Does anyone know what dealers or dealer/collectors might specialize in American Flyer S gauge trains and accessories? I know Trainz carries some but the selection is rather limited.
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If you mean Gilbert items it is basically internet searches and large train shows. For new items there is Charles Ro and DesPlaines Hobbies. For resale of newer items it is again internet searches and large train shows.
I have a Private Car membership at Trainz. So far it has paid for itself. Once in a while something rare appears on Trainz that I want. Be extremely careful buying S gauge from Trainz. The people doing the descriptions are not S gauge experts and there have been material errors in at least half the items I purchased. Usually the pictures are good enough to spot the errors. If not, call them first.
@lionelflyer posted:Does anyone know what dealers or dealer/collectors might specialize in American Flyer S gauge trains and accessories? I know Trainz carries some but the selection is rather limited.
Just Trains just recently acquired a collection. All NIB for a large part of it. You might want to give them a call.
Thank you for the information so far. I'm sorry I wasn't specific. I meant Gilbert AF from 1946 to 1966.
Go to York. There are a couple of dealers who regularly set up in the Orange hall - IIRC one of them is Dave Blum. There is someone in Red who always has several tables of mint and like-new Gilbert Flyer items. Lots of Flyer in the other halls, and one of the bandit meets is primarily Flyer.
@AmFlyer posted:Be careful buying S gauge from Trainz. Usually the pictures are good enough to spot the errors.
Beware, many of the photos Trainz uses are "stock." Meaning that they don't always take pics of every new item listed if they already have such a photo in their system.
Radio ron,
I agree and always ask what function means?
Gunny
Mallard4468,
Thanks for the tip on Dave Blum. It looks like he really specializes in Flyer. I'm really looking for a dealer who can take all the Flyer I have off my hands. I'm just inundated with too many trains (yes, I know, Boo Hoo!). I want to concentrate on mostly Lionel O Gauge.
I also need to figure out what to do with the boxes of track and Plasticville that I've acquired over the years of buying collections. If anyone has an idea as to what to do with this stuff, I'd love to hear opinions. I don't think it is really saleable.
Jhought nyou wwanted to buy? Pictures would giv us some basis on how to guide you.
Gunny
I would run a want ad on this Forum for American Flyer Trains built by Gilbert.
Jim,
Read up a few posts and you will see he wants to get rid of his flyer not buy any. The advice and time spent trying to help him was wasted.
Gunny
Hey Gunny,
Not at all. I received numerous recommendations from the great folks here on how to sell off my Flyer collection.
@RadioRon posted:Beware, many of the photos Trainz uses are "stock." Meaning that they don't always take pics of every new item listed if they already have such a photo in their system.
Just for the record, our policy is we only use our stock photos for items that are LN or MT and the one we have is indistingushable from our saved photos. We don't use them for vintage items like Gilbert AF or postwar. We do occassionly miss something and we use a photo when we should't. We still have humans working here ...
And Tom AmFlyer is correct that we do not have a staff of people that are experts in AF, but through training and experience we are always working on learing more and improving. We always apprecite your feedback on issues that you see in our listings that are not correct. Just email us and we will correct them. For some reason this never seems to happen on rare variations that we occassionaly miss that are underpriced?? :-)
@Scott@Trainz posted:Just for the record, our policy is we only use our stock photos for items that are LN or MT and the one we have is indistingushable from our saved photos. We don't use them for vintage items like Gilbert AF or postwar. We do occassionly miss something and we use a photo when we should't. We still have humans working here ...
We do not have a staff of experts in AF, but through training and experience we are always working on learning and improving. We appreciate your feedback on issues you see in our listings that are not correct. Just email us and we will correct them. For some reason this never seems to happen on rare variations that we occasionally miss that are underpriced?? :-)
Thanks for the clarification, Scott. 
