Steve "Papa" Eastman posted:Because I’m not right in the head, just bought this for some parts. Need a complete shell?
Steve
Steve that construction crew has really been busy on that “Metropolis” that has been erected in the background. Really looks great.
Fatman: Possible ... hard to tell as Hornby (iaw the data I have) modified the M3 body to be identical for both cow and electric I will look closer at the mechanism however and compare it with my other 20v motors
The only good thing I can say is that IF they are Marx motors I know why they are such good and reliable operators! 
Don
Fatman. I am the victim of “spell check “. In my post above it should read “cw” for clockwork not “cow”. I guarantee what ever they are these loco ‘s don’t MOO !
Don
For my birthday, I found 3 un-opened, new old stock, American Flyer prewar accessories. What better present could I have found for myself? Photos coming.
NWL
Nation Wide Lines posted:For my birthday, I found 3 un-opened, new old stock, American Flyer prewar accessories. What better present could I have found for myself? Photos coming.
NWL
Happy Birthday!🎉🎁🎊🎂🎈
George
George S posted:Nation Wide Lines posted:For my birthday, I found 3 un-opened, new old stock, American Flyer prewar accessories. What better present could I have found for myself? Photos coming.
NWL
Happy Birthday!🎉🎁🎊🎂🎈
George
Thanks!
Here is a teaser from the group. This represents the 1 box that the seller opened to check the item
Note the original wrapping paper behind it.
NWL
Don McErlean posted:Fatman: Possible ... hard to tell as Hornby (iaw the data I have) modified the M3 body to be identical for both cow and electric I will look closer at the mechanism however and compare it with my other 20v motors
The only good thing I can say is that IF they are Marx motors I know why they are such good and reliable operators!
Don
Hi Don I grabbed the photo of the loco drive mechs from the sale
I was being quite subtle in my original post (lol) but these are 100% Not Hornby drive units
The wheels look very much like those on my British Marx ( which used USA supplied Marx motors )
I am not Au Fait with USA electric Marx in all their variations as I only have one old nasty CV electric in storage .
but British Marx as below ...
The Guy did a good job making them blend into the loco shells tho 
Oh and Happy Birthday @Nation Wide Lines
Rich Wiemann posted:Steve "Papa" Eastman posted:Because I’m not right in the head, just bought this for some parts. Need a complete shell?
Steve
Steve that construction crew has really been busy on that “Metropolis” that has been erected in the background. Really looks great.
Thanks Rich. The long delayed garage door fiasco is over and I can now start modifying and re populating the layout. Everything had to be removed so the installers could work on top and under the layout. Add to that 3 months of mostly rainy days made storing stuff outside difficult.
Steve
Fatman : You are clearly correct. The drive system is some variant of Marx and not original Hornby. I took the time to contact an acquaintance of mine who is far more expert in UK Marx and sent him some pictures of the drive system for his comments. He agreed that the drives are Marx and reiterated that all the Marx motors were made in the US and exported for UK production. He told me that re-powering clockwork loco's with Marx electric drive was relatively common in UK primarily because of the cost of the Marx components (low) and their reliability and durability. In fact he related that he had friends that traveled to York each year and gathered up $5-10 Marx loco's especially to take the motors home and install them in other makes. He said that the motors were sized such that they fit in a number of European and UK makes including Bing!. So we clearly have a Marx motor.
He did relate that he was unaware of an UK Marx that used the 3 gear reduction drive and indeed the pictures of your UK Marx loco appears to have a 4 gear system. Thus it is likely that the entire drive is US. I checked my US Marx locos and the 3 gear system seems common although with Marx who knows what other variations exist.
He did feel that the re-powering job appeared quite good and that the fit was good and this was my feeling as well. There does not seem to be one extra hole or new slot or fastener in the loco shell to accommodate the motor. In fact just the opposite, the end plates appear to have supporting slots for the frame ends in just the right place. So they are either Hornby motor sides or a very good job of fitting them out, or a very lucky fit.
The drive rods continue to mystify me. Marx seemed to favor rods that were just flat pieces of metal and these are obviously embossed. In addition, they have been modified to take the piston pins through the cylinders, which is also not a standard Marx practice. So perhaps there is one small piece of original Hornby in the mix but who knows.
So we have a trio of "HornBarx" hybrid locos. Yet when I purchased them I did realize that because of the paint jobs they were a long way from being of high collectable value. The green / black (SR?) engine is best with what appears to be its factory tinplate finish and no re-paint, the black is next with a good but clearly aftermarket spray job and the dark green one is hopeless in terms of finish, seems like a young boy took his dad's paint and brush and some old heavy green kitchen enamel and did a job ! I wanted them primarily because I had a number of Hornby "wagons" and "coaches" but no motive power except clockwork and on my layout if the clockwork loco runs out of power in a few spots getting to it can be a chore. Thus, although I admit to not noticing right off the bat that the power pick up was clearly Marx, it was their operating capability that was most important and if they just looked like UK locos that would be good enough. In fact after testing, I can report that all 3 work fine including the reversing mechanism. So after thinking about it and realizing that just like those fellows in the UK I now have some very reliable Marx electric powered UK type tank locomotives with fully functional remote reverse, I can say that I am well satisfied.
Fatman as always I learn a great deal from my correspondence with you, thank you. I realize in Australia its already early morning tomorrow (Thursday, 4/16) so maybe you can read this with your morning coffee !! When I worked for the US Navy I visited Sydney and Canberra a few times especially on the Australian F-18 program and we sometimes had Royal Australian Air Force engineers spend up to a year with us in our offices in the US (great fellows, both very smart and lot's of fun!) !
Best Regards
Don McErlean
OOOPS I forgot one thing...HAPPY BIRTHDAY NWL!!
Please show us pictures of your new presents!
Respectfully, Don McErlean
I just got a cool original Lionel 61 street lamp. Not sure what year it was made (my guess 1916-1917) but it still works great and looks great for it’s age. And it’s only getting harder to find original early standard gauge pieces.
take a look:
Trainfam
The light especially looks good with the lights off and a engine, in this case a 42, underneath.
take a look:
The street lamp reminded me of a old photo taken in front of the Lionel Irvington factory on 21st street. The photo was taken in 1925, around the time the lamp was made, although the light was first produced in 1915. In the photograph, all of the factory workers are standing in front of the main entrance of the factory. And above the factory workers, on the electrical pole, there is a street light. Is this the inspiration for the 61 and 67 street lamp? After all it is in-front of the factory’s main entrance. Just a theory...
The street lamp is circled in red:
Trainfam
Don McErlean posted:OOOPS I forgot one thing...HAPPY BIRTHDAY NWL!!
Respectfully, Don McErlean
Don,
Thanks.
Here are the photos. I did not want to post photos of everything, until I actually received the items.
In researching the date of the items, I focused on the first 3 items, all of which had been opened by the seller (at least that was my understanding).
First off
a box of curved 1/2 sections of track, numbered 622
and a similar box of 1/2 sections of straight track, numbered 621
As these were boxes of 1/2 sections of track I figured they would be somewhat unique. I also noted the black ties on the track, which is somewhat unusual for Flyer track, but I knew that late production track used black ties. I researched all of my dealer's price lists and numbers 621 and 622 first appeared in the 1936 price lists and also in the 1937 price lists.
Next up is a box of full length straight sections
The box of full length straight sections provided the key to dating the items. Full length straight track using the 681 number only appears in the 1937 dealer's price list.
So what did I get, besides the track?
The group included three 2218 block signals and a 2206 crossing signal. Only 1 of the 4 signals had been opened, the other 3 boxes remain factory sealed. The seller indicated that they had opened the 2218 in the group for photographs.
The dilemma now is to open or not? For now, I think not.
The 2218 block signal that was opened is as follows:
You can see that the bugs got into the box and feasted on the instructions, so these are definitely not perfect, but this item has to be at least C-8 condition.
With the decision to leave these items unopened, I am left wondering...Is Schrödinger's cat alive or dead? Are all of the 2218 block signals dark green? or is there a red one in the mix? What color are the die-cast light holders on the 2206? blue or green? are the die-cast light holders on the 2206 in perfect condition? or are they suffering zinc pest and rotting?
NWL
Yesterday, I received and unboxed the TCA 1988 San Francisco Convention cattle car and added it to my freight fleet. This was a good deal at $48 on EBAY plus $10 shipping. It was a brown box special, wrapped in orange spongy foam. It looks brand new, and seems unrun. I really like the colors, buff tan sides and light blue roof, with nickel trim. I didn’t own a cattle car, it was a nice addition to the fleet. Most of my freight fleet is TCA Convention cars, because I like the TCA, I really like the very colorful art work, and they are pretty cheap on EBAY.
On the maiden run, the wheels were squeaking like a banshee. So, I hit them with Labelle 102 oil on the outboard side of the wheel where the axle enters the truck side. That reduced the noise some, but they still squeak. I gave up for the night. This morning I did an OGR search for “squeaky wheels” and found this in a closed thread from 2013, Papa says “On a new piece, I put a very small drop of oil at both sides of the wheel. After that usually only at the outside (face) of the wheel”. That did it, oiling the inboard side of the wheel stopped the squeaking completely! Thanks Papa and the OGR Forum!
Happy Camper!
TrainFam posted:
The street lamp reminded me of a old photo taken in front of the Lionel Irvington factory on 21st street. The photo was taken in 1925, around the time the lamp was made, although the light was first produced in 1915. In the photograph, all of the factory workers are standing in front of the main entrance of the factory. And above the factory workers, on the electrical pole, there is a street light. Is this the inspiration for the 61 and 67 street lamp? After all it is in-front of the factory’s main entrance. Just a theory...
The street lamp is circled in red:
I would guess no, since this one is on a utility pole. There were a lot of free-standing streetlights around to serve as inspiration.
NWL: WOW..."Schrodinger's Cat" I have not heard that since advanced physics in graduate school (a very, very long time ago!). Never heard it applied to toy trains, what a HOOT man! I do not have a solution to your dilemma. I once bought a Marx 999 loco (at least when I bought it that is what it was described as by the seller) and it was sealed in a mailing box that had been sent from the Marx plant in Gerard, Pa to Allied Toy Distributors in New York, New York. There was no date but the lack of "zip" code and the form of the NY address would date the box from about the 1950's. Although a mailing box not a product sales carton there was a historical aura to the box and it was definitely sealed as shipped (seal and tape undisturbed). The question, like Shrodinger's Cat as you said, was did the box contain a 999 or not? and if so was it "new" as imagined by the seller or not? Well long story short, I could not resist opening the box and did indeed find a "new" 999 engine and tender. Why was the factory at Gerard sending a huge toy distributor like Allied a single engine? I suspect that a customer of Allied had gotten a defective or failed engine and Allied was securing a replacement for their customer. That was some time ago when I was much younger in the collecting hobby, whether or not opening the box was the right decision I am not sure, not sure I would have made the same decision today. I once saw (at York) a sealed carton for a Lionel Santa Fe F-3 with the Lionel factory tape still intact. The owner had kept it sealed and had managed to get an X-ray picture of the contents and it was certainly an F-3 by its shape but of course you still could not determine condition or even if it was a Santa Fe.
By the way, thank you for posting the pictures of the Block Signal and the track. We often don't think about track yet it is fundamental to our hobby and very interesting when you find it in such original condition. I certainly had never encountered boxes of "new" track like you posted. A question...if Flyer used small cardboard insulators (like Lionel did) to electrically isolate the center rail from the metal tie, are those on your original track still in good shape? I have encountered difficulty in using "old" Lionel track in that the cardboard sometimes is missing, oil soaked, or so dried out that it no longer insulates and you get a short. This became such a nuisance in my current lay out that i just bought all new from MTH and removed all the old track.
Thanks for sharing
Don McErlean
NWL - one possibility if opening them is too much to endure - try for X-rays - they should give you a good check on possible zinc pest. As for color - how about one of those very small light pipes that allow you to look around corners (like the one's they use in some of the adventure movies like Jackie Chan's movie The Foreigner? ...and yes, I'm having some fun....well sort of.
I can't vouch for the issue of the light pipe but a very long time ago I was invited over to see a collection of one of the local train collectors. I arrived at his house, was escorted down to the basement, and there on shelves along all of the walls were factory sealed train sets and accessories...and along with each was an X-ray picture of the contents. At first I thought he was kidding....but he wasn't.
Will posted:TrainFam posted:
The street lamp reminded me of a old photo taken in front of the Lionel Irvington factory on 21st street. The photo was taken in 1925, around the time the lamp was made, although the light was first produced in 1915. In the photograph, all of the factory workers are standing in front of the main entrance of the factory. And above the factory workers, on the electrical pole, there is a street light. Is this the inspiration for the 61 and 67 street lamp? After all it is in-front of the factory’s main entrance. Just a theory...
The street lamp is circled in red:
I would guess no, since this one is on a utility pole. There were a lot of free-standing streetlights around to serve as inspiration.
True. If you search for old New York City street lamps on google you’ll find many street lamps that look similar to the number 61. It always has intrigued me about where Lionel got there inspiration for these accessories and locomotives. Like the 42 being based off of the NYC s1 locomotive, Fascinating.
Oh, and happy birthday NWL!
Trainfam
Robert S. Butler posted:NWL - one possibility if opening them is too much to endure - try for X-rays - they should give you a good check on possible zinc pest. As for color - how about one of those very small light pipes that allow you to look around corners (like the one's they use in some of the adventure movies like Jackie Chan's movie The Foreigner?
I can't vouch for the issue of the light pipe but a very long time ago I was invited over to see a collection of one of the local train collectors. I arrived at his house, was escorted down to the basement, and there on shelves along all of the walls were factory sealed train sets and accessories...and along with each was an X-ray picture of the contents. At first I thought he was kidding....but he wasn't.
NWL, I think Robert is on the right track here. Before opening the box, I would try to see what's inside by using one of those inspection cameras used in automotive and plumbing work. The designs vary in terms of the diameter of the camera/light probe. You can get them as accessories for phones as well.
Nation Wide Lines posted:Don McErlean posted:OOOPS I forgot one thing...HAPPY BIRTHDAY NWL!!
Respectfully, Don McErlean
Don,
Thanks.
Here are the photos. I did not want to post photos of everything, until I actually received the items.
In researching the date of the items, I focused on the first 3 items, all of which had been opened by the seller (at least that was my understanding).
First off
a box of curved 1/2 sections of track, numbered 622
and a similar box of 1/2 sections of straight track, numbered 621
As these were boxes of 1/2 sections of track I figured they would be somewhat unique. I also noted the black ties on the track, which is somewhat unusual for Flyer track, but I knew that late production track used black ties. I researched all of my dealer's price lists and numbers 621 and 622 first appeared in the 1936 price lists and also in the 1937 price lists.
Next up is a box of full length straight sections
The box of full length straight sections provided the key to dating the items. Full length straight track using the 681 number only appears in the 1937 dealer's price list.
So what did I get, besides the track?
The group included three 2218 block signals and a 2206 crossing signal. Only 1 of the 4 signals had been opened, the other 3 boxes remain factory sealed. The seller indicated that they had opened the 2218 in the group for photographs.
The dilemma now is to open or not? For now, I think not.
The 2218 block signal that was opened is as follows:
You can see that the bugs got into the box and feasted on the instructions, so these are definitely not perfect, but this item has to be at least C-8 condition.
With the decision to leave these items unopened, I am left wondering...Is Schrödinger's cat alive or dead? Are all of the 2218 block signals dark green? or is there a red one in the mix? What color are the die-cast light holders on the 2206? blue or green? are the die-cast light holders on the 2206 in perfect condition? or are they suffering zinc pest and rotting?
NWL
What a find!
If they were mine, unless I planned to sell them soon, I would arrange for a series of "Christmas mornings" - open one at a time and savor the pleasure of time travel. Why not enjoy your good fortune?
O Gauge Guy posted:Robert S. Butler posted:NWL - one possibility if opening them is too much to endure - try for X-rays - they should give you a good check on possible zinc pest. As for color - how about one of those very small light pipes that allow you to look around corners (like the one's they use in some of the adventure movies like Jackie Chan's movie The Foreigner?
I can't vouch for the issue of the light pipe but a very long time ago I was invited over to see a collection of one of the local train collectors. I arrived at his house, was escorted down to the basement, and there on shelves along all of the walls were factory sealed train sets and accessories...and along with each was an X-ray picture of the contents. At first I thought he was kidding....but he wasn't.
NWL, I think Robert is on the right track here. Before opening the box, I would try to see what's inside by using one of those inspection cameras used in automotive and plumbing work. The designs vary in terms of the diameter of the camera/light probe. You can get them as accessories for phones as well.
Based on the way that the one opened 2218 was wrapped tightly in paper, I suspect that the suggestion of using a small camera would not show anything, other than paper wrapping. But it was a great thought.
NWL
The dilemma now is to open or not? For now, I think not.
What an interesting conundrum and one I'm sure a great number of us would love to have. While the prospect of a color variation is tantalizing, unless you have a specific need for those signals on a layout then I don't really see the upside to opening them. If it were me and I opened them to find they were all the same I would regret it. You already have the one example to study and admire and you can't feel guilty about that one since it was already opened.
There's something magical about a nearly century old unopened box and once opened, some of that magic is lost.
Of course this is just my way of thinking, it's a great find either opened or unopened.
Nation Wide Lines posted:Don McErlean posted:OOOPS I forgot one thing...HAPPY BIRTHDAY NWL!!
Respectfully, Don McErlean
Don,
Thanks.
Here are the photos. I did not want to post photos of everything, until I actually received the items.
The group included three 2218 block signals and a 2206 crossing signal. Only 1 of the 4 signals had been opened, the other 3 boxes remain factory sealed. The seller indicated that they had opened the 2218 in the group for photographs.
The dilemma now is to open or not? For now, I think not.
With the decision to leave these items unopened, I am left wondering...Is Schrödinger's cat alive or dead? Are all of the 2218 block signals dark green? or is there a red one in the mix? What color are the die-cast light holders on the 2206? blue or green? are the die-cast light holders on the 2206 in perfect condition? or are they suffering zinc pest and rotting?
NWL
So, I had to go look up Schrödinger's cat. I guess I didn't get this far in my Physics studies...
However, if I understand the theory correctly, the 2218 block signals in the box are both red and dark green. The light holders are both blue and green and the light holders on the 2206 are both in perfect condition and rotted from zinc pest at the same time, at least until you open the box.
George
Yup, that's pretty much about it lol. I think that is what baffled me about the old TCA grading, you could have an excellent 263E, but with a warped but still one piece frame and it was still excellent.. It was worthless to run.... but if you swapped frames, some would argue it was worth less than with the warped frame because you touched it. Not all viewed it that way, but there were those that did... drove me nutz, but I was never buying super nice stuff then anyway lol
G-Man 24 : What an interesting philosophy, when I read your post I thought, "now there is a man who would appreciate the dilemma of Shrodinger's Cat! "
NWL: I was thinking as I read about the idea someone put forward of using a "flex scope" (this is what we called a fiber optic scope in the USAF , we used them to inspect the turbine blades and stators on jet engines w/o disassembly). The comment that all you would see is the paper wrapping may be true. Then I remember that I have seem something very similar to the flexible scope but it had a tiny claw or fingers on the end. Perhaps using a tool like that along with the visual inspection tool would allow you to move aside the paper wrapping and see the item.
One other idea, although not as "pure" ... you could find an obscure location on the box, like say the center of the bottom, and carefully open an "inspection port" to allow you to determine the contents.
You have quite the choice to make, I hope you tell us what you decide to do...the tension is mounting 
Best wishes Don McErlean
I made a D&H observation car from another train show junk car. Now I have to get around to making the rest of the train. Can't show the other side since it's missing the door, which is a part I'm looking for if anyone has one.
Craignor posted:
Yesterday, I received and unboxed the TCA 1988 San Francisco Convention cattle car and added it to my freight fleet. This was a good deal at $48 on EBAY plus $10 shipping. It was a brown box special, wrapped in orange spongy foam. It looks brand new, and seems unrun. I really like the colors, buff tan sides and light blue roof, with nickel trim. I didn’t own a cattle car, it was a nice addition to the fleet. Most of my freight fleet is TCA Convention cars, because I like the TCA, I really like the very colorful art work, and they are pretty cheap on EBAY.
On the maiden run, the wheels were squeaking like a banshee. So, I hit them with Labelle 102 oil on the outboard side of the wheel where the axle enters the truck side. That reduced the noise some, but they still squeak. I gave up for the night. This morning I did an OGR search for “squeaky wheels” and found this in a closed thread from 2013, Papa says “On a new piece, I put a very small drop of oil at both sides of the wheel. After that usually only at the outside (face) of the wheel”. That did it, oiling the inboard side of the wheel stopped the squeaking completely! Thanks Papa and the OGR Forum!
Happy Camper!
I got that one too a few years ago. The red and cream colored refrigerator car is another nice one - those seem to always be on ebay. For cheap.
Jim
Here are two little stations by a company called J. Chein & Company (yes the "& Company" was always included in the name). Despite having an oriental sounding name, the founder Julius Chein started in 1903 in a loft in NY City making premiums for "Cracker Jacks". The company lasted until the 1980's (although the founder died in the 1920's in a horse riding accident in Central Park). It was a very successful producer of tin toys especially trucks, circus toys and miniature carnival rides. While these two stations will not show it, by the 1950's their skill in multi color lithography as illustrated in sand pails, water toys, play dish sets, and the such would be rivaled in the US only by Marx.
The two stations, although very different in lithography are identical in both size and general pattern of the stamping and construction. The platform measures 5 1/2" X 4" . The house, not including the platform, measures 4 3/4" X 2 1/2 " and 4 7/8" from the base to the roof peak. Based on the lithograph technique and the clothing and jobs depicted, I would date these stations to the 1920's.
As you will see, the windows and doors are just shaped holes punched into the tin sides. In the case of what I call the "brick" station, the separately applied sign reads..."Parkville Station" (sorry about the light spot in the photo). The main station building is lithographed in a brick pattern on all sides but the roof is lithographed in a tile pattern. Base, separately applied is green and only has a depth of about 1/8". Both stations are similar if not identical.
Here is the side of the brick station, the other side is the same. 2 windows and a circular attic vent. The whiteish circle under the left hand window is the J.Chein & Company logo and it also contains the words "manufactured in the U.S."
Here is the rear of the station. It contains the identical 2 windows and a door as the front, but no sign on the roof.
Here is perhaps a more colorful example, it is labeled in lithographed lettering over the 2 windows on the right "Toy Town" but does not have a roof sign. In addition, as different from the brick station above, the overall finish of this station is matt or flat as opposed to the shiny finish of the station above. Why...who knows? Perhaps that was needed for the multi-color work at the time these were manufactured.
Note that the actual building and the punched holes are nearly the same although the lithography is completely different from the brick station above and is much more colorful and two windows are depicted in the lithography rather than punched out.]. It is in 3 colors red, yellow and blue and contains considerable detail including in front two "suitcases" on the platform and a set of simulated steps up into the station and some sort of notice or schedule board to the right side. Also depicted are brick or stone arches over the windows.
The other cool thing about this station is that the lithography is NOT the same on the two sides. Here is the left side which just contains two windows which are NOT punched out (unlike the brick station) but are pictured much more elaborately in the litho design. Note also the repeat of the name "Toy Town" and the red outline around the attic vent and the J.Chein logo on the left side.
Here is the left side of the station and pictures the Telegraph Office. Note the detail depicted of the interior of the office. It contains the telegrapher including his suit and tie and green eye shade, a clock on the wall (essential to telegraphy) and the message board, likely displaying incoming telegrams that customers have yet to pick up or which have not yet been sent out with the delivery boy. To me, his clothing and the office depict a setting sometime in the 1920's.
Finally here is the rear of the Toy Town station and is yet another lithographed design. This one depicts the "American Railway Express" and Baggage windows. Note that the name is not exactly correct. REA as it was known stood for Railway Express Agency not the name pictured on the design. I suppose this could be an error or more likely the fact that J. Chein did not have permission to use REA's name. This side also includes considerable luggage on the platform, a scale, and a door to the inside.
The American Railway Express Agent is hard at work inside weighing and tagging luggage.
I do not know if these stations came with any trains, although it is likely that they did. I am unaware if J. Chein made any track trains, but given their extensive line of tin toys it is likely that they made floor toys. Yet I don't really know. The company went out of business in the 1980's when the last of the original patriarch's died and the US Government started the regulation and in fact ban of tin toys due to the possibility of injury caused by sharp edges.
Hope you liked my little stations.
Don McErlean
Hey y'all,
I bought a rough No. 805 box car on the bay. Eight dollars. I can replace the missing door on my good one. The car had a tough life. The body will find a home on my layout. I also bought a MARX #418 crossing bell. It's not here yet.
Wow Bill, that is quite a bend in that frame!! You know properly weathered, old box cars make great work sheds or maintenance sheds or just storage sheds in the yard area. In fact I think "Plasticville" even marketed a kit that sort of resembled an old box car as a storage shed.
Don McErlean
Don McErlean posted:Hope you liked my little stations.
Don McErlean
Don always enjoy your photo essays and the history lesson that accompanies them. There were probably a dozen or so people involved with producing one of those little stations from designers to artists, tool & die makers , machinists, lithographers, assemblers, etc. I'm sure they all took pride in their work but never could they have imagined that 100 years later people would still be taking such an interest in their creations .
Thanks to you and others like you for helping to preserve the history.
G-Man
G- Man24 Thank you for the complement. I do enjoy tracing the history of our early trains and I am glad you enjoyed it as well. You are correct, these little stations and the trains that went with them involved many people and I bet they were proud of these little guys. I also suspect that you are also right in the fact that they would be amazed that 100 years later folks would be talking about them after all it was the "roaring 20's" and everything was focused on the future not looking back. Thanks again.
Don McErlean
Chein made numerous floor trains and the first shed you pictured was available with four different station signs, Parkville, Glenwood, Glendale, and Grove. Toughest to find Chein includes the freight set and small trains that shared many elements with the Ohio Art floor sets, the Parlor Car and the Saratoga Pullman. Three locos, the 999, the 80 and the 714 that I am aware of. You notice one of the coaches in the 4-car floor set has wooden wheels rather than hollow balloonish wheels. That coach is Ohio Art who also offered a circus train set.
JimO'C : thank you for posting. Given J.Chein's postion as one of the early 20th century producers of tin toys I was reasonably sure that they had made trains, and it seemed that floor toys were most likely. Candidly to this day, I have not actually encountered any IRL although I have not diligently searched the web for them to this point. Pictures are great!.
When you mentioned Ohio Art, you have hit upon one of my favorite tin toy manufacturers. Like Chein, Ohio Art made beautiful sand pails / watering cans/ and play dishes and tea sets. Their lithography was terrific. However, again, I don't have any of their trains. My grandaughter and all my nieces received Ohio Art dish sets / tea sets at some point in their young life...don't know if any still have them. I bet the circus train was beautiful.
Don McErlean
JimO'C: Jim those pictures are great. Noticed a couple of things, the pictures on the Ohio Art circus cars (later) look very similar to those that used to appear on the little boxes of "Animal Crackers" that we all ate as kids, could be the same artist or illustrator. The other interesting thing is that the Circus Train cars are labeled "Toy Land Circus" and my Chein station was labeled "Toy Town" similar but different but perhaps there was some cooperation between the two makers or maybe a competitive response by one of them to the other?
Thanks for posting, I have never seen much of these trains.
Don
I had packed this building away about 5 years ago due to lack of room on the layout. Reworking it now to add a whole back drop of these buildings. Look what was in the box. One of my favorite knives that I lost years ago. The battery for the light still works. A long lost friend.
Steve
Steve "Papa" Eastman posted:I had packed this building away about 5 years ago due to lack of room on the layout. Reworking it now to add a whole back drop of these buildings. Look what was in the box. One of my favorite knives that I lost years ago. The battery for the light still works. A long lost friend.
Steve
Very cool!
Well recently we sort of got focused on Flyer stations with some great work by Robert Butler and NWL. I personally am out of ways to make a contribution to that thread so I thought I might bring back some Flyer trains. This is a consist that is from the same time period, 1928-29 but I have no idea if it was ever offered or even listed as a set. The locomotive is the 3110 Steeple Cab of 1928-29 and 1931 (IAW Greenberg / Schuweiler book) . If you have the book it matches configuration (A) perfectly although I am missing 3 of 4 handrails next to the doors. I have matched it with an unnumbered Pullman and Observation from the same time period, both in the same livery and lithographed "Oriental Limited" in gold over the windows which matches configuration (B) from the listing in Greenberg . There is also the notation in the book that these are NOT the cars from the Flyer Oriental Limited Set which were orange. So why are they marked this way...who knows! The 3 window, 2 sliding door baggage is also from 1928-29 and matches configuration (D) in Greenberg including the "Great Northern" logo on the side complete with goat and the words "United States Mail and Railway Post Office" in gold under the windows. So here you have a group (I will not use the word "set") of cars all from 1928-29 which MIGHT have come together or at least existed at the same time - plus they are all green !
To me one of the neatest things I discovered about this group today was that after sitting on my shelf for 18 years (I bought the loco in 2002 for $10) I hooked up the cars, put it on the track and powered it up with my ZW. The headlight came on and OFF SHE WENT pulling her 3 car consist. I even took videos although I still cannot seem to load them to the site. I hope and pray I can still do stuff like that at 90+ years old. She really ran well, even had no trouble traversing my Lionel switches and I have modern locomotives that can't seem to do that!! You know we sometimes forget that when these trains were purchased new, they represented a significant investment especially to a young middle class family, and they expected reliability and durability. Well I can attest that at least in this case, the American Flyer Mfg Company delivered.
Here is the engine and her small train ready to leave the station on the L&S
Close up of the engine and the GN 3 window/2 sliding door baggage car
Here is the observation and the Pullman both labeled "Oriental Limited" over the windows
Best wishes for a good weekend and upcoming week Stay healthy
Don McErlean
@Don McErlean posted:Well recently we sort of got focused on Flyer stations with some great work by Robert Butler and NWL. I personally am out of ways to make a contribution to that thread so I thought I might bring back some Flyer trains. This is a consist that is from the same time period, 1928-29 but I have no idea if it was ever offered or even listed as a set. The locomotive is the 3110 Steeple Cab of 1928-29 and 1931 (IAW Greenberg / Schuweiler book) . If you have the book it matches configuration (A) perfectly although I am missing 3 of 4 handrails next to the doors. I have matched it with an unnumbered Pullman and Observation from the same time period, both in the same livery and lithographed "Oriental Limited" in gold over the windows which matches configuration (B) from the listing in Greenberg . There is also the notation in the book that these are NOT the cars from the Flyer Oriental Limited Set which were orange. So why are they marked this way...who knows! The 3 window, 2 sliding door baggage is also from 1928-29 and matches configuration (D) in Greenberg including the "Great Northern" logo on the side complete with goat and the words "United States Mail and Railway Post Office" in gold under the windows. So here you have a group (I will not use the word "set") of cars all from 1928-29 which MIGHT have come together or at least existed at the same time - plus they are all green !
To me one of the neatest things I discovered about this group today was that after sitting on my shelf for 18 years (I bought the loco in 2002 for $10) I hooked up the cars, put it on the track and powered it up with my ZW. The headlight came on and OFF SHE WENT pulling her 3 car consist. I even took videos although I still cannot seem to load them to the site. I hope and pray I can still do stuff like that at 90+ years old. She really ran well, even had no trouble traversing my Lionel switches and I have modern locomotives that can't seem to do that!! You know we sometimes forget that when these trains were purchased new, they represented a significant investment especially to a young middle class family, and they expected reliability and durability. Well I can attest that at least in this case, the American Flyer Mfg Company delivered.
Here is the engine and her small train ready to leave the station on the L&S
Close up of the engine and the GN 3 window/2 sliding door baggage car
Here is the observation and the Pullman both labeled "Oriental Limited" over the windows
Best wishes for a good weekend and upcoming week Stay healthy
Don McErlean
Don,
That set was cataloged as the "The Explorer" from 1928 to 1929. The lettering of the cars can vary over the years, but they were 4 wheel green lithograph cars, and I believe that the Oriental Limited cars that you have did come with that engine.
NWL
NWL : WONDERFUL ...I was hoping either you or one of the other Flyer experts on this thread would tell me that it either was or was not a set. I thank you for the information. Well that is great news. I probably don't have any less expensive a set. I paid $10 for the loco and 8$ each for the cars. Purchased in Maryland in 2002 at an antique car show held at a boat museum!
Thanks again NWL.
Respectfully Don
Not mine, just something I spotted for sale recently and thought it was interesting . Was listed as a "Standard Gauge Frankenstein Engine" . This was probably somebody's pride and joy 80 years ago. Reminds me of the evil truck in the movie "Duel".
Anybody recognize the motor assembly ? The gears are as big as the rims.
Oh no! It's a WWI tank!
Guys I need a little help. I just acquired 3 Hornby tinplate 4-wheel Pullman coaches that I have tentatively identified as M1 coaches. I checked the Binns Road site and they show them as dating from 1931 - 1956 depending on details. I have two, that I believe are post war as they actually showed in a picture in my Hornby O'gauge reference as part of an M1 set in 1954. However the third coach appears to be from an earlier era due to it having the drop link couplers as opposed to the automatic couplers and a longitudinal ribbed roof vice the cross ribbed roof. Pictures will tell story below. Just wondering if you have any further data on these. Frenchtrains provided me with an electronic copy of the 1959 French Hornby catalog but these Pullman's do not appear which seems to fit with the reference material stating that they were withdrawn in 1956.
Anyway here are the pictures:
Here is the side livery, all cars have the same. Clearly French Hornby as they all state "Fab en France, Mecanno, Paris" on one end and "Serie Hornby" on the other end. Note also the two languages on the side, "Voiture Pullman" and "Pullman Car"
Now here is what I believe to be the later roof. It has cross ribs, is very smooth, and you can see the "automatic coupler" exhibiting the 45 deg cut in the upper wire link that appears to date it from 1950 on.
Below is what I am speculating is an earlier roof. It has two longitudinal "ribs" and two simulated knobs or screw tops but the roof is not attached with screws or bolts. Next picture shows the coupler.
The car with what I believe to be the earlier roof is equipped with the small drop link coupler which my reference dates from 1928 through (either 1931 or 1936 I have two different dates one from my Hornby book and one from the Binns Road web site). This leads me to believe that this is an earlier vintage car from the other two despite exactly the same lithographed livery.
So it appears that I have 3 French Hornby Pullman all with this blue/cream livery but one of them may be of an earlier vintage than the other two. None of these cars has plastic wheels which were available from 1951. What do you think??
Thanks for the help
Don McErlean
Hi Don .. as you are finding out French Hornby can be a very different kettle of fish compared to the English variety . This is because on certain lines Hornby Francais had a free hand and were basically autonomous when it came to design and production of local product , although of course they DID make use of various UK components and models , and I suspect espescially just before and after the war did incorporate a number of Hornby UK leftovers?
The roof on your odd man out French Pullman is much the same as the UK Hornby No.1 Pullmans , so I suspect that maybe France got the moulds and tinware when the UK had ceased No1 Pullman production ...
SO although I cant give you a definitive dating on them I would suspect mid 30's to late 40's which ties in with your research and the drop link couplers
News just in ! ( lol )
Binns Road has a green roofed version dated as ... dum dum duuuummm!
1931-36 ... as you will see on that page also ... drop.link and automatic couplers were both in use at that time period ...
http://www.binnsroad.co.uk/rai...r/coaches/index.html
Binns is by no means definative but it does a good job mostly
I think for a more definitive look at Hornby France you would probably have to defer to Clive Lammings book on it ( which I dont own cos I can never find a reasonably priced copy! )
Not your normal tinplate item, but too cool to pass up. As I wrap up spring projects at work I was having crews clean up the turbine deck and I nearly had this empty 5 gallon can thrown into the recycle bin. Fortunately I changed my mind. Some time in the next couple weeks the top will come off of this can and I will have a really cool trash can for the train room or the shop.
![20200428_064446[1]](https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/fileSendAction/fcType/0/fcOid/78438393768072894/filePointer/144734384819611513/fodoid/144734384819611509/imageType/LARGE/inlineImage/true/20200428_064446%255B1%255D.jpg "20200428_064446[1]")
Think about how cool this would look as a paint scheme for a tank car!
![20200428_064446[1]](https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/fileSendAction/fcType/0/fcOid/78438393768072894/filePointer/144734384819611513/fodoid/144734384819611509/imageType/LARGE/inlineImage/true/20200428_064446%5B1%5D.jpg "20200428_064446[1]")
Use to use Kroil oil back in the early 80’s. Best stuff going to loosed rusted screws or to take apart anything rusted. Best penetrating oil ever. The only thing that ever came close was tapping fluid.
Fatman: As always thank you for your comments and insights. Those of us now in our 70's do sometimes forget that the era just before the war was one of uncertainty and "make do" for many manufacturers. As you suggested, I did check the Binns Road site and saw my Pullman with a GREEN roof! Now I have another variation to hunt!! . The Hornby No.1 Pullman roof does indeed look like a perfect match for my "odd man out" Pullman and your speculation on how it ended up on a French Pullman makes perfect sense. I can attest that it is almost certainly a factory installation as there are no tool marks to indicate that the roof has ever been off or changed. I also appreciated your comment that the small drop link and the automatic couplers were both in use at the same time. This supports the dating that I mentioned.
I also don't have Mr. Lammings book, for about the same reason you don't have it, but I will give you a reference on British Hornby that you might not have and it is more reasonable in cost. It is..."The Hornby Companion Series , Vol 5, the Hornby Gauge O System", Chris and Julie Graebe, New Cavendish Books, 23 Craven Hill, London W2 3EN, Distribution ABP, North Way, Andover, Hampshire, 1985. Now 35 years old but its a reasonably good book with excellent high quality pictures but like so many of these books the concentration is on freight wagons and the more expensive passenger sets. Their coverage of French Hornby (1 fairly brief chapter) and export trains (1 additional brief chapter for the rest of the world including the US) is not very detailed. One item in the book that I do find useful is a detailed appendix giving the years of manufacture of every production item listed individually both pre and post war including sets.
Again, I want to thank you very much for responding and providing your insights.
jhz563 : Your posting made my morning! I loved the idea of using the Kroil oil can as a waste bin. The lithography on the can is first rate, colorful and the "big drop" image is just a hoot!! Just let it "air out" for sufficient time OUTSIDE to remove the volatile components which can be a fire hazard and use a strong detergent to remove any oil film. Sorry, I am a safety guy and worry about such things. Great find and great idea for re-use.
Sincerely
Don McErlean
@G-Man24 posted:Not mine, just something I spotted for sale recently and thought it was interesting . Was listed as a "Standard Gauge Frankenstein Engine" . This was probably somebody's pride and joy 80 years ago. Reminds me of the evil truck in the movie "Duel".
Anybody recognize the motor assembly ? The gears are as big as the rims.
This engine was recently purchased by Clem Clement, who has a very large collection of 'home made trains'. The mechanism for this engine is actually a vintage clock mechanism, from somewhere around 1900. Who knows if it ever really ran, he is just ecstatic to own this thing.
Jim
@Jim Waterman posted:This engine was recently purchased by Clem Clement, who has a very large collection of 'home made trains'. The mechanism for this engine is actually a vintage clock mechanism, from somewhere around 1900. Who knows if it ever really ran, he is just ecstatic to own this thing.
Jim
Jim thanks for the added info. I'm with your buddy Clem, I think that vintage home made stuff is really neat. A lot of it was built by people who didn't have the means to purchase store bought trains.
Are you saying that the electric motor and gears in it came from an old electric clock ? If so that makes it even neater. The armature looks huge and with that gearing it would have had some serious pulling power.
A new arrival. Seriously over packed. Good thing the sellers shipping was a fixed price. He had to have lost his shorts on this one.
Steve
@Steve "Papa" Eastman posted:A new arrival. Seriously over packed. Good thing the sellers shipping was a fixed price. He had to have lost his shorts on this one.
Steve
Better to be over packed, than under packed.
@Nation Wide Lines posted:Better to be over packed, than under packed.
That's for sure. Only cost me $35.00
Steve
You mean like this?
It’s been awhile!! Hope all is well!! Sorry haven’t been around- Health issues(non-covid related). On the mend, best I’ve felt in months. Don’t think I haven’t been keeping up with the tin though!
ill start with one I got awhile ago- J Chein Roller Coaster. Not working but an incredible deal on it.
Side view. Also, the flag in foreground, which was my dad’s, is a 48 star flag. Just realized it when I saw it mentioned on another layout.
The red Pullman body I’ve shown before. In the background, New, is the Hafner freight depot. Some Postwar tinplate, on the left is my grandfather’s Water Tower, on theright is my water tower which I got about a week ago with box.
today in the mail- Bing interlocking. Quite an interesting piece, so i took 5 pictures of each side and the inside. Any idea what this would’ve been used for? Switches? Transformer? I haven’t really looked at it that much. This is the most “pure” lithographed side(you’ll see what I mean in the next few photos)
I really like this side, the plate with the specs. 50hz for Europe. Notice the windows are punched out(by Bing, not the previous owner)in this pocture and the next 2- I assume for cooling purposes. Also, chord clearly cut.
This side has a lever. Again some punched out windows.
the final side has what appear to be 2 ports and then something above them.
finally, the inside
Any idea what this was??? And- more to come!
@Steve "Papa" Eastman posted:A new arrival. Seriously over packed. Good thing the sellers shipping was a fixed price. He had to have lost his shorts on this one.
Steve
I believe there may be a Major award in that crate!
@StevefromPA posted:today in the mail- Bing interlocking. Quite an interesting piece, so i took 5 pictures of each side and the inside. Any idea what this would’ve been used for? Switches? Transformer? I haven’t really looked at it that much. This is the most “pure” lithographed side(you’ll see what I mean in the next few photos)
I really like this side, the plate with the specs. 50hz for Europe. Notice the windows are punched out(by Bing, not the previous owner)in this pocture and the next 2- I assume for cooling purposes. Also, chord clearly cut.
This side has a lever. Again some punched out windows.
the final side has what appear to be 2 ports and then something above them.
finally, the inside
Any idea what this was??? And- more to come!
Hi Steve its definately a Bing Power supply , probably quite rare (?) I could only find a few references to it on the web, one in a German forum .. with the following pics
http://up.picr.de/24813727gz.jpg
http://up.picr.de/24813728ey.jpg
http://up.picr.de/24813729aq.jpg
The transformer in those pics didnt have the BW ( Bing Werke) plate but a plain one , which could suggest it was made by Bing/Bub/Distler or similar Nurnberg (Nuremberg) collaborative enterprise ... Possibly made by Bing to include in some sets made by them ?
History toy has your exact version documented '
https://www.historytoy.com/bin...way-toy-signal-tower
That one took a lot of searching lol as it was listed in the "Signalhouse " or StellWerke section
Also found one recently sold on ebay !
https://www.ebay.de/itm/Uralte...rksid=p2047675.l2557
I woulda paid that for it LOL!
StevefromPA, I love the roller coaster. I did a bit of searching online and your Bing item appears to be a transformer in a signal box designed for a fixed voltage output of 18V and 10W. The lever on the side is the on-off switch. Yours appears to be a 220V input although there were versions made with 110V input as well. I've also seen photos of a 220V version like yours with the 220 scratched out and 110V written instead. It might be worth checking to see if the transformer primary has 2 taps.
Thanks for the other pictures @Fatman , always nice to have something to use as a reference or comparison for items old and like this one. @O Gauge Guy thanks for the roller coaster compliment. My Grandmother got the Ferris Wheel & rocket ride as presents when she was a child-barely ever played with them(they were kind of viewed as prized possessions that my great-grandmother didn't want to risk breaking). Hence, they're mint and have their boxes.
Sorry guys, Never posted these pictures of the inside of the Bing transformer, for those who are curious.
Aerial view as shown previously:
"Rear"
"Right-hand side"- there is a mechanism above the lever that causes the white/red indicator to go back to white if in the red position.
StevefromPa / OgaugeGuy : Great finds both, but I still find it amazing that at one time the idea of a child playing with something that directly handled 220 volt power was considered OK, no big deal. I have a reproduced copy of a Lionel instruction sheet from the days before wide spread electrification that showed youngsters how to build a battery using glass beakers and sulfuric acid! Then in the 1970 's we banned all tinplate toys because someone might cut their finger on an edge...there being no record of any fatal injury from a tin toy in over 100 years! What a change!
StevefromPA: Adding on to your roller coaster and Ferris wheel I can contribute a "Rocket Ride". Unknown year but made in Germany, the mfr trade mark is a globe with a band around it carrying the initials "JW" plus the country of origin. It is spring powered with the key on the side near the top of the swings. It is very well made with great detail, down to the clothes and facial expressions on the children riding.
Steve : thanks again for your response on the Haffner station, I really appreciate your knowledge and your willingness to share.
Best Regards, Happy and Healthy Week everyone (it being "blue Monday")
Don
two early birthday presents,,,,will not open till may 25th,,hummmmmmmmmmm what can they be????? bets its some standard gauge !!!!!!!
@Don McErlean posted:StevefromPa / OgaugeGuy : Great finds both, but I still find it amazing that at one time the idea of a child playing with something that directly handled 220 volt power was considered OK, no big deal. I have a reproduced copy of a Lionel instruction sheet from the days before wide spread electrification that showed youngsters how to build a battery using glass beakers and sulfuric acid! Then in the 1970 's we banned all tinplate toys because someone might cut their finger on an edge...there being no record of any fatal injury from a tin toy in over 100 years! What a change!
StevefromPA: Adding on to your roller coaster and Ferris wheel I can contribute a "Rocket Ride". Unknown year but made in Germany, the mfr trade mark is a globe with a band around it carrying the initials "JW" plus the country of origin. It is spring powered with the key on the side near the top of the swings. It is very well made with great detail, down to the clothes and facial expressions on the children riding.
Steve : thanks again for your response on the Haffner station, I really appreciate your knowledge and your willingness to share.
Best Regards, Happy and Healthy Week everyone (it being "blue Monday")
Don
You have a Wilesco Swing Gondola @Don McErlean
https://www.wilesco-shop.de/en.../swing-gondolas.html
I have seen a few of these and I think there are several different combinations of "rockets" and it depended on who was assembling them as to what combination you got
I am not sure what year Wilesco started making them but you can still buy them new .. the earlier versions of this toy had boats and were pulley driven off a Live Steam Engine as an accessory
@jhz563 posted:Not your normal tinplate item, but too cool to pass up. As I wrap up spring projects at work I was having crews clean up the turbine deck and I nearly had this empty 5 gallon can thrown into the recycle bin. Fortunately I changed my mind. Some time in the next couple weeks the top will come off of this can and I will have a really cool trash can for the train room or the shop.
Think about how cool this would look as a paint scheme for a tank car!
It would make an awesome tank farm tank, say the top half of it! I know it is big, but it would be seriously cool!
@terry hudon posted:two early birthday presents,,,,will not open till may 25th,,hummmmmmmmmmm what can they be????? bets its some standard gauge !!!!!!!
Quit teasing. Call us when you open them.
@Jim O'C posted:Picked up another 1919/1920 Turnerville Trolley today. I think I might be cornering the market on these but the bridge is an upgrade to others I already have. The spring in the launch house looks good too but I will have to borrow some straight channel track and the return spring from one of the others to test it out.
Jim: I recently got the front and end pieces of the Turnerville Trolley, and started to look around my misc. box for a car to try and use on it (if I used regular 0-27 track for the straight channel track I don't have). I ran across this small unmarked heavy steel car (about 7 inches long) but also noticed (playing Sherlock Holmes here) that one end had scratches and impressions in the paint that exactly match the end return spring of the Turnerville. Unfortunately, I don't think I can get this to work on 0-27 since the car is too narrow, but it would work with wood floor wheels if I had any channel track (I wonder what happened to all that they made originally!) The photos are poor and don't really show the detail.
John
Judging from the trucks, I'd say you have a Kingsbury floor train passenger coach circa 1920
They also produced freight sets using Erie working gondolas. Here is a comparison of the 8-wheel coaches and Erie gondolas against original Turnerville trolleys
Fatman: Wow thanks for the video of the Rocket Ride swing gondola. I do remember the name "Wilesco" as part of a stationary live steam engine that I brought home from a trip to Germany many years ago with a machine shop (little miniature machines driven by a belt from the engine). Still have that stuff "somewhere"
Don
@Fatman posted:You have a Wilesco Swing Gondola @Don McErlean
https://www.wilesco-shop.de/en.../swing-gondolas.html
I am not sure what year Wilesco started making them but you can still buy them new .. the earlier versions of this toy had boats and were pulley driven off a Live Steam Engine as an accessory
Clicking on that video of course took me down a Wilesco Youtube rabbit hole.
This video is also pretty neat, I'm amazed at how much hand work is still involved.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjVilDNa8So
@Jim O'C posted:Judging from the trucks, I'd say you have a Kingsbury floor train passenger coach circa 1920
They also produced freight sets using Erie working gondolas. Here is a comparison of the 8-wheel coaches and Erie gondolas against original Turnerville trolleys
Kingsbury
Kingsbury it is, though definitely spring marks. By the way here is my Turner beginning and end. I tested them with a beat up American Flyer 1123 coach (also ugly to start with) and some 0-27. Worked pretty well. Also attaching a couple of catalog pages, one with the street car set and one with what looks like a Turner floor train.
Marshall Field Ad from 1919 showing two different versions. Larger set has a bridge and a station, trolley pole and eight sections of track.
I may have an original coach or two and maybe some more track in my collection, I'll check my inventory. There was also a #204 set w bridge and a few sections of track.
Jim: I shall content myself with having the two essential parts of the Turnerville Trolley -- assuming the pandemic ever ends the remaining components may be found under a table at a train show. I did set it up using the AF car and 0-27 track -- I could get the car to go 40 inches and back but not the 80 inches they advertise. I suppose after 100 years the spring may be weakened.
As a swansong, I mined a few ads from Newspapers.com, including the one from the Buffalo Times in Dec 1921 with, not just a trolley, but a loco, tender, and coach -- might have been interesting to watch. The whole caboodle included a bridge, tunnel and station. The cut was very poor, I did a little manipulation in my picture program. Could it be the combo on the rigid frame I am also attaching?
I wonder if anyone will ever find a box for it or the "Boy Scout Special" mentioned.
John
If I gave it it's own thread, I'd title this post A Bad Idea Executed Adequately Or, Don't Ever Buy Used Trains from The Other Guy:
On Tuesday, I started up the Blue Comet and, after moving six inches across a switch, it shudders to a stop. Power to the track was fine; no derailment; no smoke. So, I power down and back up and the loco revs up. I cycle it into forward motion and, again, six inches and then ... bupkis. This time, a proper short.
So, I take the engine off the track, expecting to workbench it, when I hear a little tinkle on the track. I look down and, what do I see? The loco's front roller, snapped clean off the pickup. Oh ****.
Off to the workbench ... First, to see if the second roller still draws power to the motor and, indeed, the train's internals are OK. The dilemma: do I continue to run on the remaining roller or, do I order a complete motor replacement (since pickups are riveted on Tinplate Traditions trains) or, do I do something much more reckless and ... Frankensteinian?
....
You can guess what I did:
But great news: works beautifully! Ran this puppy for almost 2 hours straight yesterday and nary a blip! 
- The Other Guy
FILE: DEPARTMENT OF DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME, KIDS
@The Other Guy posted:If I gave it it's own thread, I'd title this post A Bad Idea Executed Adequately Or, Don't Ever Buy Used Trains from The Other Guy:
On Tuesday, I started up the Blue Comet and, after moving six inches across a switch, it shudders to a stop. Power to the track was fine; no derailment; no smoke. So, I power down and back up and the loco revs up. I cycle it into forward motion and, again, six inches and then ... bupkis. This time, a proper short.
So, I take the engine off the track, expecting to workbench it, when I hear a little tinkle on the track. I look down and, what do I see? The loco's front roller, snapped clean off the pickup. Oh ****.
Off to the workbench ... First, to see if the second roller still draws power to the motor and, indeed, the train's internals are OK. The dilemma: do I continue to run on the remaining roller or, do I order a complete motor replacement (since pickups are riveted on Tinplate Traditions trains) or, do I do something much more reckless and ... Frankensteinian?
....
You can guess what I did:
But great news: works beautifully! Ran this puppy for almost 2 hours straight yesterday and nary a blip!
- The Other Guy
FILE: DEPARTMENT OF DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME, KIDS
It looks like an acceptable repair. I may have tried to smooth out that solder joint a little more. 
I'm not sure how durable it will be.
Isn't that fiber board with the pickup assembly replaceable? It might require pulling the wheels on one side. I could look up the part if I knew the model number of your engine.
George
@The Other Guy posted:If I gave it it's own thread, I'd title this post A Bad Idea Executed Adequately Or, Don't Ever Buy Used Trains from The Other Guy:
On Tuesday, I started up the Blue Comet and, after moving six inches across a switch, it shudders to a stop. Power to the track was fine; no derailment; no smoke. So, I power down and back up and the loco revs up. I cycle it into forward motion and, again, six inches and then ... bupkis. This time, a proper short.
So, I take the engine off the track, expecting to workbench it, when I hear a little tinkle on the track. I look down and, what do I see? The loco's front roller, snapped clean off the pickup. Oh ****.
Off to the workbench ... First, to see if the second roller still draws power to the motor and, indeed, the train's internals are OK. The dilemma: do I continue to run on the remaining roller or, do I order a complete motor replacement (since pickups are riveted on Tinplate Traditions trains) or, do I do something much more reckless and ... Frankensteinian?
....
You can guess what I did:
But great news: works beautifully! Ran this puppy for almost 2 hours straight yesterday and nary a blip!
- The Other Guy
FILE: DEPARTMENT OF DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME, KIDS
How does it look when the engine is on the track?
If it's durable, then it's perfect. As Red Green would say, "it's only temporary... unless it works".
Well I almost bought these if that counts. I noticed these old home made switches on Ebay and was really intrigued with the work someone had done to make them from the cutting and soldering of the rails and frogs to the wiring to the neat tin actuator housings made from cigar tins and oil cans. Seller was selling them as "Folk Art" but they sure look like real switches to me. Don't think anybody would go to that much trouble to make "Folk Art" . Once maybe, not 6 times .
I don't even run O gauge but I almost bought them just because of how neat they are and to see what mechanism is hiding under those tin covers.
Gerry,
Yes, the are quite unique. Thanks for posting.
Tom
@terry hudon posted:two early birthday presents,,,,will not open till may 25th,,hummmmmmmmmmm what can they be????? bets its some standard gauge !!!!!!!
what could be a better bday present ,,,,,,the mth black diamond cars,,,,olympian
diner and bacon !!
@terry hudon posted:what could be a better bday present ,,,,,,the mth black diamond cars,,,,olympian
diner and bacon !!
Beautiful set Terry! Happy Birthday!
@George S posted:It looks like an acceptable repair. I may have tried to smooth out that solder joint a little more.
Isn't that fiber board with the pickup assembly replaceable? It might require pulling the wheels on one side. I could look up the part if I knew the model number of your engine.
George
Thanks and agreed; it's held up well for now but I have my doubts ...
As for the board/assembly - If it's replaceable, not visibly or going by the parts blowout guide. That said, model number is 30-6036-1. If you can locate a part number, I'd be thrilled. Thanks in advance.
- The Other Guy
@Mallard4468 posted:How does it look when the engine is on the track?
If it's durable, then it's perfect. As Red Green would say, "it's only temporary... unless it works".
Ha!
Ran it for about another 6 hours (cumulative) after "the fix" and nothing else fell off. So, in that regard, it's proven minimally durable.
To add a corollary to that quote: "Everything's permanent ... 'til it ain't."
- The Other Guy
I didn't realize that was an MTH version of the engine. The parts guide does not show a separate part for the collector plate.
George
A little tinplate smorgasbord centered around my newly arrived Marklin coastal defense gun. The other players include a Dorfan electric loco, an American Flyer 3020, Lionel 763-E, Marklin 3120 electric, and in the background the Lionel Power Station. I first saw one of these cannons on Ward Kimball's layout (he had an even bigger version) and have wanted one ever since.
That Defense gun and layout are MOST cool. John.
Thanks for sharing the pics.
John Smatlak: What a great piece - your Marklin coastal defense gun. You might like to know a little about some real ones. At Fort Screven on Tybee Island at the mouth of the Savannah River, there was a battery of four 8" coastal defense guns These were installed at the very end of the 19th century (1897 ) and had a range of 10 miles. They fired a 700 lb projectile that had to be moved from the fort's armory by mule cart and raised to the gun platform by crane, just like yours. The hydraulic force taken from the recoil was used to depress the entire gun and platform below the parapet for reloading under relatively safe conditions. The guns, once reloaded were then raised to fire. At the time of their installation they were called by our Government..."the largest cannon in the world" and they measured about 30 ft long from breech to muzzle end. There were four of these monsters in a line at the Battery and it took 4 officers and 157 enlisted men to service the 4 guns. They were all part of the U.S. Army's, Coastal Artillery Corps. Never fired at an enemy, they were removed in 1916 and sent to the front for RR artillery pieces. By the time the war was over, the airplane had simply eliminated the need for coastal defense forts and they were never reinstalled.
What a great find!
Don
Tcox009 - Cool car for sure...after 2 months home alone could use a few barrels of Bordeaux 
Don
This came last week!
An Orange 2012
For whatever reason, the Orange 2012 is relatively uncommon. I believe that this item is a result of unsold 2011 unlighted semaphores being converted to lighted 2012 versions.
It is somewhat difficult to note in the photos, but both of the wires go up to the light fixture itself, with one attaching to the bracket that holds the light fixture and the other going to the bottom of the light. This is very unusual, as all of the other 2012's I have observed feature a wire being attached to one of the eyelets on the base and the other going to the bottom of the light bulb.
The other oddity, which I just noted this morning is that instead of the bracket for the light fixture on this item being removable and held in place by a nut and bolt, the bracket is riveted together with the 2nd wire being held in place by this rivet. See photo below
As the wires on this 2012 are clean and not exposed at their ends, it appears that this item was never used, or at least never wired to electricity.
NWL
Wow, 2 posts in a row! I am on a buying spree!
Actually, it is very difficult to find something to add to my collection these days. Every so often something pops up and I get it. This week it is this.
Here is a close-up of the rubber stamping.
1/2 Dozen? of what?
It took me a while to search through my paperwork to verify that the 1126 number was correct for the contents of the box. It first appeared in the 1925 price list, but the end label is incorrect for that era. I found my answer in the 1930 dealer's price list, which is the correct era for the box label. The number appears in the 1930, 1931, and I believe 1932 price lists, before disappearing into the depths of time. So you ask, what is in the box?
1/2 dozen assorted 4 wheel cars.
The dealer's price list indicates that there should be a log car instead of the 2nd box car, but these 6 cars are so well matched, that I suspect the log car was either swapped at the factory or by the retailer. The cars feature minimal use.
They go well with my item 1127, 1/2 dozen assorted 8 wheel cars
and my 1/2 dozen 1118 tank cars
NWL
Nice items. I picked up a AF prewar double header set. The engine, a 420 has extra weights in the front and back. It really pulls easily. The set consists of a 420 loco, 401 dummy and three cars.
@Trainman290 posted:Nice items. I picked up a AF prewar double header set. The engine, a 420 has extra weights in the front and back. It really pulls easily. The set consists of a 420 loco, 401 dummy and three cars.
Yes, the correct 420 for the double header has extra weights.
@John Smatlak that is an awesome Märklin coastal defense fun!! Very jealous- would love to have that on my layout! And thanks for the historical background @Don McErlean , good stuff. European military themed trains and accessories from 1900- 1945 really get my mind going- who owned it? Where were they from? Did a boy in one country own it- especially if was made in or represented an enemy’s country?? Did people trash enemy country toy trains, as they did with some goods, in their surge of nationalism??
@@Nation wide l@Nation. @Nation Wide Lines - as usual fantastic prewar Flyer! And great shape too! I find the assortment info 4 wheel cars to be quite interesting- 1 Passenger car 1 Baggage car, then parts of a freight consists? Seems like it was just thrown together but aI Love it.
Havent gotten much of my own tinplate lately. Although Local antique mall booth has a bunch of prewar std gauge and O gauge accessories & rolling stock that are tempting. Anyway, here’s my recent tinplate:
Crossing hate and Semaphore- makes of both unknown. Crossing gate appears to be for a larger gauge.
Semaphore has “made in Germany in form of red rubber stamp on the bottom of the base. The stamping doesn’t look like Bing or Bub- but INfeelnits made by Karl Bub
also- in great working order!!
Prewad 811 flat car- aluminum version
The 811 is one of my larger prewar o gauge trains- for comparison see the Ives 9 inch transition gondola and American Flyer 9” box car below
on the subject of army toys/accessories as stated earlier in my post- picked up the 5 soldiers in shooting positions- almost appear to be from same maker as the marching soldiers which I bought a few months ago. Have a feeling might be by Comet or Swedish African Engineers. They’re only an inch tall but will have somewhere to fit in
In the 2 pictures below are American Flyer Postwar figures I said that I’d lost A few weeks ago. Got these for a STEAL! Made Postwar for AC Gilbert Flyer by Comet Metal Products/Authenticast. Comet Metal Products made there own figures, as well, I think Comet figures had a square base while the one’s made for American Flyer had different shapes bases.
Like the guy turning the switch on the left and the one nailing down a RR spike the best.
Finally, while not prewar- it is tinplate. It’s got rust by the Flyer label and under the one part of the crane- otherwise in good shape. 
@StevefromPA posted:@@Nation wide l@Nation. @Nation Wide Lines - as usual fantastic prewar Flyer! And great shape too! I find the assortment info 4 wheel cars to be quite interesting- 1 Passenger car 1 Baggage car, then parts of a freight consists? Seems like it was just thrown together but aI Love it.
Steve,
I suspect these assorted cars were simply thrown together as they were only listed in the dealer's catalogs; therefore, I am guessing they were purchased by dealers in order to have extra cars available for customers who wanted to add inexpensive items to their trains. The other option is to sell the assorted set of cars with an engine, with the buyer getting both a freight set and passenger set, instead of buying two sets.
NWL
Haven't posted on here for a while, but found something cool. Got a chance to wander around at Dale's Trains in Norfolk VA last week, haven't been in an actual store in months and what a place! The staff was really nice and great with my little guys.
As far as tinplate goes, I found this cool Marx crane. It's a fun little piece and the price was certainly right.
Nice MArx Crane @jhz563 that’s a classic. I have the NYC version which has 2 metal strips/bars connecting the 4 supporting “pillars” and has built in slots for to connect to the track. when I was first starting out it used to cause shorts so I didn’t put it under the track anymore but electrical tape would’ve fixed it. I’d rather have an open base underneath like yours.
It is super nice to have places open again! Last summer my dad and I would go to a show or new hobby shop at least every other weekend, between covid and his knee surgery, though, we sadly haven’t been able to this yet summer- I’m hoping we can this weekend though!
been awhile since I dropped by. Haven’t Picked up much since but did get some. Here’s my tin contribution:
Picked up this little Charles Rossignol tin lamp off eBay for less than $5. Neat little addition:
Also bought this supposedly Bing freight station. I know that this comes in 2 colors, this one I see less often but that’s not to say it’s more common. It is missing the Bing logo on the back, which I’ve seen on the other Bing station of this color. Any thoughts on this and/or the Semaphore from my previous post?
@jhz563 posted:Haven't posted on here for a while, but found something cool. Got a chance to wander around at Dale's Trains in Norfolk VA last week, haven't been in an actual store in months and what a place! The staff was really nice and great with my little guys.
As far as tinplate goes, I found this cool Marx crane. It's a fun little piece and the price was certainly right.
Nice 422.
Steve
@StevefromPA they actually had another Marx crane with those bars, but it was missing the hook and instead had the string tied around a barrel. For $15 ,either way I took the one with the hook.
@jhz563 posted:@StevefromPA they actually had another Marx crane with those bars, but it was missing the hook and instead had the string tied around a barrel. For $15 ,either way I took the one with the hook.
might benefit from an Erector Set shed.
@Nation Wide Lines posted:Yes, the correct 420 for the double header has extra weights.
Thought this might be right up your alley NWL.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vinta...p2060353.m1438.l2649
Just got these Ives items in the mail today.
The orange 3255 and its cars each have a sticker like this:
Not all of them have ‘CXNN’ on the sticker. The 135 Parlor cars have ‘RSN’ and the 136 has ‘RSN’ and ‘3255 - 2 -135 1 -136 - Orange ANNX’.
@Lionel2056 posted:Just got these Ives items in the mail today.
The orange 3255 and its cars each have a sticker like this:
Not all of them have ‘CXNN’ on the sticker. The 135 Parlor cars have ‘RSN’ and the 136 has ‘RSN’ and ‘3255 - 2 -135 1 -136 - Orange ANNX’.
The Kuehnle's sticker indicates that they came out of Bernie Kuehnle's collection, which was sold through Bertoia in 2003 or 2004. I know that Bernie marked all of his items with tags and the CXNN / RSN would have been some sort of cataloging method of Bernie. I bought a few items from his collection and all of them came with those tags and some markings on the tag. I would suspect if you were able to find the Bertoia Catalog for that auction, you could find those items.
NWL
The mailman delivered these today. I really wanted the 3046 log car, as it is an upgrade. The 3046 log cars with blue frames are harder to find.
The rest of the cars show a bit of dirt, but should clean nicely.
NWL
@terry hudon posted:what could be a better bday present ,,,,,,the mth black diamond cars,,,,olympian
Mmmmm...... bacon.....
Just acquired the Marklin 2012B station from the 1930. Had a serious case of rust
on the platform but my Hornby hedges covered it up nicely. Here it is.
Hope you guys noticed that the Lionel 238EW has six wheel drivers and looks like the original streamlined K4s. I didn't convert it, but found it in a Florida model RR shop a few years ago.
Lew
tcox009: What a great find, the 897 lithographed engine is a bit of a hard find and yours seems in wonderful condition. Thanks for posting. StevefromPA : In looking at your station, I was surprised by its similarity to one I have that has been previously identified as Hafner. The shape is nearly identical as far as I can tell and as you will see from the pictures the lithography, although different somewhat in color, has very similar treatment of the windows and stonework.
Finally just fooling around today, I tried to take some "off layout" pictures of some recent trains I acquired while on vacation. You may know my "Leonardtown and Savannah" is a late war years RR with one terminus at the wartime port of Savannah. Today, the mid day express is running cargo down to the port for a special assignment. They are loading an old wooden sailboat with some secret cargo. The ship, although slow, can hug the coast and once under sail makes almost no sound for submarines to pick up. Plus what Sub captain is going to wast a torpedo on an old hulk like this...She has pulled this masquerade off before with success.
Happy Tuesday
Don
@handyandy posted:Mmmmm....... bacon.....
What a great find! That Olympian dining car is rare!
Bob Nelson
PS. I haven't seen production numbers on any of MTH's/Lionel's tinplate. Does anyone have them?
I’ve had my eye on a car like this for a long time. There have been plenty on eBay but this one was unique
8 wheel, Number 20508 Karl Bub/Bing Baggage car with dual “KB/BW” logo(right side under the window)! Very excited to have gotten this- I’ve seen the purely Bing version but never this one. It has more Bing like features than Bub. Also says “Made in Bavaria” on the top of each end. Trucks are just like the ones on my 8 wheel American Bing passenger cars.
For comparison- With a 4 wheeled Bing counterpart
For further comparrison- on the left is the 14780 Bub/Bing, again same dual logo this time on the left side. The car on the right is pure Bub with KBN on the top of one side
I just think it’s reeally neat how the cars show the history of the link between these two companies. So chalk up another green, German Baggage car to the collection!
@Don McErlean regarding your comments, I was gonna bring up something similar to you! Having remembered our previous conversation. Hafner’s #1200 series had the freight station(like the one you have), passenger station, and passenger platform- all had 10 inch long bases. I happened to recently acquire the passenger platform as well(had the passenger station for awhile):
Sure enough, the length of the base on this platform and my Hafner passenger station measured 10 inches and matched up perfectly. On the other hand, the station that I have had a longer base. Also, I think is a combination of items from different companies due to the missing Bing symbol on the back, color scheme, base, etc...
Stay tuned for a new Prewar Tinplate set! Bid on it at a local auction house back in March, auction was just held this Sunday due to covid. Should have it Friday!
Steve,
the KB / BW double trademark is only printed on Bub models, never on a Bing model. Was used only 1933 - early months 1934, later it was forbidden by the copyright owner of the Bing trademark.
Here a few Bub cars with the double trademark
Bub had buyed some tools from Bing after 1932, but the Bing trademark was not used on them by Bub.
Here a example
Bub car 1607/0 was Bing 10/5117
Left Bub right Bing
Printing on frame is a bit different, Bing on top.
Arne
@Arne was hoping you’d comment! Thank you, as always, for the helpful knowledge and the pictures! I really appreciate it. I know that a lot of the Prewar European, especially German, train manufacturers made trains for each other(Bing for Basset-Lowke)- prior to the beginning of the Nazi’s assuming power in Germany.
I used poor wording by calling the train “Karl Bub/Bing”. It implies that the two companies we’re partners which they were not. I thought I knew much more about the history of Bing, but your info prompted me to re-read the entry on the TCA western page of manufacturera and there’s been some additions. -I attributed Bub’s use of Bing tooling and the logo as some type of collaboration between Stephen Bing and KBN after the forced shutdown of the German Bing factory and Stephen Bing’s fleeing to The UK. Didn’t realize that different Bing tooling was divided among a number of companies. I had no idea that Stephen Bing allowed KBN the use of and then revoked the use of the Bing logo. thought I knew much more about the history of Bing, but your info prompted me to re-read the entry on the TCA western page of manufacturera and there’s been some additions. Thanks again for the info and sharing those pictures!
Here are the Prewar Lionels To which I alluded in my last post;
Olive green 252 with cast headlight and hand-lever reverse unit. 805 boxcar, late(?) 803 hopper and 807 Caboose
Scratch built “L Co.” industrialbuilding with larger tank with CIties Services logo
Hi,
I bought this nice 1990s vintage MTH Tinplate Traditions Stephen Girard 4 car set last week online to go with my 392e. I originally bought the 392e to pull 200 series freight which it does well, and then I came to learn it was really made to pull the Girard cars. This loco will now be a dual purpose engine on my layout and the SGMA club layouts. I thought these cars would look good with the loco, and on my 0-54 curves. I happened to be alerted to a shop that was having a sale on tinplate and checked it out, and there it was this nice NOS set at a decent price.
When unboxing, the first thing I noticed there was these cars have never seen the track, second thing was there were no chairs in the car, just a bench along both sides, I have the blue comet cars, the state cars, so I am used to seeing the chairs. I thought it was a mistake, so I stopped unboxing, checked online and saw that was the way they were supposed to be.Relief...back to unboxing and oiling the axles. Ran the train, and it was perfect and quite pretty.
Now, I am thinking about getting a baggage car and a No. 9. to match the cars as well. If anyone knows of either for sale please let me know. The hunt never ends.
@Craignor congratulations on your recent purchase. These are some really sharp looking passenger cars and go nicely behind the 392E. You should get many years of enjoyment from them. Could you share the store that was having the sale either here or just drop me an email, which is in my profile.
Rich,
Thanks. Unfortunately, the sale is over, and they are completely sold out of tinplate.
It was called All About Toy Trains, the store website is:
I think this is pretty cool, I just finished redoing an old Flyer Wide gauge caboose today. This time I used a rattle can of Rustoleum Dark Hunter green which came out very nice I think.
Looks good Pete!
Rob do you recognize this caboose? You should, its the one I got from you.
@Pete in Kansas posted:Rob do you recognize this caboose? You should, its the one I got from you.
Figured it was! Looks great in its new livery!
Looks great - giving me ideas! There are a lot of these around these days.
Jim
Someone wanted me to sell this for them but would be nice to know the manufacture.
There’s a bunch I’ve got to catch up on here, but I’ll start out with two of my favorites:
my first Bassett-Lowke item!! bought at a “flash train meet” about two weeks ago.
NE Gondola. Has a marking that I believes indicates it was made in Northampton?
This one just in the mail this week- Bing American Marketd Penna. Coal & Coke Hopper. Sides say “The Bing Miniature Railway System” and bottom says “GBN Bavaria”. Further, the wheels and couplers on this seem to be authentic/legitimate.
obviously not geographically accurate, I use the milch-wagen as a transition between tab-slot and Bing type couplers.
NE RR w/ Southern Rail(Bing)
More to come!
Arcade streamlined "Pullman Railplane" cast iron toy, marked for the Century of Progress Expo of 1934. These came in both short (5") and long (8" as seen here) versions in various colors. Pleased to find one with most of its paint and lettering remaining! Other streamliners seen in the photos are a silver Tootsietoy streamliner, and a Wells/Brimtoy "Golden Streak"
I finally finished my AF Standard Gauge Hoods Milk Car.
@John Smatlak very, very cool streamliners from multiple manufacturers! Each one cool in its own way. Agreed- the lettering on the Arcade piece is in great condition. Your pictures really demonstrate the diversity of Prewar manufacturing, thanks for sharing!
As I said before- more to come!
to go with my Bassett Lowke North Eastern Railway Gondola, a Bing North Eastern Railway freight car- albeit four wheels and much smaller. Just came in the mail today:
Won this at a local auction- missing handles and bulb covers but otherwise in good shape and working well- American Flyer 12b. Always looking for Postwar transformers like this, Lionel type V, Z or KW to power accessories.
From front to back:
The Gondola and Hopper I posted above. Flea market buy in a parts bin- Lionel Standard Gauge #77 crossing. Not sure what I’m going to turn it into yet. In the back: Prewar Lionel #815 Sunoco Tankerin decent shape and a somewhat beat up 901 Lake shore gondola 
I know I posted this above, but forgot to point out the semaphore in the background- I believe it’s a Prewar American Flyer? 
And then there’s this guy, which may be my most intriguing- I was going to post it in my “help with Bing cast iron shell” thread:
Simply marked Germany. Electric motor(obviously not working). The shells of the loco and tender as well as the remaining wheels on the loco are in nice shape. The thing is- it’s just a hair too small for o gauge and definitely doesn’t fit on s-gauge. I know Bub had a misguided S-gauge endeavor- but the wheelbase wouldn’t align with that. I also know that some German manufacturers in the Prewar days manufactured a smaller o gauge. @Arne and @FRENCHTRAINS - I was gonna post this to you guys anyway, ideas? I ran into a seller at a train meet recently who had a similar one and he gave me his contact info telling me to reach out.
@jhz563 Beaut of a steamer! Looks superb- great get. Early today, as I was finagling a prewar box car with a loosely attached postwar knuckle-coupler to attach it to a MTH S-2 turbine, I thought how much I really wished that I would've bought a MTH Lionel Corp engine. It's not just the sounds and features but the look of the type of engine you posted that would make it fit so much better with prewar rolling stock.Again, great pick-up.
@StevefromPA What a glorious little cutie of a locomotive .... I cant add anything concrete to the argument unfortunately , except it looks "Bub"-ish to me as well , but wondering if maybe its a shell that has been remotored ( obviously in a very early period ?) but it looks to my eye that the drive gear is bigger than the wheels fitted ? This would be rather odd I would think ? so perhaps a period motor that has been modified to fit ?
@Fatman regarding the motor and it’s fit- I’m not sure. But I did have someone who’s been around in terms of repairs look at it and he’s seen these types of motors before.
I should’ve included more of my talk with the seller at the recent meet. He walked passed me and had a bright, lime green colored loco just like mine(of course no PRR) with the same window types. So I hailed him down. He’s also a seller who, while I don’t know him, we eventually recognized each other from other meets. Anyway, He said it won’t run on normal O gauge(1 1/4) because the track is too wide for it but that the wheels are too far apart for it to be S. Also simply said it was ” old” but was mass produced. Apparently, he was able to assemble the track on which it worked but it was a headache to do so. I’m gonna reach out to him and hopefully come back here with some answers.
my guesses: either 1 1/8 Märklin or Bub, Or an Early German non-standard-O 25,28,30mm track gauge. This I’ve gleaned from historytoy, charles cooper’s railway track museum, section 12.4 of this resource
https://s3.amazonaws.com/content.
Charles cooper’s railwaypages
and this site with dialogue between the owner and Mr. Cooper.
http://www.silogic.com/trains/...ee-Rail%20Track.html
I think you are definitely onto it ! ... And looking at the loco you have it does indeed share the same oversize gear to wheel fitment .. the pickup on yours looks to be fairly rudimentary tho and that might push it more into the Bub camp yet again ? with the cheaper tin motor sideplates it was surely built to a budget , yet it has really nice lithography and body stamping ... curiouser and curiouser !
@StevefromPA posted:And then there’s this guy, which may be my most intriguing- I was going to post it in my “help with Bing cast iron shell” thread:
Simply marked Germany. Electric motor(obviously not working). The shells of the loco and tender as well as the remaining wheels on the loco are in nice shape. The thing is- it’s just a hair too small for o gauge and definitely doesn’t fit on s-gauge. I know Bub had a misguided S-gauge endeavor- but the wheelbase wouldn’t align with that. I also know that some German manufacturers in the Prewar days manufactured a smaller o gauge. @Arne and @FRENCHTRAINS - I was gonna post this to you guys anyway, ideas? I ran into a seller at a train meet recently who had a similar one and he gave me his contact info telling me to reach out.
Steve,
unmarked but not unknown. Here a similar loco with train, marked with FANDOR.
Arne
@Arne so it’s not the prewar Bing 28mm which I had hoped. @Fatman - you were right regarding the motor- my loco is clearly clockwork(has the little semi circle for the key to turn to mechanism). The wheels on the motor have 6 spokes but that’s moot as the motor doesn’t go with that loco. So looks like a Fandor loco shell, unknown electric motor, and the tender’s lithography matches up with Fandor posted by Arne- the wheels on mine are quite literally “groovy”- but wheels are wheels. Just a hodge podge of Prewar Something- mainly Fandor. thank you for clearing this matter up for me, both Arne and Fatman, greatly appreciate the assistance.
@StevefromPA posted:@jhz563 Beaut of a steamer! Looks superb- great get. Early today, as I was finagling a prewar box car with a loosely attached postwar knuckle-coupler to attach it to a MTH S-2 turbine, I thought how much I really wished that I would've bought a MTH Lionel Corp engine. It's not just the sounds and features but the look of the type of engine you posted that would make it fit so much better with prewar rolling stock.Again, great pick-up.
Hey Steve,
I made my transition car from a 2812 gondola by swapping out one of the trucks.
I had an idea for you - sent you an email.
Love that Fandor project you picked up, I have a Hornby about the same size.
@StevefromPA posted:@Arne so it’s not the prewar Bing 28mm which I had hoped. @Fatman - you were right regarding the motor- my loco is clearly clockwork(has the little semi circle for the key to turn to mechanism). The wheels on the motor have 6 spokes but that’s moot as the motor doesn’t go with that loco. So looks like a Fandor loco shell, unknown electric motor, and the tender’s lithography matches up with Fandor posted by Arne- the wheels on mine are quite literally “groovy”- but wheels are wheels. Just a hodge podge of Prewar Something- mainly Fandor. thank you for clearing this matter up for me, both Arne and Fatman, greatly appreciate the assistance.
Steve,
this is 0 gauge, but very small and cheap.
the Bing 28 mm train was sold as 0 gauge too.
Here the Bing and the Fandor train as 0 gauge.
The Bing coaches was made in 2 sizes, but both was made as 0 gauge
Here a example for the different in 0 gauge, the smallest and the biggest 4-wheel Bing coach.
Arne
@Pete in Kansas posted:I finally finished my AF Standard Gauge Hoods Milk Car.
really nice! How did you do the markings?
Jim
Highball Graphics decals.
This is Modern STD Gauge, but not tin. It’s a battery, remote control set. Still for less than $100.00 it should be fun.
Steve
What I bought and what I got.
Wow ! Very hard to press a "like" on that post @Steve "Papa" Eastman so I didnt !
Was the package it came in used as a substitute ball in a local football match? I mean you can see there is some zincpest in the first photo but its turned into Hiroshima in transit 
@Steve "Papa" Eastman posted:
What I bought and what I got.
That stinks. Hope it wasn't from a fellow TCA member or someone on the forum.
Good luck on getting a resolution. Please post when it's resolved, and 'out' the culprit.
Looks like the wheels had a case of the Zinc Pest, did the steam chest also? If so, that would make it more likely to crater like that with a little bouncing. Not making excuses, just thinking out loud. The rest looks great, I assume you were planning on having to change the wheels already. Are there repro cylinders for that loco?
Wow-bummer Steve. Over the last 7 mos I have gotten 2 locos from e-bay with unexpected zinc pest but in both cases it was just one drive wheel. Loco looks good otherwise so may still be rescued if repairable. Still rotten seller trick though
Don
I knew it was missing the front truck and that the drivers were bad. I ordered new drivers as soon as I won the auction. The seller wrapped each piece ok, but the two pieces barely fit in the box he used so no cushioning from anything touching the box. He is reimbursing me the cost of the parts to fix it. Hard to find engine so I did not want to return it.
Steve
Sounds fair. Good to know seller made honest attempt to rectify situation.
OBTW. Can you reveal the source for the wheels. I need some
Don
@Don McErlean posted:Sounds fair. Good to know seller made honest attempt to rectify situation.
OBTW. Can you reveal the source for the wheels. I need some
Don
Henning’s makes the for the 6 wheel McCoy motor.
Steve
These are known to have zinc pest and it was visible on the wheels in the auction photo. Caveat emptor! I'm pretty sure it would have crumbled the first time you handled it, even if it had been properly cushioned for shipping. Good thing replacement parts are available!
@Steve "Papa" Eastman posted:Hard to find engine so I did not want to return it.
Steve
DING DING, that's he key! Found myself in that situation a few times as well and understand!
some of these situations you make the best of and roll through it and figure out how to fix it. I remember you having to make some parts for a few other McCoy locos as well.
Not sure why but I managed to pick up this early Marklin Gauge 1 airplane flat car of course without the airplane. lol. Will have to try my hand at making the plane. Maybe I'll make a WW I fighter instead.
I'm not sure of the time frame for this car and I think it's the only 1 gauge Marklin I have right now.... That may be a problem lol
@jhz563 posted:
You better be ready with a Quadruple header to pull that coal drag!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@Dennis Holler posted:You better be ready with a Quadruple header to pull that coal drag!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fortunately the loaded train is downhill and empties uphill!!
This is why I love having my tinplate dcs equipped. Distributed power prevents string-line incidents, even when the train is shiny!!
I think I got a about 12 cars behind my LCT 263E before I got nervous. I don’t want to start stripping gears. And they are prone if overloaded. George S just went through that on a std loco. Scared me a little! Lol
@Dennis Holler posted:I think I got a about 12 cars behind my LCT 263E before I got nervous. I don’t want to start stripping gears. And they are prone if overloaded. George S just went through that on a std loco. Scared me a little! Lol
That's about the max I would do. Fortunately I have an mth NYC Hudson with tinplate coupler to put on the lead. I have modified a black/brass 263e to have a front coupler for a lashup. If I need a pusher on the end I can use a transition car and put just about any other engine on the tail. Maybe next year I can make another front coupler model for another 260e or 263e.
@Steve "Papa" Eastman posted:
Ooh ow. Typical McCoy castings. I don't know why they thought they could do Zamak so thin. So many examples of their stuff blowing apart
I inherited two McCoy steam locos from my Grandfather’s collection, the Chief Cle Elum 4-6-0 and the Little Chief 0-4-0. I apologize, I have no intentions to market these parts, but to simply show the processes I’ve used to obtain some otherwise unobtainable parts. Five iterations of the steam chest and two iterations of the pony frame on the 3D printer to get the form and fit right. I found a very sympathetic machinist near where I work who made the parts from my final CAD files. Considered a large step forward in my eventual full restoration journey for these two badly damaged and repainted engines.
@CJ Meyers posted:I inherited two McCoy steam locos from my Grandfather’s collection, the Chief Cle Elum 4-6-0 and the Little Chief 0-4-0. I apologize, I have no intentions to market these parts, but to simply show the processes I’ve used to obtain some otherwise unobtainable parts. Five iterations of the steam chest and two iterations of the pony frame on the 3D printer to get the form and fit right. I found a very sympathetic machinist near where I work who made the parts from my final CAD files. Considered a large step forward in my eventual full restoration journey for these two badly damaged and repainted engines.
I have a Cle Elum on my project list. Henning’s makes a repro saddle for the steam cylinders and the 6 driver wheel sets. Cylinders I already had, just need a front truck now, and the time to get it done.
Steve
Not today- but most recently: My first original American Flyer Wide Gauge electric engine and freight cars! Bought from Dave C. in Wisconsin.
NOW I am truly running with the BIG DOGS- AF Wide Gauge!
My hubby Tom and I, with our two doggies took a 6 day road trip to Wisconsin the beginning of this month (October 2020) to meet with and see NWL and Dave C. and their wonderful train collections and layouts. This set came home with me.
Another recent purchase(s): both for my new Upstairs O Gauge Layout I am creating.
An early Hornby early No. 1 Signal Gantry
Marx Grand Central Station
Carey...layout looks really good. I like the way you have integrated various manufacturers. the structures really look good and the "glass" train shed is really cool. I was interested in what I think is a background along the wall, those backgrounds do not look like flat printed sheets but some of the older Lionel / Flyer backgrounds that they used with some of their sets, is that correct?
Anyway, really looking good.
Don
@Carey TeaRose posted:Not today- but most recently: My first original American Flyer Wide Gauge electric engine and freight cars! Bought from Dave C. in Wisconsin.
NOW I am truly running with the BIG DOGS- AF Wide Gauge!
My hubby Tom and I, with our two doggies took a 6 day road trip to Wisconsin the beginning of this month (October 2020) to meet with and see NWL and Dave C. and their wonderful train collections and layouts. This set came home with me.
Looking great! You are one lucky couple to meet those two and see their collections. Of course, you are building quite a display and collection in your own right with all your layouts.
George
@Carey TeaRose posted:Another recent purchase(s): both for my new Upstairs O Gauge Layout I am creating.
An early Hornby early No. 1 Signal Gantry
Marx Grand Central Station
Carey,
Just to say, it's a No2 signal gantry, the No1 is a much simpler thing, which just plugs together.
Mark
@bigmark75f posted:Carey,
Just to say, it's a No2 signal gantry, the No1 is a much simpler thing, which just plugs together.
OKAY- Thanks! I remembered that incorrectly. Just checked it against my eBay Purchase history, its the no 2.
Mark
After about a 2 or 3 year search, I finally found one of my unicorns in a truly last chance manner. In the mth warehouse auction, I won the red 713 baggage car to complete my 710 series of cars from mth. It even came with the box, which as a factory sample is different from the rest of the boxes the other cars were packaged in. Here it is in all it's shiny glory.
@jhz563 posted:After about a 2 or 3 year search, I finally found one of my unicorns in a truly last chance manner. In the mth warehouse auction, I won the red 713 baggage car to complete my 710 series of cars from mth. It even came with the box, which as a factory sample is different from the rest of the boxes the other cars were packaged in. Here it is in all it's shiny glory.
FABULOUS!!!
My Hornby Metropolitan set circa 1928. After rewiring it now lights and runs perfectly. Note that the cars have external on/off light switches as does the engine. I still need to replace the yellow window plastic that was severely deformed. The set was a welcome addition to my Hornby collection.
Reefer Madness - Tinplate Style
Shortly after Christmas of last year I was looking over my run of Marx FGEX reefers and it occurred to me it would be fun to put together a picture of nothing but tinplate reefers. Since I wanted to have as many as possible and since I didn't have everything I wanted for a picture I contacted a couple of friends and got permission to borrow some of their rolling stock for a day. I ran around, gathered up the cars, set up the display, did the photography, and returned all of the cars on the same day. I figured I would do the final image processing sometime after the New Year and send everyone a shot...and then we all know what happened.
This weekend, one of the contributors called and wanted to know if I had ever sent that picture ...and I had to admit I had completely forgotten about it. Anyway - I took the time on Sunday to make things right and I thought everyone might like to see a different take on "Reefer Madness".
@Robert S. Butler posted:Reefer Madness - Tinplate Style
Shortly after Christmas of last year I was looking over my run of Marx FGEX reefers and it occurred to me it would be fun to put together a picture of nothing but tinplate reefers. Since I wanted to have as many as possible and since I didn't have everything I wanted for a picture I contacted a couple of friends and got permission to borrow some of their rolling stock for a day. I ran around, gathered up the cars, set up the display, did the photography, and returned all of the cars on the same day. I figured I would do the final image processing sometime after the New Year and send everyone a shot...and then we all know what happened.
This weekend, one of the contributors called and wanted to know if I had ever sent that picture ...and I had to admit I had completely forgotten about it. Anyway - I took the time on Sunday to make things right and I thought everyone might like to see a different take on "Reefer Madness".
I would have forgot to return some of those cars in the second row.
George
A Lionel Classics 381e arrived yesterday in beautiful condition. Many thanks to Steve Eastman for helping me acquire a great engine!
Joe Gozzo
Yesterday, I set up my iPad on my "petite" Halloween layout, to see about using it for a ala' 1933 "Park-In Theater"- showing old vintage Halloween movies via YouTube. Hubby Tom and I will come up creating and then building a deco style frame and base for it. Set on a block of wood in this pic for the mock-up. Pulled five of my 1/24 1930-1941 automobiles from the Upstairs Standard Gauge Layout to set up with it.
Paper bungalow:
Lionel 184 in upper right for comparison. Worked out okay, except the porch/entryway is too small.
PD
PD the bungalow looks great, even with the undersized front porch. Can you share how you fabricated/printed the bungalow graphics? Overall very impressive.
Rich,
Paul Race and Howard Lamey put the graphics together. You can find them here:
https://bigindoortrains.com/pr..._house/tin_house.htm
Best,
PD
A recent Ives purchase
This is the#116 Station by Ives. It has very colorful lithography, which is one of the reasons I like the accessories made to go with pre war trains.
The same lithography is used for front and back.
Very nice Greg, a real beauty. Daniel
This is a beautiful station Greg. I love the leadlight windows, the ornate corbels and the people in the windows - especially the clerk sitting at the desk with the candlestick phone. For some time I've had a Hornby No. 2 Windsor station on my wish list. I think this Ives no. 116 has just replaced it! Guy
Two very interesting features of the lithography are the separate men's and ladies' waiting rooms - a common feature in 19th and early 20th century train stations and the train arrival boards with their "Up" and "Down" train designations which were terms for trains moving between larger and smaller towns/cities.
Finally got all of my trains out of storage where they lurked while I was out of the country. I’m taking inventory now to try to figure out what I have and what I forgot.
Among it all is my MTH Olympian Ives set I’m looking forward to running around the tree this year.
Lionel Toy Story Aquarium car from Mario's Trains.
@Don McErlean posted:Carey...layout looks really good. I like the way you have integrated various manufacturers. the structures really look good and the "glass" train shed is really cool. I was interested in what I think is a background along the wall, those backgrounds do not look like flat printed sheets but some of the older Lionel / Flyer backgrounds that they used with some of their sets, is that correct?
Anyway, really looking good.
Don
The background pieces are most of the pieces in the American Flyer Diorama set from 1953. When I bought it many years ago, I never knew it was incomplete. The few missing pieces, hoping to have someone that has this complete to scan them in and make copies for me.
@Trainlover160 posted:A Lionel Classics 381e arrived yesterday in beautiful condition. Many thanks to Steve Eastman for helping me acquire a great engine!
Joe Gozzo
yay!
Today I am back at it on the work trade items for Don Kelly. My part is to design and fill three 512 Gondolas for his Christmas Train. The green gondola seen here is the one as yet unpainted one I had him send me for working with in real size.
#1 filled with vintage ornaments and greenery.
#2 a Santa, train, and xmas tree scene upon a bank of 'snow'
3# a Christmas Day performance of the Ice Capades, starring 'Sonya Henie', complete with Petty pin-up program artwork
#2 and #3 are mostly done, but still works in-progress.
@Carey TeaRose posted:Today I am back at it on the work trade items for Don Kelly. My part is to design and fill three 512 Gondolas for his Christmas Train. The green gondola seen here is the one as yet unpainted one I had him send me for working with in real size.
#1 filled with vintage ornaments and greenery.
#2 a Santa, train, and xmas tree scene upon a bank of 'snow'
3# a Christmas Day performance of the Ice Capades, starring 'Sonya Henie', complete with Petty pin-up program artwork
#2 and #3 are mostly done, but still works in-progress.
Wow Carey!!! Great Job. LOVE THEM!
Joe Gozzo
Another paper building project, the yardmaster's office from the April, 1954, issue of Toy Trains magazine:
Still a few flaws on my part, but I'm learning as I go. Hal Carstens penned this for the magazine 66 years ago, and it's a nice little building. It could easily serve a number of uses, even as a small station. A lot of fun for a few pennies.
PD
Got a few tinplate pieces to add to my collection.
Ives 107-D semaphore signals (Note that the arms and bases are different colors)
A boxed Hafner train set, with track. Says it is a No. 802
A Lionel 118 tunnel
A Lionel 102 Bridge
And three Lionel freight cars
I finally finished this project.
Here is the American Flyer 3008 boxcar that I started with
Lithograph peeling and poorly repainted.
It was converted into a Milk Car thanks to some paint and vinyl decals.
NWL
@Nation Wide Lines posted:I finally finished this project.
Here is the American Flyer 3008 boxcar that I started with
Lithograph peeling and poorly repainted.
It was converted into a Milk Car thanks to some paint and vinyl decals.
NWL
That’s nice! I really like it. It’s a shame that happened to a 3008. Painting it destroys any hope of recognizing the original litho. Your rendition is a good compromise.
I was able to save this one because it was only missing the door and brake wheel. the roof had latex house paint droplets on it that I was able to remove with gentle application of Goof Off. The door is a photo of the other side glued to a piece of tin.
George
@Carey TeaRose @Nation Wide Lines @Lionel2056 @chug @jhz563 @Arne and to everyone on this page- this is one of the best pages of finds andbeautiful Displays of tin I’ve seen on this forum in recent memory! Absolutely fantastic!
i have my own items to contribute, but I’m focused on the one I just bought, unexpectedly. Lumber/stake car with Bing auto couplers and Bub looking “trucks”(can’t think of the word)- held together by 3 chains and with buffers. Modified car?
Will post rest of recent finds once I get home but this one is really bugging me! In the mean time- keep the good stuff coming!
@StevefromPA posted:i have my own items to contribute, but I’m focused on the one I just bought, unexpectedly. Lumber/stake car with Bing auto couplers and Bub looking “trucks”(can’t think of the word)- held together by 3 chains and with buffers. Modified car?
Will post rest of recent finds once I get home but this one is really bugging me! In the mean time- keep the good stuff coming!
Steve sorry, wrong and wrong. The couplers are silver, Bing had similar but in black. Truck are different to Bub.
The car was made by the Manufacturer Doll in the late 30s, buffers and couplers are orginal, but was a passenger car, the chains and the wood are homemade.
Greetings
Arne
@Arne posted:Steve sorry, wrong and wrong. The couplers are silver, Bing had similar but in black. Truck are different to Bub.
The car was made by the Manufacturer Doll in the late 30s, buffers and couplers are orginal, but was a passenger car, the chains and the wood are homemade.
Greetings
Arne
Arne, i appreciate you once again shooting my improper conjectures out of the sky ha. But thank you for the accurate info- you are such a great source of knowledge. I figured it was likely modified based on the slots for tabs on the bottom. I thought the trucks were Bub because the rest just didn’t fit with my other two guesses(Fandor or Distler). I see what you mean regarding the couplers- they also ”hang” lower.I’m happy to know that the frame, couplers and buffers are original- this train is my first Doll et Cie ! I have some decent prewar Bodies that could use a decent frame and fit on this car so that’s probably what I’ll do. Thanks again!
Doll et Cie was eventually taken over by Fleischman but their Production was nowhere near the same quality.
@Nation Wide Lines posted:I finally finished this project.
Here is the American Flyer 3008 boxcar that I started with
Lithograph peeling and poorly repainted.
It was converted into a Milk Car thanks to some paint and vinyl decals.
NWL
NWL, I love this!!! My fave was Carnation Strawberry Ice Cream.
@Jim O'C posted:Doll et Cie was eventually taken over by Fleischman but their Production was nowhere near the same quality.
I was aware of that. Bing and Doll were both great companies that had Jewish owners and thus targets of the Nazi regime that ruined them in one way or another. Doll sold sold to Fleischman(also had Jewish owner)who took over in 1938–1939 and managed to produce some Doll cars prior to switching to war production, even using the Doll logo. The Doll logo use by Fleischmann is almost similar to some Bub cars having the a Bub and Bing logo, except Stefan Bing had this practice stopped per court order(thanks Arne!) in 1933(although some cars produced in 1933 by Bub with both logos were still sold in 1934). That said, Stefan Bing was in the UK at this time so presumably a court in the UK made that decision. Per TCA western, With Doll sale was made with good faith thay after the war Fleischmann would return the company to its rightful owner, which it apparently offered to do and that offer was declined. While I don’t have any Prewar Fleischmann o gauge, I do have 2 Postwar cars: Aral tank car and the “High side car” that has the Fleischmann name and “made in Us Zone” on it. The quality of those Postwar tin cars by Fleischmann is definitely not on par with anything Prewar German- it almost feels flimsy and has very “goofy” couplers.
Just catching up on this thread after a couple of months. Great stuff as usual!!
Robert, love the tinplate reefer madness!
Carey, the ipad drive-in is a great idea. Can't wait to see the art deco version. A video of the trains running past a movie playing at night? That would be cool! And the gondola panoramas. You are a real artist and are giving me ideas!!
PD, very nice bungalow and yardmaster's office!
And NWL, great reefer.
I agree with Steve- this is a particularly great page of projects and finds. Long live tinplate!!
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