Recently obtained a vintage brass Tetsudo 4-6-6-4 Challenger!Runs well for an engine that is over 50 years old!
Original Post
"HONGZ" stands for HO scale, N scale, G scale, and Z scale.
Post your non-O scale stuff here!
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[url=https://postimg.cc/18xy9xdJ][img]https://i.postimg.cc/jS224t40/...9566969693854067.jpg[/img][/url]
FYI: The correct spelling is Tenshodo. Tenshodo was one of Pacific Fast Mail's Japanese brass builders.
Looks like you got a real Golden Oldie on your hands. I found it listed in HO Seeker's PFM's 1958 3rd and 4th edition catalogs. It's not listed in the 1959 catalog or beyond.
Rusty
PFM imported 3800 and 3900 Challengers. Could be this was painted by the OP. Key is the only importer listed in the Brown Book of 3700 class Challengers.
PFM imported the 3800s 1956-1959 and the 3900s in '62, '63, '75, '83.
Pete
Brown Book does list a 3800 Challenger imported by MB Austin in 1958. 30 were produced. I have an MB Austin SP S10/12 0-6-0 made about the same time. As built the castings were pretty crude. Quality of detail might be clue to this models age and builder.
Pete
@dkdkrd posted:Are you sure?
Tetsudo was, indeed, an early capable brass locomotive builder, working for importers such as MB Austin and TMS.
In fact, here is a link to, perhaps, the OP's engine with a tad more info...
I don't see anything in the OP's info/pics that says 'Tenshodo'.
Maybe?
KD
From the link I provided in my earlier post, which illustrates the Challenger plus four other articulateds:
"Such models are occasionally available, such as Tenshodo's "Big Five" pictured on the next page,..."
and
"The five Tenshodo models shown should have 30" minimum radius."
I guess there may be the possibility of talking about two different locomotives, I don't recall any PFM Tenshodo built locomotive being such a coffee-grinder.
Rusty
PFM and their builders came of age in the middle 60s. Their early stuff was still somewhat crude though better than MB Austin. That said I think KD is right about this engine. It pretty much matches the pictures at Brass Trains.
Pete
Tetsudo for sure_stamped into the brass near the main gear cover .I hace heard they were from the 50s Draws some amps but runs very smoothly.obtauned for less tgan 200 bucks so I am well pleased!
Love it!So well made and heavy worth every penny as far as I am concerned!
Pictures?
Daylight scroll up and you will find links to my Postimage account
