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You, probably, need to adjust the vent openings.  It’s a trick since too open it won’t work and too closed won’t work either.  I just have mine lit; I don’t care if it spins or not.  It is one of those postwar accessories that can be frustrating.  Later Lionel introduced a version with the vibro motor (noisy) but it did rotate.

One layout I saw in an open house layout tour featured this accessory in a far corner of the layout (where I'd guess most of them end up!!)  He had a cheap-o clip-on mini-fan attached to the ceiling grid pointed at the accessory.  The ol' beacon had a decent rotation (horizontal component of the 'wind') with a bit of weeble-wobble (vertical component).  Not bad, not bad.  Very resourceful...the ol' 'Lemonade is made from lemons" adage.

I had one of these dimpled-bulb accessories back in the 50's.  I will say that I did, indeed, get it to 'spin'...sometimes.  Maybe it was karma.  Maybe it was the 'good vibrations' (with all due respect to The Beach Boys!) from the 2343 Santa Fe ABA passing within inches of the tower.  Maybe it was the open-window breezy-air-conditioning 'system' ala-1950's style...or the mesmerizing and soporific droning of the oscillating floor fan.  Whatever, it never had the chutzpah of the log or coal dump cars, the ubiquitous, tireless gateman, the 3520 searchlight car, et al.

And, yet, it's as iconic a toy train accessory to this day as it ever was.  Just saw the new 'Plug-and-play the LionChief Way' version on the LHS counter yesterday!!!

Last edited by dkdkrd

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