mysterious Canadian accessory

In all my years collecting never seen it before.

It's interesting that the deeper one gets into any hobby, the more questions there are! From a Canadian perspective, there was a lot of nationalism around our Centnnial in 1967 so I am guessing it is from around then.

As a sidebar, Canadians are not always good at preserving their history, so I am especially interested in the history of this little guy.

I do look forward to any opinions or comments from the forum!

I would say way before 1967. back in '67 the toy train market was virtually nil, so any toy train accessory if made at all would be plastic. My eye says late forties to early fifties.  The way it is made, it could even be Prewar.

The shade of green screams American Flyer.

1954 or later .

The logo it closest resembles, is the one first used in 1954 .

Colors aside, it's lettering style is the same as in the '54' and later herald

Thank you! Your comments makes make more sense than my guess. I will narrow down my search to pre-mid 1950s.

I think it's home made but check out the radio in the corner. Neat!   Is that a tire ash tray on top?

Hi, Gregg.  Before I discovered model trains, l collected antique radios, then moved onto an amateur radio license.  Fortunately for me, my 'shack' is large enough to accommodate my newest interest!

It doesn't look like Marx. It looks more like something Skyline might have made, but I have never seen it before. 

Tsu tsu posted:

Thank you! Your comments makes make more sense than my guess. I will narrow down my search to pre-mid 1950s.

  It would likely be built after  '53' but before 1960.

 While paint changes take time, so it might have been seen earlier, the CN leaf and logo officially changes to what you have there in 54, but normally with red included in the leaf.

  The early pre-54 logo has a "softer", cartoon like outline for the leaf, and instead has "Serves all Canada" on the square tile (tilted).

1960 begins the CN "worm logo".