Make and/or Year??

American Flyer Hummer type. One type was made from 1916-18, the second type from 1918-26. Not sure if yours is early or late.

 

Steve

you have one of the 1st versions...

 

the most recognizable features being the square window and large domes.  if that was from the same source as your #7 clockwork, that guy really liked to dress up his engines.

 

here is the later version...

 

arched window, small domes and some reinforcing ridges (mimicing boiler bands) stamped in.

 

be careful winding the small motor.  they weren't made nearly as robust as the full size Flyer motors.

 

cheers...gary

Thanks Gary. So mine looks to be 1st version as well!

I also noticed the size of the wheels on your first version "tender" are not the same width as your coach car(*502). Mine seem smaller.... like my "500" passenger car.

I have a sample of the second version as well. I noticed the green color on that tender is brighter than the 1st. I guess cause it was manufactured later in the '20s.

 

beautiful and simple tinplate.

i have a few dozen Hummer and old Flyer cars with the vast majority having large wheels.  more than likely the Hummer car i show in my picture has replacement wheels as this is one of the few cars i have from this era (Flyer) which does not have a larger size wheel.  i find the same thing with early Marx.  old Joyline cars should have a larger wheel than the newer (1935+) tin stamped wheels.  i fear that when pushed for a sale, sometimes people will replace 3 or less remaining large wheels with 4 small ones from later era tin to make it look better/complete.

 

despite the broken coupler, those are very nice cars.  i'm not sure how many different styles of graphic were used on these one-piece body cars, but i've rarely seen the exact same version for sale twice.

 

this is a new one on me, though...

 

never saw an inverted Hummer tender before!

like i say... never stop looking.

 

cheers...gary

Haha...... For a second there I thought the photo of the tender was "flipped"!! Nope! I guess it was printed that way!

 

Do you have any "boxes" to these Hummers? I recently got one.. but was wondering if it's for the first version Hummer.. or second(*photo attached)

 

Another "lucky" thing for me.... that car with the coupler missing.... it actually HAS the missing piece "taped" to the bottom of the car's body!! Hahaa!!! (*Genius!) The tape looks very old... so I figure its originally owner taped the missing piece to the body.. so to maybe fix it later! Again.... smart owner.

 

 

500 Car with detached(*but still present) coupler

*Nicer Photos of the 1st Version AF Hummer Loco w/cars

This little engine can run further..... just need to adjust tracks and maybe run him on a longer, less tight curves track.

Here's another box lid - a little more colorful than the one you posted.

 

 

Robert, is this box for a 1st version or 2nd version hummer train?

It is the second series from 1918-1926

 

I know little to nothing about tinplate, but did pick this piece up in an auction along with three other tin plate passenger cars.  It's not in the best condition, but when would this car date to?  I am always curious to learn more.

 

Thanks!

 

 

I think American Flyer, 1915-16

Robert.... this makes sense. Although, the non-detachable windup key does not fit within my box. The 1st version Hummer loco has a "flatter" key.. so that does fit.

Is this your experience?

on both motor key types, the shaft stays in the motor, but the 'bow' (the part of a key your fingers rest on) should be removable although about half of mine are slightly fused to the shaft and would take too much of an effort to separate them or more likely damage the motor in the process.  without the bow in place, the loco should fit in the box.

 

cheers...gary

The "A" "F" frame of the Northwestern Line baggage car would date it from 1921-1925.  The A and the F are in the embossed circles at either end of the frame.

Thanks Gary. Didn't know these keys were supposed to be removable. My two engines certainly have theirs fused! Haha!! Guess this happens over time.

i'm going to say this is the 1923-24 model.

the earlier (1915-16) car had simulated (litho) wood sheath siding.

 

it also has the Type V (garter loop) coupler which didn't appear until 1918.

 

cheers...gary

here is the UP express baggage version of the early 5½" wood sheathed cars...

 

along with the North-Western Line and UP R.R., there were also American Flyer Line & Pennsylvania (PENN. LINE) versions of these early cars.  all types are hard to find.

 

cheers...gary