engine, the fixed key for the clockwork motor is on the other side.
Two pictures of the little train in the vicinity of my new Marx freight station. By the way, despite not being close to any prototype in scale, the little train is 0 gauge for sure as I measured it. The curve diameter appears to be about 18" ( 0-18 in "Lionel speak").
Well hope everyone has a good weekend. Best Wishes
Don
