Need Help Sourcing Trees for 1925 Lionel Scenic Railway

Here are a few photos I have saved of old Lionel pre-made layouts, hope they help a bit.

Sounds like you are describing something similar to these

These trees came to me with an American Flyer set c. 1925 and I can verify they came with the set through an advertisement in a Butler Brother's catalog from 1925.

The trees are comprised of what I believe is natural sponge.  I know American Flyer cataloged trees and shrubs in their 1922-1924 catalogs.

NWL

@Brian Liesberg posted:

Here are a few photos I have saved of old Lionel pre-made layouts, hope they help a bit.

 

 Thanks for posting this photos. Those factory layouts built on the tables with removable legs were fantastic. I've been looking for one for 30 some years. Even the factory built crate is magnificent looking. 

@Nation Wide Lines posted:

Sounds like you are describing something similar to these

These trees came to me with an American Flyer set c. 1925 and I can verify they came with the set through an advertisement in a Butler Brother's catalog from 1925.

The trees are comprised of what I believe is natural sponge.  I know American Flyer cataloged trees and shrubs in their 1922-1924 catalogs.

NWL

Those are really neat looking and are probably very close or spot on to some of the smaller trees Lionel used . Certainly they are from the correct era. I'm sure they are also difficult to find. 

Since I posted I found an old thread where Ron Morris offered some of the examples from his collection. He shows the No. 505 Oak Tree as one of the "Sisal twine" style trees commonly seen on the Scenic Plots with the exception that these have a stand alone base rather than the roots being glued directly to the platform. While it deviates from what is shown in the catalog illustration I have to defer to Ron's expertise as he devoted many years to collecting and studying Lionel's Pre-War scenic offerings. 

 Lionel No.505 Oak Tree (photo Ron Morris)

He also showed some interesting looking  Pre-war trees made of wire ...presumably of German origin :

(photo Ron Morris)

Another thread pointed to a German Company called Erzgebirge as a manufacturer of Pre War trees with wooden trunks. 

Thanks for the input, the search continues...

Sent you an Email G-Man24 

I found these at York years ago. These might be similar to the ones you are looking for.
 Joe

Those display layouts were fantastic and that shipping carton was amazing!

I have a square milk box container of pre war style trees, shrubs and material that we will be listing on eBay this week. It came from a shop we bought out about 40 years ago. We just found when cleaning out a storage section in the basement. I think we will break up into smaller lots when listing. This might be what you are looking for.  Harry