American Flyer Tin Litho Station

Probably one of the model 97 variations from 1928-34. This book was a great disappointment to the prewar Flyer fans, but it does a decent job on accessories. https://www.amazon.com/dp/0896...f=pd_sl_8ov0r4cg5w_e

Steve

Thanks, Steve.  It can only help.  I know next to nothing about Flyer.

Well, let's see if we can't help you with freight station identification issues in case the accessory bug bites hard and you suddenly find yourself wanting to have it all. 

#95 - 1927 - no light, flat roof with red paint

#97 - 1928 - roof changed to litho tile and dormer added.  Catalog indicates there is a single internal light - "The interior is lighted with one frosted Mazda lamp. I've never found one with an internal light but I have found several with a cutout in the form of a small porcelain base for the addition of a light on the part of the owner.

Comment on side litho - the freight station retains the legend "Flyer City Freight Station No.95" through the entire production run.

Base with cutout - note this is for a station but it is the same base as used on the freight station

#97 - 1929-1933 - single external light

#97 - 1934 - double lights - front and back 

1935 - no freight station cataloged

#97 Long base - first style - tan base  with left hand crane - 1936- catalog name - "New Freight Station Set"

Note: the catalog picture and many of the long base crane sets had the crane on the right hand side.  If the punched base blanks were fed into the bending press the wrong way then the crane wound up on the left hand side.  Based on my observations this looks to have been a fairly common "accident" since I have seen almost as many left hand sided #97 long base sets as right hand sided.

#97 long base - second style - red base

#97 third style - same as above but the decal on the crane is much shorter

   Chimney notes - the paint colors for the long base freight station chimneys are many and varied. I've noted green, yellow, orange, and red.

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A.C. Gilbert took over American Flyer in 1938 - catalog cut and description for #97 remain unchanged from Chicago Flyer catalog for year 1938 and 1939.

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In the 1940 Catalog the freight station is re-numbered #98 and is illustrated in the form of the second style below.  However, as can be seen in the "first style" this transition was not a clean break - rather it was a matter of using up old inventory and when enough was used up (litho roofs and original cranes) then the station was re-numbered and the illustration was updated.

#98 - first style - new crane litho tile roof 

  It is interesting to note that even if the litho treatment was flawed it was still shipped.  Look at the left hand corner of the roof below and compare it with the right hand corner - the left hand side did not get the complete litho printing.

#98 - second style - as illustrated in the 1940 catalog - new crane and crackle green painted roof. Catalog Name "No. 98 Freight Station with Crane"

If you are looking for more information about pre-war Flyer accessories check Greg Turinetti's  thread over on the other train forum - the thread title is "Pre-war American Flyer Pictures - An Invitation"  On page 70 is a complete index of the thread listings of AF accessories and where they can be found.

Robert, thank you very much.  I believe mine is a #97 with the single external light (albeit with an incorrect replacement).  I'll check out Greg's thread.