Oldest Toy Train Transformer?

Not really that old and not really a transformer.  Made from around 1927 or so to sometime in the early/mid 1930's.  It was a used as a speed control for those cases where the transformer or power source (batteries) did not have a way to vary the voltage. 

I believe in the Real Old Days, Voltamp used a series of 4-5 light bulbs that had to be screwed in and out to vary the speed of the train.

Rusty

Robert

Thanks for the clarification which ,in retrospect, makes sense as to this interesting piece was (is). You mentioned batteries which made me think of rural areas.. a lot of which did not have electricity back in the day. Now you have me wondering what a 1920's vintage battery looks like...the lead clips on the battery look strangely familiar.

Mr Nabisco

Wow..kinda fits into what rural folks might have used, I already was dumbfounded when I saw my first hit and miss engine, ( what the heck is that?) this one is a new twist. Very cool.

Bruce

Techie

I was being tongue in cheek..my least favorite terminal post..

Bruce

Yes, those Fahnstocks are no friend of stranded wire, especially.  Being frustrated by those clips is one thing I remember from my early train days.

Let's see more photos of ancient electrical equipment related to toy trains.  Here's my contribution:  An Ives transformer, sans rheostat.  The voltage is controlled by connecting to any of 4 posts, giving 6 possible voltages from 4 to 20 volts.  I've not been brave enough to plug it in.

I have the Ives transformer, and I plugged mine in, and it still works (Safety Warning: Run an extension cord into the driveway. It lessens the fire danger). I also have an early American Flyer transformer.

I also had the opportunity to see a early Lionel #5 ish set (NYC & HRRR with tender). It had the wires and sockets for the original batteries, and the box with the label showing how to use it. I wish I would have had the money to buy the set from a friend of mine, but at least I got to see it (but my pictures are gone )

Hey, that's a good one, Michael:  Running an extension cord to the driveway.  

Seeing that old battery for radio use just reminded me of an electric bill from the early 50s I ran across.  It was for a hobby farm my Granddad had which had been electrified under the Rural Electrification Agency, a depression-era agency. I remember visiting him when he used kerosene lamps, and what a huge improvement the electricity was. He didn't use a lot of electricity because he wasn't there all the time, but this bill was for $1.90 - for 2 months! 

Mr. Nabisco's wheel generator reminds me to the story my dad told me.

During the war (my dad and his brother were hidden) they had a bicycle, on a stand. The wheel acted as a pulley, loading an old car battery. One was pedalling the wheel, the other reading aloud some copy of a book. They shifted duty when the cyclist got tired.

The battery and a small bulb gave them at least some light for a few moments.

Here's a Marx transformer most old timers will be very familiar with.  During WWII, they were available with a detachable cord, and it was the same cord used by other appliances, so you could conserve by using only the one cord.

Here's my Jefferson Electric Midget transformer and its box. I don't know how old it is, but I like it. I'm not going to plug it in, however. 

Your Jefferson is in great condition.  It's old, for sure.  It seems to have a lot of the same characteristics as the Ives.  But yours looks to have a speed control on the front.

Yes, it has seven unmarked "click-stops" on it, evenly spaced. It was "learn-by-doing" voltage control.

In the early years of our hobby, homes were sparsely supplied with electrical outlets because nobody imagined all the things that electricity could do.  Some outlets had just one place to plug in, not two.  So a screw-in adapter was popular if, for example, you wished to run your train.  You removed your light bulb from your plain porcelain ceiling fixture, screwed in the adapter, then plugged in your transformer.

How about this one...

Or this one...

Rich,

I would not plug one of those in either!

But I am happy to feature them in Collector's Gallery in Run 265, the August / September issue.

It is the least I cam do for the old things. Especially since one of them was supposedly rated at 400 watts.  (Good Grief)

Ed Boyle

I figured a little "teaser" about what's coming in Collector's Gallery in Run 265 wouldn't hurt!