Has anyone seen a power supply like this?

Looks like something a person built himself ...?

That would also explain the lack of markings.

What does it put out?

Nice job, I wonder what the power capacity is?

Looking at a some older Model Railroader, 1942 thru 1959, it looks very similar in design to some of Scintilla's power supplies. The tags for A.C., and D.C. are identical as well as the binding posts. I saw nothing else in that time frame that looked exactly like it. Most all of the ones in the 50's had a lot of screen printing on the cases. Some of the Scintilla's were very plain, although none exactly like this one. Might have even been a home brew or a kit. Scintilla Rail and Power Works, Inc. New York, N.Y.

Let me add, I doesn't look homemade to me. All the voltages work. I believe that it is a HO power supply for 2 trains. 2 of the toggle switches are on-off-on. So that would forward reverse the trains.

Great info!  I learn something every time I log onto this forum.

I thought prewar Gilbert HO locos used AC for power and DC impulse [ like Lionel whistle/horn ] for reversing ?

SZ [ NOT a Gilbert "expert"]

I vote for homemade. Nice execution but questionable design. The output terminals should be on the side not next to the controls and the use of a grommet rather than strain relief for the power cord doesn't pass muster for safety reasons.

Eddie, how about opening it up and check the wiring. That would be another clue.

Pete

According to the 1939 AGC catalog, prewar Gilbert HO was AC.  I think reversing required interrupting the voltage.

I would also say this transformer is home made.

Rusty

Pete,

   Agreed, if you are using current [ pun intended ] standards -- but:

- I can find photos on the internet, even Ebay, of Scintilla units with the terminal and controls on the same face.

-  A grommet was pretty standard back then, or even into the fifties;  my Bergen Duo-pak has just such an arrangement.

I think it is either 'factory' or 'factory-but-modified' myself.

Best, SZ

I hve no idea, but if it is simple and robust, then Scintilla would make sense.  We are still using Scintilla (Bendix) ignition systems designed a hundred years ago on airplane engines.  We cannot upgrade them because the approval process is too expensive - but they are excellent products.

Its possible it was assembled from a kit. Bud Boxes use phillips screws and they have been around for a long time. Project boxes used to be offered in krinkle paint or it could have used by the builder. I think I still have a few in black krinkle in our storeroom at work.

I am still thinking it was put together by a skilled amateur. The arrangement of the components doesn't lend itself to mass production.

based on the size of the transformer it would have been pretty powerful for HO.

Pete

All the Bud boxes I used in the 70's had slotted screws.

If you are going to use it,I would replace the selenium rectifier with a silicone one.

Dale H

For rectification purposes, silicon works better than silicone.