phrankenstign posted:WFTTRAINS:
When I first started the web-site, my earliest Lionel catalog was from 1960. I didn't think it would be possible to complete a collection from the beginning of the century without a huge outlay of cash. I didn't think going back to the beginning of the postwar period was feasible either. So that's why for at least half a year, I stated the span would be from 1960-present. As I was searching for the ones I was missing, it quickly became apparent buying lots containing multiple catalogs and/or flyers was preferable to buying individual items for two reasons:
- Combined shipping charges for multiple items are cheaper.
- The cost of single items was generally higher.
So......I quickly decided I'd buy lots containing multiple items as a rule. I'd only buy single items if I'd determined the rarity of an item made it unlikely I'd find another similar one easily. So.....as I acquired lots, sometimes I'd end up with duplicates and/or items that didn't fit the criteria:
- Lionel or K-Line
- Catalog or flyer
- Produced from 1960-present
As it turned out, one of the lots happened to contain an HO catalog from 1959. I could have just left it off the site, but I thought, "Ahhhhhh......What the heck?" So I uploaded it, and I changed the range to 1959-present. (The fact I was born in 1959 helped me decide that too!)
In time I may expand the range as you detailed from 1945-present. I may even go back further later. That's something the future me will ponder depending on my drive and my wallet. For now, the range is 1959-present.
I would agree that trying to go all the way back through the pre-war period to 1900 would be costly and time-consuming. However the post-war period you are missing from 1945 to 1959 is relatively short and many of those years are considered to be the finest years of post-war Lionel production whereas the period from 1960 through 1969 represented the decline of post-war Lionel manufacturing. There is still a high degree of interest in the post-war period as there are many Lionel hobbyists that collect and/or operate post-war trains. From a catalog standpoint, those are also some of the most interesting catalogs as many of those cover images have been used to make wall signs and other train-related memorabilia. Plus Lionel produced just ONE consumer catalog each of those years. I don’t recall any “flyers” although they did publish advance and accessory catalogs for many of those years. I’m not sure you are interested in adding those advance and accessory catalogs to your site but acquiring just the consumer catalogs from those years would complete the post-war section of your website and should not be very difficult or costly as most of those consumer catalogs are relatively common and show up frequently at train shows and on auction sites.
Meanwhile I sent you an email with a short list of Lionel catalogs and flyers that I have as duplicates that I don’t see on your site. I also have duplicate K-Line and MTH catalogs but don’t have a list of those yet.
Hope this helps,
Bill
