I recently purchased the vintage trolley pictured below from the estate train collection of the late Lewis K English who was the owner of Bowser Manufacturing. As pictured, it is pale yellow with TCA Paradise-Strasburg on the side and as the second photo shows, there are no markings whatsoever stamped or printed on the trolley's metal undercarriage/frame. Since this came from an estate sale, no box or literature accompanied it. Have you ever seen this trolley? Was it a limited edition made only for TCA members or for sale at the museum? Is it possibly a one-of-a kind painter's sample that was never mass marketed? Any information providing a time frame or specific year for this trolley is greatly appreciated.
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Contact Richard Cox or Vern Trago at English Model Railroad Supply in Montoursville, Pa. The Birney and the larger Brill model was made by Bowser and sold by many train/hobby shops for a number of years.
Goody posted:the larger Brill model was made by Bowser and sold by many train/hobby shops for a number of years.
The Brill was originally a Pittman product.
Brass wheels and open frame motor, which makes it an earlier model. I'm going to guess late 70s or early 80s (I think Bowser introduced the single truck Birney around 1975, but I could be wrong).
I recommend pulling the shell off (mounting screws on each end under the headlight) and oiling the motor bearings before operating it.
Mitch
Thanks for the info, Goody, Dave, and Mitch. I'm hoping either a TCA menmber or someone at the TCA Museum in Strasburg who either has or remembers this trolley will see this thread and post additional information.
Mitch, I was planning to grease the gears but hadn't thought about the motor. Thanks for mentioning it.
Why not contact the TCA Toy Train Museum instead of hoping someone will see this thread? From its website:
Museum Phone:
717 687-8976
Library:
717 687-8976
Email Us:
info
@nttmuseum.org
Write Us:
PO Box 248 Strasburg, PA 17579-0248
Lewis English was a great person in this hobby. I had a long conversation with him back in 1995 when I had acquired an unknown HO cast brass HO GG1. I was only 26 at the time and we talked for close to an hour about a lot of things not related to my model. A true gentleman. He was able to help me identify it as a George Stock model also.
Contacting the TCA office is a good suggestion. Best to you. I miss the old Bowser. Great source for parts and vintage cool trains.