American Flyer Sears Roebuck set.

Harry, that set is documented in the Tufts's set book guide and also listed in Greenberg's Vol III, Sets book. The sets were made in 1958, there are two variations, one marked Sears and one marked Sears Special, they have slightly different contents. Both include the 23040 Mountain, Tunnel and Pass Set plus the Trestle Set.

The engines are the 21160 and 21808. The cars in both sets are 24039, 24309, 24109; the Special Set adds the 24103, 24203, and 2-24603 cars. Accessories are 18-26720, 8-26700, 22020, 26690, 747, and 23040.

The set not marked Special adds the 24102, 2-24602, 24202 cars. The accessories are 20-26720, 6-26700, 26690, 26670, 22020, 26782, and 23040.

If you have the set box it should be stamped by Interstate Box company with box number B2N118. Some of the boxes are noted with a date stamp of HEG which decodes to August, 1957.

Thank you.  Harry

Any idea of # sold or todays value?  Loco #21160 w/ 24103,24203 &24603.

The 21160 is $20; the 24103 is $15; the 24603 is $10, assuming it is unpainted red plastic. The 24203 has four variations, the most common is unpainted black plastic for $25. The other two 1958 variations are painted black or marbleized plastic, each at about $250.

The complete boxed set with all original contents in excellent or better condition may be worth $400. Every item in these sets was inexpensive and common to meet a low price point. No idea how many were made but likely at least a medium number because Sears was the buyer. Not a lot of these inexpensive, uncataloged sets have survived intact with the set box and all contents. Bob Bubek may have better data to comment on quantities and current value, if he is following this thread.

@AmFlyer posted:

The 21160 is $20; the 24103 is $15; the 24603 is $10, assuming it is unpainted red plastic. The 24203 has four variations, the most common is unpainted black plastic for $25. The other two 1958 variations are painted black or marbleized plastic, each at about $250.

The complete boxed set with all original contents in excellent or better condition may be worth $400. Every item in these sets was inexpensive and common to meet a low price point. No idea how many were made but likely at least a medium number because Sears was the buyer. Not a lot of these inexpensive, uncataloged sets have survived intact with the set box and all contents. Bob Bubeck may have better data to comment on quantities and current value, if he is following this thread.

Hi Harry,

You did not comment on the condition of the trains and accessories nor the condition and completeness of the paper. For complete examples, the $400 figure for TCA Ex is an estimate in Deger/Bagby Greenberg Vol. 3 Sets and the estimate for TCA VG is $225 in 1992. S gauge Flyer generally has gone through increases and later decreases in value since then. Production numbers are not known, however the set is now uncommon intact but the contents except for the 23040 Mountain, Tunnel and Pass Set accessory are very common.  The presence of a nice complete 23040 would indicate that the Deger/Bagby prices are too low.

YMMV.

Bob

Harry, the value is in the set box, Instructions, Mountain and special relay that allowed the running of two trains.  As stated above there are several set numbers associated with the two train set.  Over a year ago one of the two train sets in excellent+ condition sold for over $3,000 on eBay.  There are also Sears 20178 and 20183 two train sets.  I don't remember which set it was but it made me fell better for paying $700 for an excellent 20147 set at York.  The TM 2004 American FLyer second edition price guide listed the 20178 and 20183 at $2,400.  The engines require the manual reverse because the special relay starts and stops the engines so they don't run into each other.  I have seen rare items go for more than book value with common items going for less.

Carl

Does anyone have a picture of the full train set all set up? I am having trouble picturing how it all went together and allowed two trains to run. It sounds neat though.

@carl552 posted:

Harry, the value is in the set box, Instructions, Mountain and special relay that allowed the running of two trains.  As stated above there are several set numbers associated with the two train set.  Over a year ago one of the two train sets in excellent+ condition sold for over $3,000 on eBay.  There are also Sears 20178 and 20183 two train sets.  I don't remember which set it was but it made me fell better for paying $700 for an excellent 20147 set at York.  The TM 2004 American FLyer second edition price guide listed the 20178 and 20183 at $2,400.  The engines require the manual reverse because the special relay starts and stops the engines so they don't run into each other.  I have seen rare items go for more than book value with common items going for less.

Carl

Permit me to resolve a bit of possible confusion. First, the 20183 is not listed in any edition of the TM AF guide. Containing the No. 21813 M&StL Baldwin and the red stripe Nos. 24867, 24869, and 24868, the 20178 (and the 20176) set has very different contents than the one about which Harry inquired. Harry's set has a C&NW Baldwin heading up a simple freight set. According to Tufts, the 20183 is a one train outfit headed by a 21161 (not Prestone) which is a very low value Atlantic.

So, back to Harry's 20147 set, Tom has listed the contents, as packed by Gilbert, very nicely and is in agreement with my copy of Maury Romer notes. The very unusual hard to find piece is the No. 23040 Mountain, Tunnel and Pass Set accessory, which if present and in superior condition, is where most of the value is.  The value of the set beyond that hinges on the condition and completeness of the paper, as Carl correctly states. Minus more info, one can image how the price of a 20147 set can get into four figures.

Harry has not come back to us regarding his set, so ....

Bob

Thank you guys for the info. I have recently passed the set on to a new buyer I guess too cheap. I do have the following left, as the new owner was only interested in the mountain & box w/ the track and track locks.  I still have the #21160 hand reverse steam loco, and the #21808 hand reverse diesel- The buyer kept the 3 freight cars and bought a smoking Atlantic for the loco.     Harry