I just purchased a 1656 switcher in very good condition and when I first saw it noticed the number looked odd. At first I figured the engine was a quality repaint and stamped with a different font stamp but after looking at some images on Google I found two other examples with exactly the same style stamp. I've attached two photos below, the first one is of my engine and the second is from Tandem Associates' website. Does anybody know approximately when mine was produced and if it is a hard to find variation?
Replies sorted oldest to newest
Hi, go to this web site for info. Postwarlionel.com
Milan posted:Hi, go to this web site for info. Postwarlionel.com
I took a look at that website earlier today and saw no variations listed.
It might just be the camera angle, but in your example the numbers look a little smaller than in the photo off the Tandem Associates' website. Nice looking engine.
Tomlinson Run RR
TomlinsonRunRR posted:...in your example the numbers look a little smaller than in the photo off the Tandem Associates' website. ..
Considerably smaller.
That is a legitimate variation. Rubber stamped number vs heat stamped.
Tin
A notation was made from Doyle's Catalog, which states there were two legitimate typeface variations used during production, with no mention of Rarity of one over the other. Is it Rare....NO. You have one typeface, compared to the other one that was used.
The numbers certainly are smaller. I didn't think they were heat stamped and I just confirmed that by inspecting the engine again, it is rubber stamped. Thank you teledoc for confirming I have a legitimate variation, I assume it must have been a later production that the larger typeface being the tender is a one piece casting and not the earlier casting with a bakelite coal load.
be sure and show off your new prize this Saturday on Switcher Saturday!