Awards for Best Gilbert Flyer Catalogs

My personal favorite is the 1958 cataloge, on all counts. Al

My favorite cover 1953

Best Artwork 1959, I like the Franklin art work

Best Train line 1956 (North Coast Limited)

1957 on all count for me. Zenith of steam and diesel power for Gilbert AF - 313, 326, 336, 499, 4713, etc. etc. Great artwork including the cover as well.

My favorites:

Best cover, 1956. Love the Northern Pacific.
Best artwork, 1949. Agree with Brady. The stylized look.
Best line, 1957. Maybe just the last hurrah's before the changes.

Every year has some features to its credit. D1451 of 1946 was where the iconic 'Boys at the Gate' catalog cover first appeared. But, overall for the cover, the page by page artwork vignettes, and the consistently high beauty of the trains depicted inside, D2047 of 1958 gets my vote. 1958 also happens to be the year for many of the 5-digit 'heavy hitters'.

Bob Bubeck

quote:

Originally posted by Bob Bubeck:
Every year has some features to its credit. D1451 of 1946 was where the iconic 'Boys at the Gate' catalog cover first appeared.

Bob Bubeck

I'm not an S gauger (do have a few pieces of PW Flyer) but love old paper. I was looking at my handful of Flyer & came upon the one above. It had been cut in a few places but seemed to be all there. When I came upon the websites showing the pages I realized my version had other Gilbert toys. Erector, Mysto, Tools, chemistry & electrical sets. The front page has an inset written by AC. There are a few different pages inside. Stamped Heins & Bolet NY, NY
Did they make different editions? I couldn't find any dates or page numbers. Anybody know anything about this era of catalogs? Thanx, John

Thanks for the link, Brady. I knew there was a resource out there, but couldn't seem to locate it.

Best Cover - 1956 D1866

Best Artwork - Any catalog before and including 1958.
Seems like by 1959 the "magic" is beginning to disappear and the catalogs appear much more "clinical."

Best Train Line - Tie: 1957 D2006, 1958 D2048.
What's not to love, a rainbow of PA's, Geeps in the best flavors and a smorgasbord of realistic freight cars.

Rusty

quote:

Originally posted by Rusty Traque:
Thanks for the link, Brady. I knew there was a resource out there, but couldn't see

Rusty

I also saw catalogs on RFGCO.com You might like that site also.

Best Cover - 1953 D1714

1946 Boys at the Crossing Gate and 1950 Basement Layout can't top the dramatic 1953 cover showing a Hudson and Rocket PA thundering out of the page.


Best Artwork - 1958 D2048

Very colorful, with realistic graphics of the product.


Best Train Line - 1957

1957 line gets the nod due to its prototypical diesel paint schemes (NP, NH, T&P), PRR switcher, and NH electric. 1954 was a close second because freight and passenger sets were offered for every locomotive.

quote:

Originally posted by woojr:

I also saw catalogs on RFGCO.com You might like that site also.

No one is naming names but because of what I read here I think I'll stick to the original link.

Brady,

Thanks for posting the Gilbert Flyer Catalogs, the Gilbert Toys for 1958 brought back many memories. In 1958 I was nine and truly enjoyed the Gilbert erector sets, although I wanted the large sets they never came, the erector sets were one of the best creative/educational toys of this period. In approximately 3 years, I will retire with 43 career years in mechanical and structural engineering.

John

quote:

Originally posted by Ironhorse:

quote:

Originally posted by woojr:

I also saw catalogs on RFGCO.com You might like that site also.

No one is naming names but because of what I read here I think I'll stick to the original link.

Frankly I never had any idea there was something wrong with viewing that site. I agree, won't be back there.