Anyone recognize this tin building?

Likely German-made, could be the manufacturer Bing. If it helps narrow your search for information on the web, I'd search Bing tin o gauge or o scale buildings.

@JBuettner posted:

Likely German-made, could be the manufacturer Bing. If it helps narrow your search for information on the web, I'd search Bing tin o gauge or o scale buildings.

Thanks, I will try that.

No luck so far. Another angle, next to the Lionel Automatic Gateman.

Could it be HO-scale? I can't figure out what that blue cylinder is supposed to be. And the building doesn't have a door, just windows. Holes in the front indicate something is missing.

Maybe it's not model-train-related? Oh well, I will continue the search .

Is that blue cylinder have a bell on top?

Besides Bing, it could be Kibri or Marklin.  Another possibility is that it is a prewar Japanese "style" knockoff of a German item.

@franktrain posted:

Is that blue cylinder have a bell on top?

I would say it could be a bell, it is riveted on, and there is no mechanism inside.

@lionelflyer posted:

Besides Bing, it could be Kibri or Marklin.  Another possibility is that it is a prewar Japanese "style" knockoff of a German item.

Thanks, i will look int those brands. Yeah, could be a well-made knockoff too.

Bing, Bub, Kibri, Marklin, Fandor... are all possibilities. Are there any embossments, stampings or markings? The blue cylinder is indeed a bell- this is a warden's house for a crossing. The base appears to have been replaced- it should be lithographed or painted so it looks like grass/dirt- a hallmark of prewar German structures. The base might be original, could've been someone's project and the base was in such bad shape they removed the flaking paint but never got around to finishing.

If you really want to find it, check this link it's a go-to for me when identifying prewar. I'd Check under the following in this order: Bub, Kibri, Bing, Markling, Carette, Fleischmann, Issmayer, Kraus-Fandor and Distler.

@StevefromPA posted:

Bing, Bub, Kibri, Marklin, Fandor... are all possibilities. Are there any embossments, stampings or markings? The blue cylinder is indeed a bell- this is a warden's house for a crossing. The base appears to have been replaced- it should be lithographed or painted so it looks like grass/dirt- a hallmark of prewar German structures. The base might be original, could've been someone's project and the base was in such bad shape they removed the flaking paint but never got around to finishing.

If you really want to find it, check this link it's a go-to for me when identifying prewar. I'd Check under the following in this order: Bub, Kibri, Bing, Markling, Carette, Fleischmann, Issmayer, Kraus-Fandor and Distler.

Thanks, this will help a lo!. At this point I do believe it must be of European origin.

I probably shouldn't comment here, as I know nothing about this stuff, but to my eyes the base, with its "hammered" finish and the rusty area on the left, looks kinda original...neat item.

Mark in Oregon

Either that or someone really was trying to make it look that way ha(doubtful). The only major prewar American made HOUSES were the Lionel villa, bungalow, the associated plots, etc... plenty of Passenger, freight, combo stations, and depots by Lionel, Flyer, Ives and Hafner(3 from the last). I can’t think of any American made tinplate accessories  that kind of detailed type of window features , an attached protruding fence and definitely not a bell like that. If it was whole, The bell would have a mechanism going under the structure to an actuator- basically a contact plate- under the track, all part of the structure itself. Then the weight of the train passing over would cause the bell to ring

It is clearly commercially made, but there is no stamp or any kind of lettering visible anywhere.

The roof paint is original. I don't know if the hammered look is original or not.

The holes on the front wall and front of the base indicate some part(s) missing.

The bell is solid, and there is no inside access to it for any mechanism.

The hole on the floor inside the building, and the 2 big square windows could indicate some mechanism been there also (but not necessarily).

I went through the collection of images on the German site, linked above, but didn't find anything there.

I am the type who wants to know everything about my collections, so it bugs me that i am not finding anything about this, but oh well.I can still fix it up and use it. It probably doesn't have any monetary value anyway. But yes, it is a neat building.

...and it looks great next to the Christmas tree...🎄🙂

Mark in Oregon

I asked my pre-war expert friend, Mike C, if he could ID this building, here are his thoughts:

"It looks like a Kirbi to me. It could be KBN( Bub) . It does not appear to be Bing

@Lionelski posted:

I asked my pre-war expert friend, Mike C, if he could ID this building, here are his thoughts:

"It looks like a Kirbi to me. It could be KBN( Bub) . It does not appear to be Bing

Almost certainly German. Look on the bottom it may say Germany making it prewar."

By the way, Mike C's layouts were featured on www.warrenvillerailroad.com as the November Friends Layouts installment

Thanks! I will take a closer look at those brands.

I don't see any stamps or letters anywhere on the structure.