Skip to main content

I have been drooling , eh, looking over the new Prewar Flyer Set book, and I see a notation attached tot he descriptions of most of the passenger trains that mentions a #4122 Automatic Mail Set.  As a novice in things Prewar Flyer Wide Gauge, I have seen no other references to this item.  Can any of you gurus help me out with a description or maybe even a pic?  I would be much appreciative!

Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

The mail bag set was made for both O gauge and Wide Gauge, with size differences in the stand that holds the mail bags.  A typical mail bag set includes a stand that attaches to the track and holds a mail bag, a clip that attaches to the baggage car at one of the door openings, 4 mail bags, and a hook to fish the mail bags out of the car, once they have been picked up.

The basic principal is that as the car goes by the stand, the clip on the car picks the mail bag and flings it inside of the car. 

One problem with the mail bag sets, is that the clips that go on the side of the baggage car tend to scratch the side of the car.

I will try and get a picture posted later.

Last edited by Nation Wide Lines

Here are photos of a mail bag set and instructions.  I will caution you that these are photos of a 122 Mail Bag Set for O gauge, so the bracket that attaches to the car may be slightly larger.  I know that the mail bag stand certainly has to be taller to reach the height of the standard gauge car and longer to attach to the standard gauge track and sit back far enough for a standard gauge car to pass by.

NWL

The American Flyer mail bag pickup and delivery mechanism has been around a long time. Go to https://clintjefferies.com/catalogs.shtml and take a look at the 1930 catalog. Page 8 shows the narrow (O) gauge mechanism, page 22 shows the Wide Gauge mechanism. When Gilbert purchased AF in 1938 the mail bag system was redesigned. The 1941 catalog, page 14, shows the Gilbert update which is the same as the postwar S gauge system.

@palallin posted:

I want to thank all of you for the information, the pics, and the links to the catalogs.  This is all wonderful info!

So I need to find a decent Flyer Passenger Set (only have freight so far) and also look for the mail set now that I know what to look for.  Clever (if hazardous to the paint or the litho).

Just a thought here...........perhaps rather then hazard the paint and lithography  on a " decent" car in a set find an additional baggage car that is less then what you usually look for, restore it or fix it just for use as the mailbag catcher. perhaps adding a containment inside the car to keep the mailbag from rattling around and makes it easier to retrieve. Of course if you want to keep it all as it was in 1928...........

Enjoy    

Sincerely

Frank

Don, you will enjoy it!  Though I became interested in Flyer Wide Gauge more than a year ago, this book really caught my heart.  The photography is phenomenal; the trains photographed are luscious, and the information is intriguing!  Would that a new edition of Schuweiler's guide could be done with the same kind of visual effect!  Along with the catalogs linked to above, I have been thoroughly enchanted.

Post

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Ste 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×