I have noted that in most pictures mini mouse with the red hat appears on the left but in some pictures Mickey Mouse appears on the left. What is the correct orientation and does it depend on the base color of the car? I am taking into account that the ID plate is facing forward.
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The variations I've seen has Mini on the left...with a hat, red handcar, and without a hat, green handcar, as well as Mini on the right, with hat, on green handcar.
Which way is forward?, Or do they reverse too? I take it the nameplate is only on one side?
The mechanism only runs in one direction, due to it being a wind up or clockwork motor. The four colors they released, all had Minnie on the left, Mickey on the right, when viewed with the label facing you. The colors were red, orange, green, & maroon/burgundy. It was sold for the Christmas season of 1934. The Patent (2019651A), was applied for Feb. 4, 1935, and granted on Nov. 5, 1935, by Joseph L. Bonanno; Engineer for Lionel.
A limited quantity were produced (for Demonstration purposes only), that were motorized, to dealers only, for window displays. The complete outfit included a transformer, 12 sections of track. This came from a letter by Lionel, dated Oct. 24, 1934. (Source: Richard T. Claus, author “Lionel mechanical Trains”)
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