Skip to main content

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Scott awesome video. I had been planning to add to my existing table, which is post war/Super O, accessory focused running two trains. The second tier would be standard gauge and the third would be an O gauge elevated prewar tinplate trestle figure eight loop. I wasnโ€™t sure how that would all look, but after seeing your layout/video Iโ€™m now sure that it will fantastic and provide me with enjoyment of running a larger variety of my toys. Thanks again for posting.

Reefers With Asymmetric Advertising - American Flyer Style

  American Flyer's 4 wheeled Morris Reefers can be found with six different ads for Morris products on their lithographed sides.  According to Greenberg's book on Flyer the sides were cut and stamped to shape and delivered to the assembly line in containers.  The people who assembled the cars took two sides at random from the containers and assembled the car bodies.  The end result was a total of 6!/(2!*4!) = 15  possible reefers with different combinations of ads on the car sides.  If we add in the possibility of having the same ad on both sides that gives an additional 6 and, for their Nationwide Line, Flyer also made a Morris car with Nationwide markings giving a total of 22 different cars.

   So, if you really just have to have it all this would be the series to think about collecting.  Of course, if all you care about is having one of each of the car sides with different advertising you could do it in 3 cars.  Add in the Nationwide car and the total would be 4.  I'm still looking for an acceptable Nationwide version of the Morris Reefers and, while I wasn't able to do the 3 car minimum, I did manage to get all 6 sides with 4 cars

Morris Reefers - Side A

Car_AF_Morris_Side_A

Morris Reefers - Side B

Car_AF_Morris_Side_B

    All toys, to some extent, will have elements of the real thing they are representing.  For me, the asymmetric nature of the Morris car ads is particularly interesting because they represent a not too well known practice of advertising seen on the sides of some of the real billboard reefers of the period. As far as I know, the Flyer cars are the only cars to highlight this advertising practice.

  By way of illustration - consider the Atlas Model of the Cudhay Reefer

Cudhay side A

Car_Atlas_36_Cudhay_1

Cudhay side B

Car_Atlas_36_Cudhay_1a

The Cudhay reefer is a little more extreme because it has ads for two entirely different types of product  on its opposite sides, however, there were a number of real reefers with asymmetric advertising for different products from the same manufacturer in the fashion of the Morris reefers.

Attachments

Images (4)
  • Car_AF_Morris_Side_A
  • Car_AF_Morris_Side_B
  • Car_Atlas_36_Cudhay_1
  • Car_Atlas_36_Cudhay_1a
Chris Lonero posted:

Letโ€™s see your tinplate! 

0AA914A4-84BD-41BE-BD9C-C7F26FBEE151

Chris, this is an interesting photo... it reminded me of a picture that I have of my paternal grandfather.  It was taken in 1921 in Osnabrock, North Dakota.  Grandpa had just started working for a farm equipment dealer, and is getting paid.  Grandpa is facing the camera, and the man in the bowler hat is his boss.  Of course, in my photo, the tractor (a Wallis, I believe) is loaded on a four-wheel wagon behind the flatbed truck, and it appears the truck is carrying a plow.  Note the hard rubber tires on the truck, as well as the unpaved street.  In this day and age, where we have amazing trucks and equipment to carry machinery, it is fun to look back and see how much used to be done with such light equipment...

GpaPekarek1921

(In light of the copyright problems the forum has experienced lately, I want to state for the record that this picture belongs to our family and I do have the right to post it here).

Attachments

Images (1)
  • GpaPekarek1921
John Smatlak posted:

Flyer Hiawatha clockwork streamliner, 1936-38. The Greenberg Flyer Prewar O gauge guide notes that there were two variations on the loco- 635 and 637, the difference being the size of the clockwork mechanism. This has me curious- does anyone know how to distinguish the difference?

the Flyer small motor key is usually on the left side.  post a picture of the underside... it's very easy to tell.

Marx produced two lighted cabooses in 6" tin.
from 1939 - 1942, with fixed tab/ slot coupler, the prewar NYC #556...

Marx NYC 556 lighted

and in 1953 for separate sale only, NYC #20102...

Marx NYC 20102 lightred comp

sometimes faked by swapping a lighted passenger car frame, note the rivets holding the window strips which is a detail often overlooked.  the lighted #20102 also sports a #556 style cupola rather than the standard #20102 version.  have never heard of an explanation for that oddity.

i have seen activation switches on either side, but do not know if one of more common.  as you can see, the #556 i have has a right (starboard) side switch, while the #20102 switch is on the left.

cheers...gary

Attachments

Images (2)
  • Marx NYC 556 lighted
  • Marx NYC 20102 lightred comp

This garage structure arrived in the mail with a group of items this week.  A prior owner marked it as Wyandotte on the bottom, with a tag.  I have no knowledge of the maker, other than the tag, which I am not sure is correct.  

All I know is that it looks great next to one of the houses and with a car in it.  Car seems a bit large, but fits.

NWL

Last edited by Nation Wide Lines

Wow! I dont own any tinplate as I have only PW Lionel and compatible. Every time I open this thread I am amazed by the contents and posters. Great stuff gentlemen! Who knows, maybe all the PW and plasticville will find new homes and I may transition to tinplate.   but in the mean time I have a question for NWL, I agree that your new acquisition garage is very neat. At the bottom of your photo appears an aqua plastic convertible. Who may I ask is the manufacturer? Is it O size? Thanks. 

Nation Wide Lines posted:

This garage structure arrived in the mail with a group of items this week.  A prior owner marked it as Wyandotte on the bottom, with a tag.  I have no knowledge of the maker, other than the tag, which I am not sure is correct.  

All I know is that it looks great next to one of the houses and with a car in it.  Car seems a bit large, but fits.

NWL

Pretty sure the garage is Marx

overlandflyer posted:
Nation Wide Lines posted:

This garage structure arrived in the mail with a group of items this week.  A prior owner marked it as Wyandotte on the bottom, with a tag.  I have no knowledge of the maker, other than the tag, which I am not sure is correct.  ...

there are other Wayondotte structures that appear to use a very similar pattern roof...

Notice the Wyandotte roof edges are flush with the walls, the Marx roof edge has an overhang 

Steve

overlandflyer posted:
John Smatlak posted:

Flyer Hiawatha clockwork streamliner, 1936-38. The Greenberg Flyer Prewar O gauge guide notes that there were two variations on the loco- 635 and 637, the difference being the size of the clockwork mechanism. This has me curious- does anyone know how to distinguish the difference?

the Flyer small motor key is usually on the left side.  post a picture of the underside... it's very easy to tell.

Photo of the underside:

Flyer Hiawatha clockwork set 7

Attachments

Images (1)
  • Flyer Hiawatha clockwork set 7
Steve "Papa" Eastman posted:
terry hudon posted:

tinplate "inspired" ish,,,,set  

I'm still disappointed they have not released any add on cars to this nice set.

Steve

same here,,,,wished for some passenger cars,,,but sorta got them with the "new state set" but more freight would be great,,,,i have to admit ,I really didn't think they would make it the 1st place,,boom they did

Add Reply

Post

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×