Dealer display

Ah, The saga of the artisan garage, we all want to play in.

 Those shelf displays always remind me of the original offset, art deco, shelves that once adorned many of the entrances to the houses in this subdivision. 

 And yes, ours held trains ...and Hummel figures.

 The M casting is pretty neat. Is it an original, or a copy of an old product?

 I always wanted to do some metal casting. I even picked up a 3ft dia x 3"thick, gas smelting table and melting pot, but injured myself before I got around to using it.

 The marble is 100% new to me. An interesting product? Heat proof?

The 752 is a Lionel product, original was a paperclip holder and they turn up periodically. I have on and made a silicon rubber cast and use pewter to cast reproduction as well as a resin mixed with bronze powder. The cold marble is a resin as well mixed with marble powder.

The hardest part of reproducing the shelves for the D 289 (this also works for the D400) was the girder: My first version was hand cut, but made a template so this one was less difficult (still not easy), but really sets off the shelves and stablizes the, as well. I may offer a few sets of these shelves for sale if any interest. Remaking the sign as this was the prototype for tweking the screen, but need to adjust the "O" and "R" a little, other wise tuned in. 

View of whole layout. In this view you can see how the lettering is off in size and the O and R are a little odd--will correct and size appropriately, other wise this display is done and will find a spot up in the "cave"

Nice work, as usual.

Speaking of Dealer Displays, great article in current issue of the other magazine on displays. They feature the D-103 which had a cool circular Lionel advertising light in the center and above the step display.  When it was turned on an animated train feature went around the background of the light housing.

KI have actually reproduced the D103 well that has the revolving scene in it--I will try and post a video of this. Very neat effect, and was one I was thinking of making to sell. but shipping kills the value of the reproduced displays.

That's it. Very cool.

While I always knew about the traditional 4x8, 5x9, etc. layout displays these counter-top and other advertising displays with signage are really great to see.

There was a huge array, many were disposable or quickly fell apart. Even the display layouts like the D11 and D289 were made of 1x2's and 1/4" Masonite and deform over time under the weight of the display. I usually re-enforce under neath with additional wood to help with the load bearing. When I reproduce the signs I will use 1/4 MDF or high grad plywood rather than the fiberboard for the sake of longevity: take the semaphore display--is a heavy cardboard piece that almost always breaks down and sags. BUT these were not designed to be around 50-60 years (much like the old cars we restore-they rot away). But I enjoy finding pictures of the old displays and if possible reverse engineer them into existence.

Jagrick,

   I have no idea what the original text was like, but doesn't the "mark" before horn go between horn and whistle? I was thinking it may be a slash to separate the words?

Never mind, I see now, zoomed, there are arrow bullets being obscured by the upright.

On this version they just listed horn and whistle on same line with a triangle for a bullet. I measured the wrong version and had cut this out before I built the rest--my bad, but easily fixed!.

I figured as much (the fix).

  I was a graphics major, and did a lot of display work. Way more fun than ads.

I've seen old space saving vinyl cutting programs move things to unusual places, and thought that's what I saw there.

 I also know a fresh set of eyes, can sometimes "see better" than the ones looking at it all day.

   Be glad there aren't thousands printed, and already on the way to the client.

Also getting the lettering up to size helps: I do this stuff late at night usually and when I should just go to bed so errors are made--computer makes them go away. A lot of hand work as well with making initial font style and then tweeking with software and generating mask, etc. Since I am only producing a few no need to gear up with silk screening as Lionel did, but results are virtually the same. Their ad department had there stuff together in how asthetic most of these items were and dynamic with changes every year--my problem now is I am running out of room!

D11 tower with lights (as original installed--even found ceramic bases!!)

As much as I loved SS, most often vinyl is the way to go today for sure.

You have to look close to see which it is most of the time..

I noticed those lamp bases too.

It got me thinking of a place called Grand Hardware, back when the name truly suited it.

Good luck finding things yourself there without a decade or two worth of visits under your belt .

 I.e. a "candy store" full of old sweet old hardware, hidden in drawers that might not get opened for years I think they "streamlined" the re-ordering with new owners

 Have I asked main the source of your knowledge?

If I did, I lost the info with my last hard drive

It might actually be in the "dealer" thread too

(thanks for your patience Chuck).

  A tip I overlooked for a bit, going from varnish, into paint.

Wiping wood with denatured alcohol, just before one final light sanding, will raise the grain, and help keep a more even texture when the wet paint hits it. Otherwise the paints wetness raises the grain as the "soak coat" goes on.

 The last sanding should be light with fresh paper, to only score & remove raised grain nib tips.

   If you don't already, give it a try.

If you use alkyd or oil base paints, try Penetrol.

An old school paint leveler that separates the pro from the "get er done"crowd.

I could brush good oil based and Penetrol, and have it looking like a white M&M shell

So interesting to see your passion on displays achieving such great results. Also enjoy the banter between you and "Adriatic", as you both obviously know what you're doing with graphics and the basics. So many of us have wonderful memories of display layouts that heralded Christmas as kids, but my guess is these alone would kindle 3 rail pleasure for a lot of kids when done right. Could be a huge biz for you, Rick, if you could get someone to help you market these treasures. I'll bet you don't have time for that part - only so many hours in a day. Keep it up and thanks to the man that got this thread started.

A lot of info from seeing a few first hand and mining a lot of information (TCA library for dealer literature, examining photos of of displays, etc.) Their construction techniques were "of the day": plywood postwar, wood planks/boards prewar, with little imperfections abounding (I think they used photo retouching/artistic license a LOT). And since these are fairly rare I knew I would likely never be able to collect originals and stay married (although the wife does like the displays). Now over the years I have been lucky enough to add originals as well as recreate some items I wanted but knew would never show up, and the displays and service thing are the part of the prewar Lionel I enjoy most, while most of what I have is prewar Lionel Std and O gauge with Ives transition. I think the neatest piece I have done is a tie between the Lazy susan display (which I was chasing doen details on for 10+ years) and the ferris wheel (built from pictures form scratch). Hope to get some more things underway soon, as well as get some work done on my cars!!

Sounds like fun stuff for sure. 

 I grew up  with similar artisan influences coming from my Grandparents.

  I had way too many allergies to for a life attending to animals though.

(one of these days I even learn not to pet the kitties ).

  My woodworking was perfected on boats. But I've saved a few runner sleds . 

Some Radio-flyers, Flexible flyers (one is a 5'), and an old 5' Sears sled.

 It fact my first sled stands upright with a giant bow, as part of a year round display on Mom's front porch. "A pile of gifts left untouched for generations".

 I waxed the metal up, especially before storage, and varnished it bi-yearly when I was a boy, but some paint did wear thin early on. It aged very well overall.

 The runners now sport a faux rust and weathered paint job, overtop of my 40 year old fire engine red. You could still grab it & use it. (Mom did the faux weathering!)

 I have two old brass "syringe type" extinguishers, and I've been waiting for a firehouse owning uncle to pick them up for years.

Let me know if you might have an interest in them.  

 Not really "antique" or refinished, but I do have some Herman Miller, & Atomic-Blonde goodies in my bedroom, and am slowly working on a jumbled Danish mod cabinet collection.

  I just lost a nice 50's Danish mod. recliner when a side frame suddenly split in two, letting lose a front leg,(& therefore "unlocking" everything, and dropping the mech. askew. The mech. sagged, and twisted under 250lbs of falling "Vernor' s Gnome"(my pal looks like him). The 180° flip out foot rest, no longer closed straight.

 Beautiful, natural, and ever so lightly oiled, I gave it a funeral by backyard fire .

I miss the Lionel repair station being on Gramps bench downstairs

 He didn't really use it often, he used a homemade one much more.

  But I was always fascinated with the "mad scientist" looks of the thing.

Partially it's the paint. I love than early industrial gunmetal paint look.

And if you show me something painted with Hammerite?

I'll buy it .  It hardly matters what it is .

 I even painted my Marx CV Hammerite till I figured out Rustoleum had the best chance at looking more original and with patina. (dried/cured it in my freezer for weeks The milky looks clears, gloss stays, but the "deep" look that says "new black" is gone)

  The shadow effect in the lit sign is really cool. It can be hard to keep that type of thing looking well detailed, & sharp.

  Lighting is another old "hobby" of mine.

   I was already a union wage theater lighting tech when I was only 16. The union opened a bunch of doors for me, but I couldn't afford to leave home to take advantage of the scholarships, so theatrical lighting stayed a hobby, despite family ties to the industry.

  The graphics opportunities were local, so I took to studying that professionally for a few years. Then I blinked . When I opened my eyes, another hobby was feeding me better (selling comics).

 I had wondered about your early experience, and certainly enjoy hearing about it, don't hold back.

 I think the TCA library was the answer I was looking for with the question.

  .

My online searches haven't revealed much at all, outside of Youtube.

  The other thread here, is actually the most dealer layout info I've seen in one spot. So I wondered if there was a book covering them.

But I guess you just haven't wrote it yet, lol .

 A checklist of the ones known, would be huge for me, as I'm interested in seeing all I can, before I truly decide on "the one".

 It will likely be a "Lazy Susan", but the disappearing train, and "city of tomorrow" wouldn't be awful either .

   A coup de grâce for layouts here, would be a good copy of the Gomez Addams layout.

It would give me "a room I could die in".(Brewster's Millions) (I see three or more actual layouts in the footage). I want the full view that's done in Super O. 

Finishe the D289 and D11 last night. Button up the wiring and they will go upstairs!!

Rick,

 I'm glad you restored the D-289 display, looks great. I'm happy it found a good home instead of it just sitting in the rafters gathering dust.

 Chuck

Last year I picked up a set of the 4 lionel kodachrome pictures for the display. And since I don't have room for full size my plan is to recreate the header part that houses the kodachrome pictures and the LIONEL letters: off to bend some wood now to form the oiece

Alway wanted a set of these but are rare and expensive, Started artwork for header and lines and working on reproducing original style font for individual items. 027 first then the 0 gauge board 

Found this stamped on a support on the D11 display: made by union carpenters in 1950

Very cool work on the displays and nice collection of classic cars also evident. I wonder if there are archives of these displays with actual measurements online? I would love to duplicate one or 2 to use as displays in my train room (once I start to put it together!) in particular I like the look of the 1950 D40 display with it semaphore and the bold look of the D-133. I think I can make them pretty close by scaling the photos I have found on-line but if actual real dimensions are available that would be awesome.

Gerald

Some are measured and documented in Carp display book. The recent display magazine from CTT was nice but not in depth and no discussion on construction, wiring, etc. They even got some of the measurements wrong on their comments on pictures. That said, Lionel was very common sense on construction as they had to be as these were usually assembled (after the prototype which usually varies from the production piece) by short time employees. Another good reference in Osterhoff's CD on the postwar display paper work and post war advance dealer catalogs. I can get you the actual measurements of a lot of these with pictures of original as well as repros. The hardest part of the displays are the graphics and I spend many hours on recreating the actual fonts, designs as used by Lionel and these are not stock items for the most part. Fun stuff!

This is on my to do list to recreate this display!

Rick,

Thanks for the comments and I will be sure to try picking your brain once I find time to start my first display. I have a very well equipped workshop including a CNC router table and vinyl cutting equipment for graphics so I should be able to knock out a decent enough job however my skill set is not gonna stretch to Neon work to duplicate your last photo which looks awesome. This would likely cast a very cool wash of color over a darkened train room creating a very nice atmosphere. Look forward to seeing that one completed. 

Gerald

I just posted a 1954 Lionel dealer display catalog for sale in the Buy/Sell section of the Forum if anyone is interested.

Finished the 027 track display, o gauge one is next. Hard part was the fonts for the track pieces

side by side D187 ferris wheel display