Came across this. It's a resin GG1 with cast frames, huge open frame motors, an ACG reverse unit, and a dangerously huge capacitor. Same length as an American Models GG1.
Been in S Gauge over 60 years, and never saw one of these. Any ideas on it's origin?
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Made by Imfield or Emfield in the late '80's - years before AM made their GG-1s. Limited production cottage industry type of thing.
The (San Francisco Bay Area) Golden Gate American Flyer club members bought a bunch of them. We ordered them and then waited two years to get them. Most of the other guys units conked out, but mine kept going.
Where did you find yours? What part of the country is it from?
I got it from a friend in the Chicago area who got it off of eBay. Don't know where it was shipped from.
Where was Imfield located?
I don't know any more about it than previously stated, but sent an email to the fellow who usually did the group purchasing for the club. When/if he responds, I will tell you what he tells me.
From a few years back....
What purpose does the capacitor serve?
A D Imfeld was in Ohio. And mine is still running too!
I heard a lot of people ordered one and never got it.
Interesting that yours has blind wheels on the middle axle of 6 wheel sets - mine does not have any wheels there.
I remember seeing the advertisements for these in the S Gaugian. They came out several years before the AM GG1, although I think the AM is a much more detailed model. But in product-starved S, you took what you could get!
There was a mention in the S Gaugian once of a company that was going to produce a Southern Pacific Daylight GS4 based on the AF Northern chassis. As I recall, it was going to be very expensive (maybe $600-800, which at the time was even more than it would be today). I think you could provide the running gear for a reduced price. I think I only saw this once in the S Gaugian and I have never heard of or seen one of these models since, so I assume they were never made. Does anyone else remember that one?
Scott Griggs, Louisville, KY
sgriggs posted:I remember seeing the advertisements for these in the S Gaugian. They came out several years before the AM GG1, although I think the AM is a much more detailed model. But in product-starved S, you took what you could get!
There was a mention in the S Gaugian once of a company that was going to produce a Southern Pacific Daylight GS4 based on the AF Northern chassis. As I recall, it was going to be very expensive (maybe $600-800, which at the time was even more than it would be today). I think you could provide the running gear for a reduced price. I think I only saw this once in the S Gaugian and I have never heard of or seen one of these models since, so I assume they were never made. Does anyone else remember that one?
Scott Griggs, Louisville, KY
I think I read that it was Sunset Models, but it was never produced.
My father and I saw one of these all die cast GG-1s at a Greenberg's Train Show in the old Philly Convention Center. It was around 1993 or 1994. For my Dad and I, it has always been a story of "The one that got away". I am certain everyone has one of these stories.
We saw it setting on one of the tables at the front of the hall. It was impressive and heavy. It had brass gears and looked sturdy. Some of the castings were a little rough. We liked it. I think they were asking $300-400 for it. At the time it was expensive for our collection. Not it seems almost cheep. We decided to pass on it because the day was early and we didn't want to spend the budget too early. Later that day we wanted to look again at the GG-1 and buy it. It was gone.
Ever since we keep an eye out for a die cast GG-1 as we walk the shows doing the "Train Show Shuffle" scanning the tables. I have only seen 1 since, at York and it was in poor shape. We still talk about those engines we should have bought.
There might be terminology differences here.
The Imfield GG-1 body is not diecast. Diecast is pot metal, or Zamack, which is forced under high pressure into a precision two part (inside and outside) tool steel mold at liquid temperature. Just like steam locomotives. Very expensive to make for a garage operation.
The body of this Imfield S gauge GG-1 is made from epoxy resin, cast in a simpler type of single part mold, possibly plaster or RTV, like a slush mold. Much easier for a cottage/garage industry to make.
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