Questions about Lionel 1914 catalog

RadioRon posted:

Just a suggestion.... maybe you will get more/better information if you change the title of your thread to "Question about 1914 Lionel catalog."

Just changed it.

                                              Trainfam

Regarding the batteries..Prior to 1900, when Cowen was working for Acme Electric Lamp Co. he claimed to have invented the dry cell storage battery. He used some type of dry cell in his Flash Lamp patented in 1899 and the Mine Detonator for the Navy that soon followed. Could the ones pictured  have been of his own design and brand..? That I don't know. 

Interesting, I remember reading in some early standard gauge catalogs by Lionel that you could ether use transformers or dry cell batteries. But I believe that they started to fade out the use of battery’s a little after standard gauge was introduced. I wonder who made the machine board next to the battery too... interesting 

I also remember seeing the Ives 114 station and the Ives glass dome in a picture of the 1910 Lionel showroom layout. My only real guess for why this was done was to show that Ives and Lionel were compatible... but that’s just my guess.

                                               Trainfam 

Man look at the cool bench work under that layout. I wonder if that box mounted to the side of the bench is a DC voltage step down unit like they offered in the early catalogs. I suspect that showroom was in Manhattan which was powered by Edison's 110V DC lines. 

Found a clearer picture of that catalog cover today. Batteries are  marked "Red Seal". Looks like they're only powering the motorized carnival or whatever that is.     I've seen that tunnel before but can't remember where. 

That kid is operating the 1912 issued Lionel Race Cars with an early transformer that plugged into the ceiling light socket..like this :

I did find a different illustration that shows "Lionel" brand dry cells. Whether or not they were ever sold that way I'm not sure. 

And a picture of a rare battery rheostat..

I came across this ad for a “red seal” battery

The catalog seems to have a “product placement” haha, I have also seen a tunnel similar to the one in the catalog, not sure if it’s the same tunnel as you saw. Thankfully I took a screenshot:

Hard to say it this is is the same tunnel in the catalog. Still not too sure about what the board is, but it does remind me of a circus toy. All I can say is that the round (motor?) at the end of the board:

reminds me of a Lionel new departure motor, similar to this one:

Still hard to say if this is the same as the one in the catalog cover.

                                                   Trainfam

@TrainFam posted:

I came across this ad for a “red seal” battery

 

 

I was wondering why the guy on the ad had racing goggles on but now I see the batteries were marketed for ignition systems. Interesting.

I think you're right about the tunnel the one you pictured is the one I remember. Besides the missing "stairs" on the side it looks very close. Very unique looking. Those ad artists were known to take some creative liberties when illustrating and often worked off concept drawings or ideas before the item was actually in production. 

The motor looks spot on too except for the vent holes..even has the little lifting ring on top. 

Hello all ..batteries were all the rage till 1911 when Thorsan  came in with a cheap easy to use transformer.....electric toy sales took off ...yes only 40% + - of America had electricity in the home ..but it was the 40% that mattered  for sales .

Station yes Ives ..Lionel had one on their 1908 layout also ..

One bridge has been found ..nice tunnel...  Germans made a bunch of similar type tunnels with stairs 

Cheers Carey 

Hi Carey,

 I remember reading about the first Lionel station, it was supposedly made in Germany. Seems like German companies helped and made many of the first accessories for Lionel.

                                                  Trainfam 

Just noticed something in the picture Carey posted:

Seems that some of the electric board in the catalog cover was real after all. I wonder who manufactured it? 

                                                 Trainfam 

Hello all ..ok magazine article  shows the bridge ..   station in front was sold as "lionel's" .... for about $2.00 ...Sears also sold the same station for .75....  seems to be a German import 

Cheers Carey 

I suppose that the bridge could be a Märklin, seems like many of their accessories were mix matched with Lionel. 

                                                 Trainfam 

Hi everyone,

last night I found a listing on live auctioneers that appears to show a part of the board in the corner of the catalog, take a look:

Boy this thread has sure turned into an interesting topic! Fun fun fun.

                                                  Trainfam

Great stuff! Weeden also made toy steam engines to power adjuncts like that "machine shop" via pulleys, although this one was powered by an electric motor.

@Tinplate Art posted:

Great stuff! Weeden also made toy steam engines to power adjuncts like that "machine shop" via pulleys, although this one was powered by an electric motor.

Gee, if only toy manufacturers put in as much pride in toys today as they did 100 years ago maybe kids would still be interested in electricity.

                                                  Trainfam

Growing up in the early fifties with Gilbert Erector sets and electric trains through age 16 taught me much about electrical devices like transformers, motors and solenoids. When I took my high school physics class, I was ahead of the textbook. My chemistry set experience also helped with that subject.

@Tinplate Art posted:

Growing up in the early fifties with Gilbert Erector sets and electric trains through age 16 taught me much about electrical devices like transformers, motors and solenoids. When I took my high school physics class, I was ahead of the textbook. My chemistry set experience also helped with that subject.

Just more proof that these toys are important for learning important skills. Toys made nowadays can’t do that.

                                                  Trainfam 

AGREED! The "hands on" aspect of those earlier toys allowed for both entertainment and learning. Video games are more passive in that regard, and the only learned manual dexterity is pushing buttons.

Seems like kids nowadays are sheltered from hands on activity. Electric trains would be considered “hazardous” now. I call baloney! A little electric shock never hurts. These old toys are much more safe than toys made today. A number 42 can’t get hacked! A transformer can’t scam you! Sorry just going off on a tangent. But it’s true.

                                                  Trainfam

If you don't have a  1913-1914 Lionel Catalog, the same color cover picture can be found inside the back cover of the TCA Lionel Trains: Standard of the World, 1900-1943, Second Edition.

That book lists the tunnel at the top of the picture as Lionel #109. Despite searching, I have never seen another photo or example of that tunnel. It is similar to Marklin, but I have not found a  Marklin tunnel that is an exact match. 

The station is an Ives 116 Grand Central Station. Ives did make a similar but not identical glass train shed.