Was this a term first started by Lionel of American Flier?
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AF
American Flyer.
But, seeing that Lionel bought up all the "intellectual property" of American Flyer, they "adopted" the name for their motors back in the 70's or 80's.
Rusty
Flyer for sure. It was their term for traction tires.
The first reference to Pullmor by Lionel was in the 1970 catalog.
The entire line was cataloged with traction tires, and all diesels(Alco, NW, & GP) had a power truck that was improved with two traction tires, dual axle drive, nylon spur gears, new motor frame stampings with bronze bushings, and die cast side frames(prior to 1970 Lionel Toy Corp had severely cheapened the 600/200 series power trucks).
"Pullmor" then later became a retronym to make the distinction between traditional open frame universal AC/DC series wound motors and the much less expensive permanent-magnet DC can motors that began to be used in entry level sets & equipment.
MPC had those motors also in the U36B/C, SD18's, and F3's!
Lionel expanded the use of the open frame universal AC/DC series wound motors throughout the expansion of the product line using the Pullmor moniker in all loco types. It just started with the name in 1970.
If you look at the early 50's American Flyer catalogs you'll see how they used this term to make us think OUR trains at home would pull 50-60 cars up steep grades easily and effortlessly. As a kid, I never did catch on to how a rubber wheel could do all that!
Was always glad that Santa liked 2 rail trains too...
Here's the earliest reference I could find from the 1953 advance catalog:
Cropped from: http://www.myflyertrains.org/A...lbert%20Catalogs.htm
Rusty
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Except for some clubs, most private layouts would not have the trackage for 10-20 cars at a time, much less 40!
