Bubblers ? where are you all

Lionel hasn't been doing a lot with accessories at all in recent years, with few exceptions.

I believe I read here recently that in one of the recent podcasts, Lionel claims they are going to get back into accessories and also start to incorporate features into Legacy operation.

Hopefully it's true, but you still may not necessarily see that oil field reissued.

-Dave

I would say that they're gone. After so many years on the market people grew tired of the older toys. I own just about every one, however, they have been packed away for years.

I just recently discovered bubble tubes, and love them. I now have 3 on my layout. An American Flyer Water Tower, AF Oil Derrick, and a Lionel 455 Oil Derrick. I hope Lionel brings them back soon!

Not trying to hurt anyone's feelings, but as Happy Pappy said, people are tired of the older toys. With Legacy, accessories should have a more realistic sense to them instead of the toy-like qualities of the older ones. I have Gabe, the Lamplighter which is toy like for sure but it is close enough to scale size that it doesn't look too out of place on my high rail layout

Many generalizaitons here.

 Just because the old curmudgeons don't like something, that must obviously extrapolate out to the entire Ogauge community. 

The bubbler accessories run hot and cold. Some work well others not so much, which can be frustrating. I think that's why were are not seeing any new accessories being produced. Plus you also have to deal potential breaking tubes.

In Milwaukee, what people from other areas of the country refer to as "drinking fountains" they're called "bubblers".  Makes sense to me;  some of them bubble away with inviting, cool water to quench your thirst.

Paul Fischer

In todays lawsuit happy conditions, They must be careful about how hot the tubes / heat elements get as well.

Not a good thing at all.

Joe hit the nail on this one... I had the bubblers and broke a tube... what a dissaster.... ate the paint right off of the layout table. The tube cracked during normal layout operation and found it the next morning.

They are cool but knowing the risk I limit them to only two on the layout.

Plus note that methylene chloride is not exactly friendly stuff. Not only used as a paint stripper it is used for plastic welding adhesive.

It actually has little health hazzards, but watch the contact with the skin and taken internally can cause carbon monoxide poisoning, maybe an issue with pets.

Bottom line with the scale emphesis in todays layout building these may fade out a bit....

I laughed when I read this, in Rhode Island a Bubbler is a water fountain. Don't even ask what a milkshake is called...

Paul

I believe that in Rhode Island, a milkshake is called a "cabinet."  From a bubbler you get a drink of water while you were/are waiting for the Milwaukee Road Hiawatha/Amtrak Hiawatha or Empire Builder.

The only reason I read this post, was I assumed someone put bubblers in their city scape of their layout and wanted to see how it looked.  Never thought of the accessories, I just got thirsty.

I have several bubble accessories - AF water tower, K-Line version, several Lionel oil derricks - and think they're neat. We even use bubble lights on the Christmas tree over the holidays. Have to be careful, though, and I suspect Lionel may not offer them anymore. I don't think I'd be comfortable having small children around them.

They have heating elements inside, and you also wouldn't want the chemicals in the tube to drip into your beer or anything else you ingest. But the biggest worry is if the liquid leaks out because it can really permanently stain things. Get some on your Polo shirt and you've made yourself an expensive rag, and don't let it seep onto anything that's made of wood, for example. And it can eat away at certain materials, as others mentioned above.

Paul,

I'd answer except we do have ladies on the forum.

J Daddy,

You're correct about the hazards. My wife and I love the "old-fashion" look the bubbler lights gave our Christmas tree. Five years ago we returned from the Philippines with six strings. It took forever to clear US Customs. 

modern bubblers i've found online

some more bubblers