Messing with Some Vintage HO Stuff....

Some more HO Vintage Fun.  Varney and Tyco tonight.

@Dennis Holler posted:

Somehow I managed to win the MTH K4 for $25.  I think the Bowser cost a bit more.  Would like to land a few more Bowser or Penn Line PRR locos as well as the Varney F-3's

25 bucks?!?  That just might be the all time great deal!  😁👍😁

Mark in Oregon

This fell victim to my move last year.  I decided to sell it as the only time the train had been out of their boxes since 1980 was for these photo's in 2015:

The NMRA Headquarters Express was a fundraiser for building their own facility in Chattanooga.  The headquarters building wound up being sold to the TVRM in 2013 as the NMRA changed priorities.

There was also a model made of the Headquarters:

The set and building was also available in N Scale.

Rusty

Rivarossi, I think. Very handsome set...

Mark in Oregon

@Strummer posted:

Rivarossi, I think. Very handsome set...

Mark in Oregon

Yep, imported by AHM.  There was some carping about the fact that the NMRA used the company with the deep "pizza cutter" flanges.  But there was no real alternative to single source the set at the time.

Rusty

The buy of the year off Facebook marketplace. Listed for 45.00 I didn’t quibble !

Bob,

Nice buys.  In my early days I was a Tyco fan;. Like the Lionel crowd, I couldn't wait for the annual catalog to come out.  On my layout I had those mercury street lamps on the outskirts of downtown Plasticville and the longer fluorescent style around the town center, just like real life (so I thought). Your post reminded me of those times. In my mind I can still see every detail of that layout.  Thanks for the post.

Earl     

@Conductor Earl posted:

Bob,

Nice buys.  In my early days I was a Tyco fan;. Like the Lionel crowd, I couldn't wait for the annual catalog to come out.  On my layout I had those mercury street lamps on the outskirts of downtown Plasticville and the longer fluorescent style around the town center, just like real life (so I thought). Your post reminded me of those times. In my mind I can still see every detail of that layout.  Thanks for the post.

Earl     

Thanks Earl ! The streetlights were a throw in on that deal but the real bonus was the Brachs candy operating hopper that I once paid 35.00 for with two busted couplers.

Picked up some early Rivarossi today !

Very heavy!!! the FMs are both powered and permanently coupled and MUed . The diaphragms are deteriorated with very weird couplers.

The steam engine is die cast with a plastic tender!

The instructions are in Italian...I really like the boxes !

That is a nice find!  What year do you estimate these are from?

@GG1 4877 posted:

That is a nice find!  What year do you estimate these are from?

Jonathan I have no idea ! I was actually hoping you were going to know that ! Lmao !

Maybe somebody else will chime in.

@taycotrains posted:

Jonathan I have no idea ! I was actually hoping you were going to know that ! Lmao !

Maybe somebody else will chime in.

Both the WP C-Liner and the Atlantic hail from 1952.

I remember during the 1960's, AHM was running their "funeral sales" which were of returned locomotives going 3 for the price of 1.  You were guaranteed to at least one operating.  The Atlantics were going for 3 for $19.95.  I couldn't afford the Atlantics, but I got 3 perfectly good C-Liners for $9.95.

Rusty

@Rusty Traque posted:

Both the WP C-Liner and the Atlantic hail from 1952.

I remember during the 1960's, AHM was running their "funeral sales" which were of returned locomotives going 3 for the price of 1.  You were guaranteed to at least one operating.  The Atlantics were going for 3 for $19.95.  I couldn't afford the Atlantics, but I got 3 perfectly good C-Liners for $9.95.

Rusty

and there you go ! Thanks Rusty !!!!

I never knew Rivarossi went back that far.  But then again I was only -17 in 1952.  I'll have to keep my eyes open at shows now that I know what to look for.  I also never knew the C-Liners started out as cast locomotives.  I have a pair of 70's AHM blue box plastic ones, but they are nothing special.

@GG1 4877 posted:

I never knew Rivarossi went back that far.  But then again I was only -17 in 1952.  I'll have to keep my eyes open at shows now that I know what to look for.  I also never knew the C-Liners started out as cast locomotives.  I have a pair of 70's AHM blue box plastic ones, but they are nothing special.

The early FM shells were cast in Bakelite.  I once had an opportunity to buy two undecorated C-Liner kits in the mid 70's, but passed on them because of the Bakelite.  They would have been almost impossible to modify (sacrilege, I know) and I'm not sure if my painting techniques would have worked on them.

Rusty

During my career with the New Jersey Dept of Transportation I probably uttered these words at least twice a week... but now I have to say it here !

”I have seen it all now”

WTH ???

@taycotrains posted:

During my career with the New Jersey Dept of Transportation I probably uttered these words at least twice a week... but now I have to say it here !

”I have seen it all now”

WTH ???

Steam Dummy explanation.

Rusty

@taycotrains posted:

During my career with the New Jersey Dept of Transportation I probably uttered these words at least twice a week... but now I have to say it here !

”I have seen it all now”

WTH ???

Great find!  Rusty's history link makes this a fascinating piece. 

Recent acquisitions. All 1950's-60's vintage Märklin HO.

I don't exactly know how "vintage" this is compared to the age of my HO collection in general, but I picked up this set of Burlington FTs from a co-worker who was giving away his dad's trains.  These are Overlands produced by Ajin so I am guessing 1980's? 

@GG1 4877 posted:

I don't exactly know how "vintage" this is compared to the age of my HO collection in general, but I picked up this set of Burlington FTs from a co-worker who was giving away his dad's trains.  These are Overlands produced by Ajin so I am guessing 1980's?

Those are very nice !

@GG1 4877 posted:

I don't exactly know how "vintage" this is compared to the age of my HO collection in general, but I picked up this set of Burlington FTs from a co-worker who was giving away his dad's trains.  These are Overlands produced by Ajin so I am guessing 1980's?

Overland's FT's came out in 1999, so they're still from the previous century.

And they look a heck of a lot better than Tenshodo's.

Rusty

Here’s another from the “here take this home with you” file. In other words another great gift from a friend !

1962 is a very long time ago believe me I know seeing I was born in April of that year.

Does anyone remember this company based out of Japan ? The certificate is pasted on the inside lid.

Akane Model Trains

Pretty nice piece I think.

Bob

That's a nice example. I actually started this thread with an Akane model.

My example of Akane's B&O Pacific has a "birthdate" of June 21, 1961...

Mark in Oregon

@Strummer posted:

Bob

That's a nice example. I actually started this thread with an Akane model.

My example of Akane's B&O Pacific has a "birthdate" of June 21, 1961...

Mark in Oregon

Mark what do you suppose this item retailed for back in 61 or 62 ?

@Strummer posted:

For whatever reason, I thought I'd break out some of my old HO scale items that were in need of repair.

I've got several Akane brass engines; quite awhile ago, one of my Mikes just quit working. (As it turns out, this is the oldest of my Akanes: it has a build date of December 22, 1960.)

I was able to determine that 2 of the 5/7(?) commutator contact wires from the armature had become disconnected: a little flux, a spot of solder and it's now back in top form. Very smooth and quiet. The fact that the motors on these were so logically designed and built made it easy to take apart, fix and re-assemble. Sometimes, you gotta love the old stuff.

To be continued...

Mark in Oregon

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The Akane B&O Mike sold for $39.95 back in 1962.

Rusty

There you go... thanks, Rusty!

Mark in Oregon

On the vintage HO front, right now I'm mulling over getting something I've been looking for, something that I remember my dad always liking, but didn't have a complete one: a Fleischmann PRR passenger set, 4-6-2 and 3 of the tinplate cars.

Apart from Marklin, Fleischmann was a German brand my dad always had me look for.  After he passed in 2018, I inherited his vintage HO stuff (a LOT!  And I will post here as I can!)  So along with my existing Varney, Marx and early Mantua, I now have his Penn Line, Bowser, Mantua, Varney, Hobbyline, 30's Gilbert, Marklin and some Fleischmann.

The only thing about this set is that it's just on the edge of what I want to pay.  I may just stop procrastinating and buy it, since I've not seen one this complete and in this great a condition!

I am surprised we haven't had more Fleischman posts.  I have a 1950's vintage Baldwin VO-1000 that appears to be OO as it seems large, but I do not have a comparable true HO one for reference. 

@GG1 4877 posted:

I am surprised we haven't had more Fleischman posts.  I have a 1950's vintage Baldwin VO-1000 that appears to be OO as it seems large, but I do not have a comparable true HO one for reference.

My dad always loved the Fleischmann HO, I think one reason being they were built and ran very well, but also the German influence on the locos and cars (especially steam - my dad loved the German pacifics!)

The VO-1000 is one of my favorite engines of theirs, along with the PAs.  I've got some of each, and beyond running great, they are built to withstand anything! 

@Eddie Marra posted:

My dad always loved the Fleischmann HO, I think one reason being they were built and ran very well, but also the German influence on the locos and cars (especially steam - my dad loved the German pacifics!)

The VO-1000 is one of my favorite engines of theirs, along with the PAs.  I've got some of each, and beyond running great, they are built to withstand anything!

I have never seen a Fleischman PA.  I'd like to see some pictures of those. 

My Vintage PAs are Hobbytown of Boston & Cambro bronze castings of a PA and PB that I know very little about.  I should post some photos of those.  They weigh more than some of my O scale locomotives!

@GG1 4877 posted:

I have never seen a Fleischman PA.  I'd like to see some pictures of those.

My Vintage PAs are Hobbytown of Boston & Cambro bronze castings of a PA and PB that I know very little about.  I should post some photos of those.  They weigh more than some of my O scale locomotives!

I’m sorry, I meant the FA!  They had Santa Fe and UP.  And I agree - the weight of some of those Hobbytown engines are insane!  They’ll pull anything you put behind them!

@GG1 4877 posted:

I am surprised we haven't had more Fleischman posts.  I have a 1950's vintage Baldwin VO-1000 that appears to be OO as it seems large, but I do not have a comparable true HO one for reference.

I do have one piece of vintage Fleischmann from the 70's, a class 55 0-8-0:

It is a little large compared to later models.  I don't have a newer Class 55 to compare it against, but I do have a Roco Class 57 0-10-0.  The 55 is just as long buffer to buffer and taller than the Roco model:

Rusty

I picked up a very common Fleichsman starter set at a Kutztown show about a year ago...My only example of this brand.

What I find amazing was Fleischmann offered Santa Fe Hi-Level (although around 60 scale feet) cars decades before anyone else.

Rusty

I remember now seeing those cars at train shows as a kid not knowing what a double decker car was.  How little did I know then?  How little do I know now?

From the Mystical, Magical, Moving Box.  Not really ancient stuff, but all pre-1985 when I switched to S.  Presenting the Seattle, Tacoma & Portland Collection:

Decorations represent the railroad from the 1940's to 1980.  There's a little damage on some of the cars, but not bad considering they've been living relatively unprotected in a box for 36 years.

Rusty

I keep finding stuff as I'm going through boxes too.  Just found an Ambroid kit for a 50' reefer that still needs to be finished.  I also found one of my boxes of HO GG1s.  Yes there is more than one box. 

I collected all original 12 GG1's made by AHM in the yellow and blue boxes, horn hook couplers, paper work and all additional extra's w/coa's of limited production numbers.

I liked them so much I have 2 complete sets of all 12 GG1's.

Nice collection!  I am missing the Amtrak single stripe version, the single stripe PRR DGLE one, the "Blackjack 4935" special release, and the Spirit of '76 special release.  Someday eventually I may track these down but my GG1 collecting has slowed down now that I have so many.  However, anytime I am a show and I see a well priced Rivarossi one I still pick it up. 

The American Railroads 4902 version was my second GG1 that I got when I was about 16.  My first was a Pemko DGLE five stripe with road number 4828 when I was 14.  I saved my milk money for about a year to come up with the $19.95 to buy that one.