Bing Box Set - Inquiry

There are several engines in the 1906 Bing catalog that are a close match for your engine (the litho treatment of the tender and the engine cab is slightly different). In addition, illustrations from the same catalog match the shape of your tender and passenger car .  The box cover art matches the box cover art of my 1904 set so I would estimate you are looking at a set from the 04-06 time period.

1904 Bing Set Box Cover

Thank you Robert! So you're saying the engine/tender/coach are original to the box? Good to know!  

I'm also noticing the "floral" boarder design of your box's label to mine. I'm assuming mine, because it looks like a smaller set, didnt have room for that level of detail. Maybe it assumes a different manufacture date?  

The box cover art on my box looks to be about the same size as yours (I cropped the picture to give a better view of the label). I suppose one could assume the floral border implies an earlier manufacturing date but it would only be an assumption.  The book "Bing" by Claude Jeanmarie has excerpts from Bing catalogs which span 1886-1930.  My reason for estimating an upper range of 1906 is because his sections from the 1908 catalog show engines with the same wheel arrangement on the locomotive (small wheel in front larger in back) but the superstructure, particularly the cab, do not match what you have.

  I just checked my set and I think what is missing from your box are the paper covered, wood shaving filled, padding for the set which may be why the spaces for the engine and cars don't seem to match.  So, yes - I think what you have is a set box with the correct contents.

The missing shaved paper filling would explain the extra space in the squares. You're right.

Does your box contain the exact same train? Is the space for the tracks meant for an 6-8 curved pieces track?

No, mine is a basic 0-4-0 with a tender, baggage and two passenger cars.  The train is smaller than yours appears to be, however, the box innards, other than having a few more compartments for the train components, is divided in the same way with the track filling the larger space.  My track forms an oval - 8 curved and two straight.  One of the straight pieces has a hand thrown reversing switch.

  Speaking of track, based on your picture, it looks like you have a dead end bumper.  Does your set have a manual switch?

Robert S. Butler posted:

No, mine is a basic 0-4-0 with a tender, baggage and two passenger cars.  The train is smaller than yours appears to be, however, the box innards, other than having a few more compartments for the train components, is divided in the same way with the track filling the larger space.  My track forms an oval - 8 curved and two straight.  One of the straight pieces has a hand thrown reversing switch.

  Speaking of track, based on your picture, it looks like you have a dead end bumper.  Does your set have a manual switch?

Hi Robert,

I've seen Bing straight (and curved) manual switches for engines breaking mechanism.. but this box does not have it.

Do you have photos of your set? Would love to compare!

Here you are

Catalog Illustration

The train set

Note:  I think the original track consisted of a simple circle - the two straight pieces are obviously a later addition.

Wonderful set!! Your box does look much bigger (probably to fit that many cars) May I ask what you think a set like this is worth? Do you have any Bing engines yourself that you're in the market to sell?

  I purchased the set about 15 years ago so I really don't have any idea of what it might cost today. The box size is 15" x 14" x 3".  As for selling, I'm still in the trying-to-find phase of the collection cycle so nothing for sale.

Hi Robert. Just curious, but would the inside of your box (and the separation panels) look something like this? (First image below) If not, would you know what pieces would actually go where in this box? Thank you!

**This is another inside Bing Box image (not mine) but with different panel configuration: