American Flyer at York

Hi Jim and thanks for starting this thread - hope we'll see some nice pieces posted.

I had Flyer as a boy (1949 Christmas with a #310 K5 freight set) and slowly added to it each year. Never had a layout and traded the trains off in high school for a cheap electric guitar.  When I returned to the hobby in 1987 with a retail hobby store I knew nothing of Lionel's numbering system or 3 rail operation and dove in full bore. Picked up a few Gilbert pieces along the way plus the 'new' Lionel Flyer sets as they became available.  Rarely saw Flyer at regional trains shows in the New Orleans/Gulf Coast area until I finally made it to York about 10 years ago. WOW - was I amazed at some of the inventory several dealers had out on display!  Items I had never seen in person prior. Is there still that much Flyer on the tables today?  

Still a lot of Gilbert AF at York. Great prices too. If I had gone to York in the mid eighties I most likely would have gone with  Flyer instead of Lionel. Flyer is what I loved as a kid.

There was a good amount of American Fly available.  I receive my first set in 1955. I still have it and it runs as good as new.  I found most of what I was looking for.  It was a great show.

Here are a couple of pictures of my Flyer collection.

Does anyone notice the two older guys who always have large amounts of Flyer for sale in the Orange Hall?  Each of their items is wrapped up in clear plastic, labeled with sky high prices.  I assume they end up taking all their stuff home after each meet and bringing it back 6 months later.

Jim Sutter, Just how long did it take to amass that Flyer collection?

Gunny

I had my three trains my mother and father bought me from 1948 to to 1960. In 1970 I started buying. Gunny, it took about twelve years. Then in 1982 I sold it all. In 1981 my wife and I opened our store. We retired on December 31, 2010.