At lease one of the two transformers that Rich posted looks like a Lionel prototype that was pictured in one of the TM books on Lionel trains:
Lionel: A Collector's Guide and History, Volume V: The Archives.
The one with clear handles is shown on page 75.
Won't hurt a bit, as long as we don't plug them in
Oh, come on guys. Plug them in!! It's just like NASCAR - we say we go for the racing but it's the wrecks, fire and smoke, we lust for . . . !
NOT APPROVED FOR DCS OR LEGACY !!!!!!
for some of those older ones with frayed cords brings up the old saying
"don't try this at home"
David: Thanx for posting that info. I've been waiting for your reply (or someone's) for well over a year now! I had picked up a little Dongan transformer with a set of trains that I bought. I had never seen that name nor heard of the brand, before.
I've been bringing that transformer to shows for the last few years, not really trying to sell it, but to just find out more about it. Your reference certainly filled me in. I guess that the company was not as small nor as obscure as I thought. So, now newly educated, I will place the transformer on a shelf in my train room as a part of my collection. Not worth much, I would reckon, but nonetheless rather interesting and a good conversation starter.
In the days when vacuum tubes were used in all electronic devices, transformers were pretty widely manufactured by a number of different companies. My former Father in Law was VP of the largest of those companies, Stancor, located in Chicago but with locations in other parts of the country. He had learned the transformer manufacturing business in his native Australia and was brought to this country for his expertise. When transistors came into general use, there was no longer any need for the power transformers and within a few short years the old Stancor company was virtually gone.
Paul Fischer
Paul & David:
I have an old Dongan transformer, too. It’s rated at 100 watts and it has “Champion” on the nameplate. It has the 1-volt steps. I even have the original box for it. I haven’t tried plugging it in because the cord is frayed and I’m afraid to try it. I’ll post a photo when I get a chance. Maybe we can start the Dongan Transformer Collectors Club!
Bill
I was born in Detroit and still live in the area, so I just had to have an early 20th century toy transformer made by the Dongan Electric Company of Detroit, Michigan. They were founded in 1909 and their headquarters are still in Detroit, making industrial electric/electronic products. There is a history of the company on their homepage and it shows a photo of an early toy transformer that is just like the one that I acquired. You can check it out here:
http://www.dongan.com/About.aspx
I cleaned up my Dongan transformer, replaced the power cord with a new vintage looking one, added an internal fuse on the input and a 5 amp circuit breaker on the output. It works great and one thing that I like about it is that there are 1 volt steps instead of the 2 volt steps that most Lionel transformers from the period have.
David, where did you find the repro cord?
David, where did you find the repro cord?
John, I found the vintage looking repro cord on Ebay. Do a search under "cloth covered twisted wire". Many of the sellers also have vintage looking plugs, lamp sockets, etc. If you're not into Ebay, try this website:
The 1905 Carlisle & Finch layout used lightbulbs to control the speed of the train.The more lightbulbs you unscrew the faster the train went.
Dan
Here are a couple of my simple Marx transformers. I replaced the power cords and added 5 amp internal circuit breakers. Most of the transformers from the earlier part of the 20th century didn't have circuit breakers, note the yellow sticker on the top.
These old Marx transformers work great and are so appropriate to use with Marx trains from the same period. My feeling is that if you are going to run old trains, then use transformers from the same period.
quote:My feeling is that if you are going to run old trains, then use transformers from the same period.
I make it a practice to avoid using metal cased transformers of any age. Most prewar trains will run fine with a postwar Lionel transformer such as an LW or ZW. If I wanted more voltage, I'd use a "Z".
I recently purchased a 1945 Lionel set from its original owner. The outfit came with both an "R" and a "Q" transformer. Both are in nice shape, with the original cord still pliable. I'll hold onto them, but I won't use them due to their metal cases.
Here's my prewar Jefferson transformer....
Peter
This is my earliest, the rest of it consisted of electrodes and a jar of acid, best I can tell.
Fred
Audi's rheostat is American Flyer. I do not have any further details.
Don't have a picture, but about a year ago I had a customer bring in a set his Grandmother purchased at Macy's in New York for his dad. It had a prewar 'Type-A' transformer in it that looked as good as the day it was purchased.
The whole set did. The box was lithographed with pictures representing the 1939 New York World's Fair. Including the Trylon and Perisphere, stream lined biplanes with swept wings, and of course the PRR 6-4-4-6 S-1 loco.
The entire set looked like it had just come off the store shelf, and the price lithographed on the box? A whopping $39.95!
Don't have a picture, but about a year ago I had a customer bring in a set his Grandmother purchased at Macy's in New York for his dad. It had a prewar 'Type-A' transformer in it that looked as good as the day it was purchased.
The whole set did. The box was lithographed with pictures representing the 1939 New York World's Fair. Including the Trylon and Perisphere, stream lined biplanes with swept wings, and of course the PRR 6-4-4-6 S-1 loco.
The entire set looked like it had just come off the store shelf, and the price lithographed on the box? A whopping $39.95!
As promised, attached are photos of my Dongan transformer and its original box. It is the Champion model and is rated at 100 watts. Not sure when this was made but that sentence in small red print on the label on the box where it is partially torn ends with the words “… for 18 years”. “David from Dearborn” said they were founded in 1909 so that would mean this transformer could have been made as early as 1927.
Bill
Here is a 200 watt Lionel "K" Transformer that's 100 years old that I still use. Cast Iron base with Slate top. The Older the better if you ask me!
Believe it or not, I had a customer tell me he would not buy a new transformer for his old Lionel. He said he was going to Lowes and buy a dimer switch. I bet his trains ran hot.
I'll resurrect this old topic with a new entry. I'm restoring a super O set from 1959 for a church member. This is the transformer he said was with the set. I think it was a separate purchase.😄
Said I would find a newer Lionel transformer to use with the set.
@CSXJOE posted:I'll resurrect this old topic with a new entry. I'm restoring a super O set from 1959 for a church member. This is the transformer he said was with the set. I think it was a separate purchase.😄
Said I would find a newer Lionel transformer to use with the set.
I know that in the pre WWII era, the Jefferson Electric Co used to supply transformers to Chicago American Flyer and did some separate sales.....but I do not know if they did separate sales after the war. I have no knowledge if they worked with American Flyer in the Gilbert era.
I would love to learn more and I suspect the Flyer guys on this Forum will have some information.
By the way, Joe, I'm always curious about Super O, which set?
Peter
Peter,
It's set 2535ws from 1959. Was his late dad's. Stored in a shed, filthy dirty, mouse droppings, and rust. Ran the track through the dishwasher to clean them. Has set carton, beat up car boxes, and packed envelopes.
Wow, looking back there sure is a lot of Boris Karloff-era stuff out there!
@CSXJOE posted:Peter,
It's set 2535ws from 1959. Was his late dad's. Stored in a shed, filthy dirty, mouse droppings, and rust. Ran the track through the dishwasher to clean them. Has set carton, beat up car boxes, and packed envelopes.
Great set!
Here is the catalog page:
Now, we need to hope that someone with knowledge of the Jefferson Electric Co and its products sees this posting!
Peter
This set did not come with a transformer.
@jay jay posted:Here's my Jefferson Electric Midget transformer and its box. I don't know how old it is, but I like it. I'm not going to plug it in, however.
In addition, this transformer was among the items of a friend and colleague who left me his collection when he passed in 2004. It was included with his 1956 freight set headed by a #2338 GP7, and he had acquired two KW transformers to run it. (His set didn't come with a transformer.) He never had American Flyer, so I don't know where he got it or how he used it.
Transformers are low tech. Mostly wound wire. Unless the wire hasn’t lost its enamel they should still work and be safe. Though initially plugging it into an extension cord outside would be a good idea. A problem could arise if you forget to unplug it when not under observation The heat might melt the enamel Maybe I’m wrong about this
Maybe old transformers didn’t have on/off switches to force you to unplug them? But you could forget to unplug them about as easily as forgetting to turn them off. I’m not sure of that, and I have wondered why they didn’t have on/off switches as modern ones do.
Alan
@ajzend posted:Maybe old transformers didn’t have on/off switches to force you to unplug them?
The first Lionel with a on/off switch was cataloged in 1986.
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