A Cragstan Switching Road

That's neat. Any idea how old it is?

No but I wish I did and I am still looking for some kind of history for Cragstan who I suspect was a Japanese firm who marketed toys in the U.S. Maybe the 50's or 60's? Its ingeniously simple and reminds me of Marx for this reason. Maybe someone can fill in the blanks....

One of their most valuable items, reproduced 20 years ago by MTH:

Cragstan was a toy marketer (probably based in the USA) that contracted with various Japanese toy manufacturers for their line of usually battery operated toys.  The company was active from the 1950s to at least 1970. 

Most had some kind of novelty movement that required battery power.

Some Cragstan toys were contracted out to toy makers in West Germany.

Thanks. Mr Atomic is way cool.The box is just as repro-retro.  Egads, I had no idea that MTH did "other" stuff. Wow, a surprise! I must have been sleeping at the switch or had my head buried in some work related nonsense. 

That train is a riot with the switchman waving his flag around!

I've seen similar tin trains with the description "ALPS Tin Litho Shuttling Freight Train", made in Japan, wonder if it's related? I saw one at a local "Antiques Mall" where it has been for sale for several months for $95. It has the original box and one operating car that loads and unloads at the two sidings. The loco is a Union Pacific diesel. I've seen other variants online.  This photo from Ebay.

I believe MTH made only 500 repro Mr. Atomics (250 silver, 250 blue.)

The originals are so rare and expensive that the MTH version has become a valuable collectible in its own right.  The MTH version was made in Korea.

The original Mr. Atomic was available only once (from Sears in their 1962 Sears Wish Book.)

In current market terms, it must be the most valuable item in that specific catalog.

KMK

"Moves and bumps in all directions" reminds me of my younger drinking days. What was the MSRP for the MTH when it was released and what is it now.?.You have my curiosity triggered. Higher than a tinplate train set? I know they reproduced the Lionel race set, now this. Any other MTH non train stuff?

Bruce

Here are the ads from the Feb 1993 premiere issue of Collecting Toys magazine that show MTH tinplate repro toys being made for sale:

I believe there was also a reproduction of a fire station that may or may not have been actually made.  About 5 years after Mr. Atomic was reproduced the last of these toys was being offered by one dealer for $ 700 for a pair (one blue, one silver.)

Currently there is a MTH Mr. Atomic for sale on eBay.  http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mr-Ato...;hash=item1c30bdb80d

It's worth a look for the pictures.

The asking price is considerably lower that what it would have been 10 years ago.  These used to sell for quite a bit more on the secondary market.  Original Mr. Atomics are worth well in excess of $ 10,000, MIB.

KMK

 I never knew MTH targeted non train toy collectors with limited editions. I learned something.  Thanks for the interesting information. 

Bruce

I believe it is possible that these were the first items MTH made under their own name.  I don't recall any MTH branded electric trains being made at this time.  Note the company is calling itself "Mike's Toy House" in the ads.

Maybe someone else out there can give us the exact date they entered the toy train market.

The MTH Kingsbury Fire Station 8 was reproduced.

I have an original Kingsbury Station and the MTH reproduction.

They also reproduced the Kingsbury fire engine.

Watching the video, it seems the reason is that they are not really switches.  The train always follows the same path - the route cannot be switched.  They are really more like X-crossing tracks.

Reminds me somewhat of the Marx "busy bridge" wind-up toy,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?f...ge&v=p2SDgx4KRX8

Bruce, in 1993 MTH also reproduced the famous Marx tinplate Amos 'N Andy Fresh Air Taxi:

http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/5246723

Thanks hojack and totrainyard..for filling in the gaps in what seems to be the origins of MTH, which is one of the fascinating side tracks to threads. I became only familiar with MTH after it transitioned to tinplate via Lionel, so it's not surprising when Mike Wolf said he has a soft spot for tinplate. Interesting aspect to the company's evolution from a "Toy House" to an O gauge manufacturer. And yes,on the Cragstan they do only resemble switches thats why I mentioned they have no movable points, and in looking closer, they seem to be carefully stamped in a fairly close tolerance to make the wheels ( which are very thin) follow the slot in one direction only. It's clever and a good illusion as unless you eyeball the track very closely, there's no way to see this.

MTH also made the Kingsbury Firehouse.

One of the toys I got endless hours of fun out of was a Cragston switching train similiar to above.   I don't remember a flagman or a dump car.  Possible that those items were destroyed early on and all I did was run it back and forth.  I don't remember the exact style of the engine.  This would be around 55-58, probably.

I have always remembered this toy and with the advent of Ebay, thought about watching and  buying another one.  I know I have too many toys and at this stage of life try not to buy more "stuff" others will have to sort out  in coming years!!

NJCJOE

The firehouse looks almost like the original was cast iron looking at the fire engine, and so, I assume the engine is diecast(?) Is it clockwork powered? I just saw Mike Wolf on I Love Toy Trains last week talking about the affordability of reproductions versus originals in a mock debate with a collector ( very funny episode-my favorite) and when these were first issued, I assume that was true as you said earlier. That is a beautiful piece, reproduction or not..the gloss finish really stands out.

Matt

One of the things that surprises me more often than not, is that something like this survived at all when it was meant for kids..Aquiring this meant taking a pass on more pricey examples over several months. In this case patience won out. I am in the process of labelling everything unobtrusively as my wife and I have talked about what to do with the collection once I am planted. That helps, to label whats rare etc. My daughter loves tinplate so most likely it will go to her.

Bruce

I own one of Mike's Hiway Henry Jalopy reproductions.  It's fantastic and is the perfect item to use in conjunction with RichArt's Tinplate Standard Gauge Toonerville Trolley at its matching tinplate Toonerville train station and tinplate Toonerville characters.  See all of these items on the SGMA layout at Trainfest 2013 in Milwaukee, WI this coming November.  

Bob

Kingsbury Fire engine is a windup toy.

Front wheel drive, wind key under front axle.

Firehouse is all tinplate, both MTH and original Kingsbury.

The Kingsbury fire station was made of pressed steel which is heavier (thicker) than tin plate.

Ron M

Finally found this magazine article on MTH vintage toy reproductions:

Two more MTH ads on the same, note the price drop in the second.

KMK

Thanks for sharing this find. The ad that announces 50% off the MSRP and this being manufactured as a limited edition collectable seems to answer the question I had in the back of my mind when the subject came up, which is why he had not continued this line of products. From reading the article, I thought it was interesting that he made the decision based not so much on the market but the fact that he personally liked what he saw and it seems his instincts were off because he assumed what he liked others would follow. A sort of insight into his thinking at that time. He certainly went into a lot of out of pocket trouble to get these items done. 500 passes of lithography? He really looks young in that photograph as well as self assured. It struck me as a kind of hint as to far he would go, despite this setback. I wonder what else he liked that, as a result of this, was never made. If I ever met him, this is a question I would ask.

Bruce

Seen in a local 'Antiques Mall', the tracks and modus operandi look similar to the item in original post. The loco does not have the waving switchman feature.

Sez "loading platform" on the red 'roof' of the 'shed'. The set parts are loose on a display shelf, not assembled with the track pieces end-to-end as intended.

The instructions are printed on the ends of the box.

As of today it is still for sale at $95. It has been there for months. One side of the loco has some rust damage as shown in photo above.

There is one currently available here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Shuttl...;hash=item2a2b5ce97f

I just saw an original Marx Amos'n'Andy Fresh Air Taxi for sale at a hobby swap meet this afternoon.

Very strange coincidence, I think.

Ace

The photograph from Fabin Toys you posted is the same with what seems to be an exception which is the loading building seems to be missing it's tray that is normally mounted on top. The photo answered my question as to the load, which is "steel pipes" which is probably, in reality, some sort of tin or plastic etc replica. The price on Ebay is pretty typical for a complete set. However, I held out for someone to sell one at a lower price which happens from time to time. Not often. I happened to catch one by pure luck and paid about 60.00 and 20.00 for the two additional sections of track. BTW I ended up with two dump cars, so if anyone is in need of one, Ill send it to them at no charge. Check out the tiny lithographed trucks. By comparison the actual wheels could be wagon wheels.  Here are what I have:

Several times I have seen this set broken up as separate sale items. About a week ago I saw the engine as a separate sale item by searching Cragstan. I think if I remember right it was around 40.00. I doubt I will ever find the steel pipes so Ill have to fiddle with fabricating some. The pipes always seem to be missing.  

KMK

What were they asking for it?

Bruce

Bruce, my photo shows what are apparently original pipe loads; I can just barely read "Japan" on one of the (metal?) pipes.

Ace

Much Thanks. My aging eyes missed that important detail. They look like steel pipes. What? Makes me think what else I missed.

Bruce

I went back for another look. The pipe loads appear original for this set. The printing "ABC Steel Co" is visible on one pipe.