American Flyer Electric Outline Loco #?

That would be a 1201

Roland

Thanks!  How was it trimmed out?  No headlight?  

Yukon Jack

At that point Flyer typically used a recessed headlight (like the 1218 had).

The 1201 had only a bell. The earliest version (1921) had the bell at the rear, the later version (1924 ) had the bell at the front.

The bell should be nickle, hung in a sort of flat metal hoop riveted to the hood.

Roland

This is my example of the 1201 - Cataloged from 1920-1924

It was a less expensive, no frills version of the 1218

Thanks, Roland.  Much appreciated!  YJ

Yukon Jack,

You're welcome.

Greg,

Your loco has the earlier style handrails, does the motor have the more normal rollers on a brass strip, and wheels with steel tires fitted to them?

I have a very early model with the same handrails but it has a single cantilevered roller pickup and wheels with no tires. It also has decals instead of rubber stamping.

Roland

Roland,

You have a very interesting version of the 1201.  I had to go dig mine out of the box that I have my steeple cabs stored in.  I took some additional photos.

It does have two roller pick ups and the brass strip.

I think that it has the solid wheels as yours does.

I also noticed that it has the number 1201 stamped on both ends.

American Flyer got a lot of mileage out of this engine design.  I keep finding additional variations.

Greg

Greg,

your loco has the steel tires on the drivers.

On many locos the zinc alloy wheels can expand and actually split the steel tires. you are lucky as yours look to be in good condition and will most likely stay good. The wheels on my loco do not have the steel tires.

My loco also has the 1201 on the hood ends except they are decals rather than rubber stamped. I have seen another loco body with the same decals although it is over painted (by some previous owner) you can still make out the lettering of the decals and they matched the decals on my loco. I am not sure if this was an early run before they started rubber stamping, or if perhaps Flyer commissioned a small run for photographic purposes. No one seems to know, but there were at least two (I can't remember if the other one was a 1201 or a 1218)

Anyway that is what I know and what I am guessing could be the reason for the decals. If anyone knows anything more I would love to hear from them.

Your example does not have the embossed "circle" that is on both ends of my 1201.   YJ

Very cool locomotive

very nice!

Here is an example of a 1201 with the embossed area on both ends

Flyer might have used two different body styles for the 1201.

Your description says that there is a taped off wire for a light.  I wonder if you have a different number that originally had a top mounted headlight.

I wondered the same thing, but the shell only has a single hole at each end, and I really don't see how a headlight, or at least the style seen on the 1218 and it kin, could be fitted.  I am thinking the motor in mine may be out of a 1218.

Thank you for sharing the pics of your 1201.  I am beginning to believe that AF pretty much maximizes parts on hand, without much concern for a great deal of standardization.

YJ