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as stated in the new catalog, the 390 locomotive does appear for the first time in the 1929 catalog, but it was advertised there as...

"The finish is a beautiful black enamel ---- with  brass and nickel trim."

in 1930 it is pictured as heading up a Blue Comet version...

L1930.26
and obviously blue in this case.

i don't have a 1931 catalog, but the two-tone green livery is pictured in 1932...

L1932.04
yet in cataloged sets there is no indication of the locomotive color, which does appear to be consistently black in the illustrations.  was the two-tone green locomotive included in any sets or was it only sold as a separate purchase and in what years was that color available?

thanks...gary

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  • L1930.26
  • L1932.04
Last edited by overlandflyer

Adjust for inflation.   I don't see a 260E but a 261E so I'm using that as an example.  Above it says:  $19.95, 1932 catalog. 

Putting the various values here --  (2016, 1932, $349.95):  http://www.usinflationcalculator.com/

Results says that's $19.19 in 1932 dollars.   So at least that one is similarly priced relatively speaking to the bygone era.

I guess perhaps tin-plate was upmarket, even back then?

WOW, I think this is one of the greatest tinplate catalog ever. I'm with you on the $8000.00.  I want the Orange passenger cars for my 263E. The 200 series Famous catalog series would be great behind my Orange 400E. The 263 N&W set WOW again. I am tempted by the N&W 400E, however I have to draw the line somewhere. The Pennsy Super 381 set is another WOW locomotive. Yes I need thousands to buy all I want in this catalog.

Scott Smith

 

I note that both the Standard and O gauge Milwaukee Road passenger sets from the 2015 catalog have been carried over to the 2016 catalog.  While I received my O gauge box cab set several months ago, the Standard Gauge Bipolar and cars I ordered from the 2015 catalog haven't been  delivered yet.   Hopefully, they will be delivered in time for me to take them to Trainfest 2016 in November and run them there for the first time on the SGMA layout.  However, I am not that confident that they will arrive in time since the latest posted September delivery date for several of the passenger cars was just missed.

Bob Nelson

Last edited by navy.seal

I agree with Larry S.  Not really anything new in O. If we had some smaller versions of the standard gauge items, like a Flyer brass piper, I would be putting in an order and figuring out how to pay for it.  But more of the same doesn't do it for me.  Also, would it really be that hard to make a 6 or 8 driver tinplate engine?   Surely the basic tooling for the chassis already exists.

I'm a relative newbie when it comes to Standard Gauge or even tinplate in general.  So I'm always glad to see MTH producing stuff similar to what was made around 2005 or so before tinplate caught my eye.  

To that regard, the colorful 400E's in various roadnames are very much appreciated.  I'd probably buy an SP Daylight 400E with matching State cars if they were offered.  And I'd jump at a Standard Gauge Polar Express in a heartbeat.  I don't think MTH could make enough of those.

It's a tough call though... Space is already becoming a premium with my O-Gauge stuff, and space only seems to get chewed up faster with Standard Gauge.  So I can understand why a good number of items in the 2016 catalog were a carry-over from the prior year's catalog -- especially those 2015 items yet to be delivered.

David

Last edited by Rocky Mountaineer
Mike W. posted:

Yeah I prefer the traditional AC motor option as well...they are works of art.  At least give the option.  Most of these locos use the same type motor so the cost would be shared.

It seems more often than not when I see closeout engines they are generally the traditional type. I  have heard MTH sells a lot more contemporary than traditional. I do not know what Mike W runs but I get the impression many calling for traditional engines only buy original stuff and have no intention of buying anything MTH makes anyway.

overlandflyer posted:

as stated in the new catalog, the 390 locomotive does appear for the first time in the 1929 catalog, but it was advertised there as...

"The finish is a beautiful black enamel ---- with  brass and nickel trim."

in 1930 it is pictured as heading up a Blue Comet version...

L1930.26
and obviously blue in this case.

i don't have a 1931 catalog, but the two-tone green livery is pictured in 1932...

L1932.04
yet in cataloged sets there is no indication of the locomotive color, which does appear to be consistently black in the illustrations.  was the two-tone green locomotive included in any sets or was it only sold as a separate purchase and in what years was that color available?

thanks...gary

The green engine is a 260E O gauge.

My Lionel book shows the 2 tone green version first appearing in 1929 uncatalogued. The book implies it was only made in 1929. it could have been cataloged later and sold as new old stock. After all it was the depression. There are 2 green versions. Third color green stripe down the running board or a orange stripe down the running board. My Greenberg book lists 1 green set from 1929. Passenger 332(9)(41) in peacock. set number 392E (note this set was made before a 392E engine existed). The peacock cars would have orange doors. So I will take the great leap and say the super rare 2 tone green 390E with orange running boards was made for this set. 

The all black 390E was made in 1933. There is a black 390 (no E unit) and a black orange strip 390. 

The Blue version headed the Blue Comet for 1 year. It was replaced by the 400E and 1 year a black 392E. I would assume this engine was made 1 year only.

On a personal note I like my tinplate in matched sets. The peacock with orange doors and an orange stripe down the tender. I would however prefer that set with black and orange stripe 390E. Another example would be the 390E with the cream stripe matching the windows of the Blue Comet cars. Of all the 400Es MTH has made how come they never did a 400E with a cream stripe. Lionel did once. The Green state set has that green stripe down the 381E that matches the window trim of the cars. On the Stephen Girard set the 9E in dark green actually looks better to me than the 2 tone green 9E. The match is more subtle.  

 

Trainlover160 posted:
Bossman284 posted:

I don't do tin plate but looked through the catalog, lots of nice things.  I don't think I'll ever complaint about the price of  O gauge again!!

I did not know o gauge was cheap. ��

Hey boss man just looked at the catalog a little closer and I see what you mean it appears that everything has really gone up not sure what I'm going to buy now?

Joeg

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