Post War Flyer Question...

The color is not a factor.  All of those are the same unless any of them used different brush spring setups.

Mark,

 

Reading your question here I had to go and look at my steamers. Looking at earlier and later models I would venture to say that it looks as though the color has more to do with the material that was available during the time of the production.

Ray

Roundhouse Bill posted:

The color is not a factor.  All of those are the same unless any of them used different brush spring setups.

Thanks. The 300 and 310 show the "V" shaped springs; the other 3 have the coil-type. FWIW, I find the coil type to be much easier to deal with. 

Mark in Oregon

Strummer,  the Vee shaped brush springs are easy to deal with if you know how to deal. With them.  When you take the tail and left it up off the brush slot  move the spring to the side there you will see a slot/grove rest the spring in the grove. Then remove the brush. Put your new brush in the tube and line up the slot. Take your spring buy the tail and move it to the brush slot and rest it in the brush slot. That's it no looking for the coil spring that popped up and now on the floor somewhere.

 

Thank you Milan. I did that very thing with the "300", which I only got last week. One smooth, quiet runner...

...just like the "310". 

Mark in Oregon

Boiler shells are stamped with a date on the inside.

 

richabr posted:

Boiler shells are stamped with a date on the inside.

 

Thanks! Will make a point of checking that out next time I take 'em down for maintenance...

Mark in Oregon

I have two 300 locos. Made in 1946. These locos run smooth and quiet. Run fast and slow. Got these sometime ago EBay. Just cleaned them up. I like to run them at times with 1946 cars such as hoppers and gondolas. 

I like the early Flyer Steam locomotives for the same reason, They run smoothly and are very quiet! IMHO they also run smoothly at a slower speed than later Gilbert production.

I call these old locos the quiet ones. No smoke in tender no whistle just the quiet running smooth.

I'm inclined to agree with both of you; although my 290, 302 and 312 run well, and the "choo choo" effect is charming, I also find it a little annoying after a while, so these non-smokers are my first choice for runners.

Tons of fun!  

Mark in Oregon

In 1946-47 Flyer offered a 320 and 321 Hudson no smoke no choo-choo and a 310 no smoke and no choo-choo.They were also offered in sets those two years,,,,

Yes I have them all. 

The V shaped springs are pre-1953. There are a number of changes to the brush holders and the armatures over the years, and if you mix them up you can end up with either a bound armature or one that rubs the brush tubes. No one here mentioned the late version with the square brushes and barrel-shaped armature!

Jn the for sale forum there is 1947 Hudson freight w/o SIT unit pretty much a 320.