Guide to Prewar American Flyer boxes/labels

The following box labels are 1914 ONLY!

Although the box top label is similar to a later box top label and printed top design, this label dates to 1914 only, as evidenced by the address of 1910-1920 W. Kinzie Street, as American Flyer MFG moved from this address to S. Halsted Street in 1914.  The top label also matches the 1914 catalog cover artwork.

The end label appears only on the 1914 boxes.  

The labels below date to c. 1915-1919, but was not the only label used during this era.

Note the top label has the S. Halsted Street address, indicating it was from after their move in 1914.

More to come...

Other boxes from the 1915-1919? era include this printed top label

Note the labeling is essentially the same as the applied label, just printed in black ink on the top.

End labels were mixed during this era and may include the following:

Note the printed train appears similar to the 1914 end label, but only the train.  This box features the "winged engine" logo, which Flyer began using c. 1915?

There was also this label, which dates to c. 1918 (note the Toy Mfg's notation).  Additionally, the different design appears to show an electric powered steam locomotive, marked 1220 under the cab window.

To Be Contined....

The end label, featured in the previous post, was featured on the ends of windup labels beginning around 1919 and throughout the early to mid 1920s.

It should be noted that this end label was also featured on 1920 electric powered sets (as evidenced by a set 1217 with this end label).  Therefore, it was likely also featured on pre-1920 electric powered sets, of which are limited due to apparent production issues, as evidenced by a lack of advertising of electric powered sets between 1918 and 1919.

Here is the end label for the 1920 set 1217

Note this label now has "Train No." printed in the upper left corner.  I am not positive that this change dates to any specific period, other than it appears on the 1920 set box I have, but the set #19 label pictured first, is from a set that is later than 1920.  I know that I have a mix of the two styles of end labels in my collection, primarily with wind-up sets.

The top label for these early windup sets features this design

NWL

The 1921 era electric powered sets also feature this top label

However, their end label changes to this

Note this is a steeple cab design engine, rather than the 3020 style engine

The end label with the 3020 style engine was used beginning in 1922 (when the 3020 was introduced) until c. 1927.

The electric powered sets from 1922 through 1927 came with or without this top label.    

I have also observed the odd set that features the earlier style top label with the end label showing the 3020.  However, that was noted to be a set sold through a wholesale company, as evidenced by their special numbering.  It almost appears as if there was another label over the 3020 label, but not sure.  I do know that the F3240 numbering corresponds to a Butler Brothers set with electric powered engine.  

NWL

Side note, American Flyer also used the 3020 style end label on their early billboards, which were first cataloged in 1923.

The billboard below is somewhat unusual, in that the company address is typed on to the label at bottom left center.

NWL

Nation Wide Lines posted:

Other boxes from the 1915-1919? era include this printed top label

Note the labeling is essentially the same as the applied label, just printed in black ink on the top.

End labels were mixed during this era and may include the following:

..

interesting slight variation...

just a car box, but a favorite of mine...

your E-M boxes are simply amazing... would like to find one with a non-stratospheric price one day.

cheers...gary

pretty sure this was a box with a 9900 clockwork set or at least what came in it when i bought it.  the top on the box was plain or if it once had a paper label, shows no sign of it now.

[edit} hmmmm.... have to check... this might be the top...

or this might be another box.

overlandflyer posted:

pretty sure this was a box with a 9900 clockwork set or at least what came in it when i bought it.  the top on the box was plain or if it once had a paper label, shows no sign of it now.

[edit} hmmmm.... have to check... this might be the top...

or this might be another box.

I am still working toward the era of those boxes.  Trying to do it chronologically.  

But no the top label showing the zephyr would not correspond to the green label.  The box with the green label would not have had any decoration on the top.

As for the green label coming with a wind-up set.  That is unlikely, as the box has RT after the number, which would correspond either to a remote control train or a train with a transformer (or possibly both).  

Cannot quite read the 3 number in the green label, but if it is 7473 RT, that would correspond to a Comet set, per my observations and notes about 7000 series sets, which were uncataloged sets.

Thanks so much for doing this NWL.  This is a great help and I've already created a separate file in my train collection folder for this.

thanks for the info, NWL... as you may be able to tell, i'm not much of a historian when it comes to original boxes, but i do like the graphics.  i suspect at least some of the set boxes i have were not original to the sets i wound up buying.  i really don't blame auction houses as they likely try to piece together inherited collections the best they can.

Nation Wide Lines posted:

...

Cannot quite read the 3 number in the green label, but if it is 7473 RT, that would correspond to a Comet set, per my observations and notes about 7000 series sets, which were uncataloged sets.

that's it... i do have that Comet set.  i've got all this written down...  somewhere...

Robert S. Butler posted:

Thanks so much for doing this NWL.  This is a great help and I've already created a separate file in my train collection folder for this.

I have wanted to do this for a while, but have been busy with other things and only acquired the 1908-1909 Edmonds-Metzel box this spring. 

I constantly see mis-information or sellers who are selling mis-matched items and it bothers me that the average people might buy items at absurd prices, thinking something is original and correct, when it is not.  

One really has to do their research on boxes to know what is correct and what is not.  

A couple of days ago Robert S. Butler posted that he had set 1202, which he assumed was a c. 1925 set due to its contents and he described it as having a paper set number label that just had the Set No, with no set name.  I corrected him on that post, in that his set appeared to be mis-matched due to the paper set number labels being used only in 1927 and that the contents of his set appeared to pre-date 1927.  By the way, I happen to have a set 1202 that features rubber-stamped lettering, which would date to 1925 or 1926.

Here is why I believe that the "Set No'" paper labels date to 1927 only.

First of all, the sets prior to 1927 were numbered simply with rubber stampings.

This box is for set 1101, which I can date to early 1925 due to the paperwork that came with the set and of course the unusual color of the engine.

The brown 1095 engines are very late engines and set 1101 last appeared in the 1924 catalog, as it is set 1102 in the 1925 catalog, which was produced late in the year.

Next up is set 1302 (lettering somewhat faint), from 1926. 

Set 1302 is comprised of a black 3014 engine and Illini cars and dates to 1926 only.  

Prior to 1926, the Illini cars always came with the 3020 engine and were part of set 1305 or 1307.  In 1927, the Illini cars came as part of set 1306, which this set number was used in 1927 on the Jeffersonian set and then not used again until 1931 on the Bearcat set (comprised of a red 3110 with 3141 & 3142 cars), which had different box labeling. 

Additionally, the paper "Set No." labels also appear on a number of other 1927 only sets, such as The Bluebird (1927 version as 1928 and beyond bluebird sets featured different numbers) and Set 1X (The Wolverine of 1927 only, as earlier and later Wolverine sets were simply labeled Set 1).

Here are some of the 1927 sets with paper set number labels.

Bluebird set

Set 1X (The Woverine)

Boxes for Oriental Limited (set 1820) and Broadway Limited (set 1217)

Guess I did not photograph the box for set 1306, but there is one in the box room.

Hope this helps.

overlandflyer posted:

Nation Wide Lines posted:

Other boxes from the 1915-1919? era include this printed top label

Note the labeling is essentially the same as the applied label, just printed in black ink on the top.

End labels were mixed during this era and may include the following:

..

interesting slight variation...

just a car box, but a favorite of mine...

your E-M boxes are simply amazing... would like to find one with a non-stratospheric price one day.

cheers...gary

It took me a long time to figure out what the difference between those two labels were.  The simple change from "2219 TO 2239 SO. HALSTED" to "2219-2239 S. Halsted"

I in taking a second look, I have only 1 box that has the "2219-2239 S. Halsted" instead of the "2219 TO 2239 SO. HALSTED"  Oddly, the remains of my box with the Toy Manufacturers marking has the "2219 TO 2239 SO. HALSTED".  

Will have to take a look at more of these boxes next week, when visiting the Los Angeles area.  

In taking a second look at this label, I see that the address on this label is printed differently also.  

Interesting that there are so many slight differences in what appears to be roughly the same image.

NWL

lol... i was going to point it out, but i thought it would be more fun to look for it...

my guess is that it was either a two step process or they made the printing plate with removable type in that area.  perhaps someone came up with the idea... "what if we move?".  it's great to see evolution like this with so many examples.  with just the one box myself, i might never have picked up something like that.

cheers...gary

OK a correction.  Set #1306 was used on 3 different sets throughout the years.  From 1922-1924 set 1306 included a 3020, illini type baggage, and 1 illini type coach.  

Here is a picture of the box.

Set 1306 from 1927 included the 3015 engine, illini type baggage, coach, and observation.  Here is its box.

I do not have a picture of set 1306 from 1931.  

Starting in 1928, American Flyer switched to a label that showed the President's Special set, for its electric powered O gauge sets.

Note these labels state "Over Six Million Satisfied Owners"  The sets also received a larger set label that indicated the set name and set number.  Note that this label has dark blue outer background and a light blue badge color.

Apparently sales were good during this time, as the label soon changed to "Over 6 1/2 Million Satisfied Owners"

The label now refers to the line as Narrow Gauge instead of O gauge.  

Wind up sets from this era get their own label as well, this one showing a steam engine.

Again, over 6 1/2 million Satisfied owners.  

More to follow...

Some time around 1931 a new label was used.  Not sure for how long or if it was the only label used at that time, as these labels are somewhat unusual to find.

Around 1932 or so this label is being used, apparently on all types of sets from that era.

There are different set identification labels used throughout this period.  Not sure of the specific dating of these labels, other than the ones identifying the Century of Progress appear as late as 1934.

Note the above label features a light blue background and an uncolored badge background.

Next up, the streamliner labels...

The early cast aluminum Zephyr sets got their own labels for 1934.

The tin streamline sets also received some unique boxes.

The end labels were fairly standard between the different top designs.

The tops varied between sets.  I have seen other streamliners than just the Hiawatha and Zephyrs in these boxes.  I do not recall if these boxes were just for windup sets or if they covered the electric tin streamliners.  I know that I have electric powered tin streamliners in sets with the green end label (scroll down).

The following label came into use around 1935 and was used through the end of Chicago production in 1937.

In fact, the design was kept the same for the Gilbert labels for 1938 through 1940.  The only differences were the background color and the change of address.

That is about all I have to show for standard production set box labels.  However, I may have missed something.

NWL

There are a host of oddities out there as well.

NWL

I guess I should post pictures of the box room......

Most, but not all of these boxes are currently empty.  However, as I have ran out of shelf space, some boxes are full of their respective sets.  Also probably need to buy another shelf.  

NWL

Prewar Flyer isn't my thing, but that's some wonderful stuff.

Thanks for sharing.

TRW

THATS where all the boxes got to....

Thanks for the chronological run down.  This thread is a keeper for us Flyer heads.

So here is another early variation c. 1919-1920.  I am not sure of the exact era of this, but it would have to be from between 1918 and 1920, as the end label for electric sets in 1921 feature a 1218.

Note the "Electric" in the upper right corner of the label. 

The above label, as compared to my 1920 era 1217 set label would make me think the first label dates to the 1918-1919 era.  I do not have an example of the first label in my collection and they are quite rare.  

NWL

Wonderful thread!! Very informative (and fun to look at!) 

Which box (era) would you say the #10 loco w/328 tender and 1107 coach belongs with?

Elgaucho posted:

Wonderful thread!! Very informative (and fun to look at!) 

Which box (era) would you say the #10 loco w/328 tender and 1107 coach belongs with?

That is a tough question, because those items were manufactured over several years and without seeing pictures of the specific items, one cannot really answer the question accurately.  Without seeing the items, I would guess early 1920s.

NWL

Nation Wide Lines posted:

I guess I should post pictures of the box room......

Most, but not all of these boxes are currently empty.  However, as I have ran out of shelf space, some boxes are full of their respective sets.  Also probably need to buy another shelf.  

NWL

Just fantastic!

What box(era) would go with these?

Elgaucho posted:

What box(era) would go with these?

That set would date sometime after 1922 (due to the frame style of the coach), so I would guess the box would have labels similar to this.

NWL