American Flyer 3110 long frame?

@Lionel2056 posted:

Hi all,

I found an interesting set that has a long frame 3110, with top-mounted reverse lever, in green. The coaches are described as green with orange roofs and gray trucks without journals. Has anyone heard of a green 3110 with a long frame?

Post a picture of the frame.  There are several varieties of the "long frame".

As far as this set existing, it is quite possible, as the cars you describe are uncataloged cars and Flyer used up a lot of extra parts when creating uncataloged sets. 

In general, the 3110 did not come with reverse, but that does not mean that something unusual was not created.

Here is a picture of an uncataloged 7011 engine for Montgomery Wards, which I believe is similar to what you are describing.

I have observed similar bodies, with 3110 plates installed that cover the Motor 7011 lettering, with touch up paint to cover the lettering that the brass plates does not cover.

Below are some of the more unusual 3110 engines

A red 3110 on a 3103 frame, which is rubber stamped 3110 on the bottom

a black 3110

a very unusual orange 3110

NWL

Hi NWL,

I can take some pictures once it arrives. It might be a 7011 with 3110 plates.

I have a black 3110 on a long frame but it has a manual reverse mounted on the underside.  I picked this up about 30 years ago. I've only seen one other like it - no cars - just the engine.

Hi all,

I managed to find not only a green 1217, but also a 1211 as well. What cars would be found with a 1211 and green 1217? The 1211 has no box-shaped headlight, but I believe it was never added.

1211:

Dark green

Twisted handrails, like the later production 1218

No headlight

Dual pick-up rollers with die-cast wheels (one roller broken off, need to replace)

1217:

Dark green

Straight handrails, like the early 1201 and 1218

Headlight

Single pick-up roller with 10-spoke wheels

Here is a dark green 1217 set, as found.  The engine is actually the dark green color, but the photo makes it look black.  The set is c. 1920. These are the early cars that have reinforcing spreader bars that poke through the upper sides of the cars.  Look for the tabs just below the roof line in the lightning bolt.

Here is a picture of my 1211.  These came either with or without roof mounted headlights.  Not sure what cars came with the engine, as my engine was purchased without cars.  However, it likely came with dark green 6.5 inch passenger cars.

However, it likely came with dark green 6.5 inch passenger cars, similar to these

NWL

My 3110 just arrived, here are a few pictures of the engine and the cars that are included:

Being that the engine has four 3110 plates and no American Flyer plates, it is definitely an uncataloged engine.  The only O gauge engines I have seen with 4 number plates and no American Flyer plates were all uncataloged engines that were made for various retailers. 

Additionally, I believe the cars with your set are also more closely associated with various uncataloged sets.

I would guess that your set dates to c. 1930-1932 due to the style of the reverse unit. 

So it would seem that this was an uncataloged set for an unknown retailer.  Sadly, most of the formal American Flyer records for uncataloged sets of the 1930s have been lost to time and the only information available is information published by the various wholesalers and retailers of the time and even that provides only limited data.

NWL