I'm becoming interested in clockwork trains and was wondering if there are any good books or other resources that I could use to educate myself on the subject.
Thanks,
John.
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Try to get a hold of these "Hornby Companion Series" volumes from New Cavendish books:
Vol 5 "Hornby Gauge 0 System" (Chris & Julie Graebe); 440pp; 600 illustrations, 540 in colour.
(first pub 1985 - very dark blue jacket, reprints every 2 or 3 years. From 1995, revised edition - green jacket - extended by additional 100 page section of full colour illustrations, but original text unchanged unchanged. Note that 6 pages of additional information appear in Vol 5A, but not in the revised Vol 5. Note also that at the start of the HCS, Bruce Baxter was to be author of Vol 5 - and so appears on early dust jackets)
Vol 5A "Gauge 0 Compendium" (Chris & Julie Graebe); 128pp (tabular information only).
(pub 1989, a table of all 0 Gauge production highlighting important variations: 6pp addendum to Vol 5).
As they are out of print go to your local library and get them to order them in for you through an inter library loan.
Greenberg published some on Marx around 1990 by Matzke. Fairly expensive now and hard to find. There is a Marx Yahoo group and I recomend it.
Tom Cox
Another place to check is the Pre-War American Flyer thread over on the other forum. Northwoods Flyer's thread had a fair amount of information about clockwork American Flyer.
John
Not a book, but here are a few video's I put together. Not real comprehensive, but good starter info;
Hafner Clockworks, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3U2vu9dWsI
I got this rare Hafner tender after the above video was done, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-9rEjdH_aU
Marx clockwork motors part 1, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wyjNmbRLQs
Marx clockwork motors part 2, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRHBadcH0CE
Marx clockwork trains part 1, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjMGR4lcIhU
Marx clockwork trains part 2, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vTUUpQW7T8
At the time I did the Hafner video, most of my Hafner pieces were of the very late 30's through early 50's streamliner types. As prices have dropped with the recession, I have expanded my Hafner collection to include more of the earlier types. Guess I'll need to do another video someday.
Steve
Thanks for the responses so far, I appreciate the help. The videos are great. One video that really turned me on to the charm of clockwork trains is this one I came across on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cABd_BJfFBI&feature=related
I love the look of these trains but I'm sure these are probably at the upper end of the price spectrum for clockwork trains.
John.
John,
Wow! what a great video. Old windups and lots of period accessories. It really captures the essence of windup trains. And I would agree that these are expensive clockwork trains. At least we can enjoy the video, thanks for sharing.
David
Originally Posted by John Clifford:
Thanks for the responses so far, I appreciate the help. The videos are great. One video that really turned me on to the charm of clockwork trains is this one I came across on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cABd_BJfFBI&feature=related
I love the look of these trains but I'm sure these are probably at the upper end of the price spectrum for clockwork trains.
John.
Also notable is the YouTube video "Hornby Clockwork O Gauge Trains". Powerful springs and smooth mechanisms needed to pull those heavy trains. And you gotta love those beautiful old tin buildings and accessories! And I bet you had to have deep pockets to afford them, just like Lionel.
For European: Udo Becher "Early Tin Plate Model Railways"
