Need Information on a American Flyer 762 Whistle Billboard

What image is on the front of the billboard? From the pictures I am not sure what you purchased. The 577 has the lights but not the solenoid. The 762 Two In One billboard has the solenoid but is not illuminated.

The 762 comes with a two button control attached to the billboard with a 3 conductor cable. Two wires from the button attach to the 15V and Base Post terminals on the transformer. One button completes a circuit from 15V to base post for just the motor. The other button completes the circuit for both the motor and the solenoid. A fourth wire would be required to illuminate the billboard.

The lights sure look factory.

This is the two tone whistle. The solenoid creates the second tone.

Solenoids do not get lubricated, but you can rub graphite from a pencil on the piston if you want to.

Here is the the Instruction Sheet. The 762 was not illuminated. Does anyone else have an illuminated 762?

Thanks for the responses.  After I posted, I found the operation sheet AmFLyer posted for a AF 762 that shows it is a two tone AM Whistling Billboard.  Thanks to AmFlyer too, for the instructions on wiring.  I should be able to wire it with two switches.  Just hoping the solenoid and motor will operate.

The billboard has an ad for TWA and has a picture of a three tail rudder Constellation TWA airplane.  The picture is in poor shape and was just glued on.  I may use it or add a better shape ad from some I have collected from Plasticville billboards.

The AF two tone whistle will be a good upgrade and add interest to my two Lionel whistles on the layout.

Thanks again to the OGR forum and forumites

Charlie

Places like Port Lines sell repros of the original artwork. The 762 had the Gilbert Erector Ad on it.

I am still puzzled by the two lights. It would take four wires from the control button to the billboard for those to be constantly illuminated. With just three wires they can only light up when one of the buttons are pushed. My 762 is not illuminated.

AmFlyer

Here are the wires on my 762   You can see most of them on my first picture.

Long Black wire - to center post of one light bulb socket ( there is a jumper from the center of this light bulb socket to the center of the other light bulb socket, bulbs are in series)

Long Green Wire - to one motor field coil

Short Yellow Wire - to common of one light bulb socket

Short Red Wire - to one end of solenoid coil

Other wires

Solenoid coil - other wire on coil goes to common of one light bulb

Motor Coil - other end to one brush holder

Motor - Other brush holder to common on one light bulb socket

From this I conclude:

The black wire is the one that powers the lights and I will put a switch in that line and feed with it with my 12 vac light transformer

The Red wire to the solenoid is the one that turns on or off the solenoid and it will go to a whistle switch and get 14.5 vac from my switch transformer

The Green wire is the one that feeds power to the motor via the motor coil and it will have another whistle switch and get 14.5 vac from my switch transformer

To operate the whistle

Loud whistle (both whistle vents open) - Push the Green wire switch button to power the whistle full blast

Soft Whistle (one whistle vent open) - Push both the Green wire switch button to power the whistle and Push the Red wire switch button to power the solenoid to close one of the whistle vents

For my set up with two control panels, I will have a set of two AF 762 whistle buttons on each control panel.  That is the case for each of my two Lionel whistles which are in two building, one on each on the middle end of my L shaped layout.  No one will ever figure out where all the whistle are coming from or which train!  I went to Lionel whistles in a couple of building verses trying to keep 15 or so coal tenders whistles in operating condition and to keep from dragging down my Lionel LW transformers when using the coal tender whistles.  The especially important when running two trains on one LW track loop via the relayed and blocked system for two train per track operation.

Thanks for your interest and help in figuring out this minor AF whistle situation.

Charlie

Do not neglect the yellow wire. It also needs to return to the transformer. Otherwise there will not be a complete circuit when the a button is pushed.

AmFlyer

Yes, the yellow wire goes to the "common" on the transformer.  I should have used "common' in place of "ground.'  My whole layout has a "common" for all transformers, LWs, 12v and 14v are included.

Charlie

Here is a picture of the photo on my AF 762 Whistle Billboard, an ad for TWA in poor shape.  You can see a paint job is needed on the frame and billboard stand.

I have changed my second post work "Ground" to "Common" for the wire connections.

Charlie

I do not have room on the layout for the AF Whistling Billboard.  I have found a place inside the mountain the will work and has 5 tunnel outlets to allow the sound to be heard.  So the AF Whistling Billboard will add to the two Lionel whistles on the layout giving a new two tone whistle option.  And I will not have to mess with fixing up the Billboard to make it more attractive.

Charlie a