I like colorful trains, here a few made by Issmayer.
Greetings
Arne
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Just curious: are there parts missing from that green loco, such as a pilot, cylinders, side rods, and a leading or trailing truck?
No, that was not the case with these simple locomotives, they are complete.
Arne
THANK YOU for your prompt reply! These toy trains do have a certain charm over more detailed models!
i see the "J.A.J." (Johann Andreas Issmayer) ... Nuremberg (?), "Germany"
interesting that in 8 x 57JS ammunition (German Mauser) the J really stands for Infanterie (Infantry). maybe old German is as confusing as Olde English?
what were their years of production, do you know?
thanks...gary
Hello Gary,
In Germany, before the World War II, another script was used, with I and J being very similar.
In Issmayer models, this is sometimes difficult to determine an exact age. There is almost nothing in catalogs. However, Issmayer has supplied many other Nuremberg companies with models, so that one can come to comparisons to approximate information. The oldest cars are likely to be the last two, these appear already in the catalog of 1912 by Carette. The latest model is probably the beige freight car, which was probably produced around 1930.
Greetings
Arne
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Beautiful Arne , I too love the look of these Issmayers, it demonstrates that "complicated simplicity" where art is introduced to take your eye off the basic-ness of the piece . Utilising texture thru embossing or busy/bold lithography elevates the piece from its competitors.
It is like Johann Andreas looked at his toys as art just as much as functional pieces, made not so much to replicate reality, but challenge it with boldness of colour and a sense of fun 
I NEED some Issmayer in my life !
( sadly so do many many others on ebay lol )
I love stout little trains like these, they are so adorable and cute.
Like this little Plank engine, it's so small and stout, no need to be prototypical.
The definition of a toy, just something built to be enjoyed.
(Also, I just wanted to ask)
On the TCA Western Page for Issmayer, it states that "They mainly sold large, live-steam-powered locomotives to their home market, and cheap colorful, clockwork versions were imported to the USA"
Is this true? And if so, are there any examples still around?
