A friend gave me a batch of old HO freight cars rescued from an estate close-out. I think most of these cars are probably MDC, but I'm really not familiar with their products that far back. Presume these are 1950's items, maybe late 1940's?
The first three photos show cars which are all of the same manufacture: the frame, body parts and roof-walk are all die-cast parts. The boxcar frames all have the number FB-101, the gondola frame shows FG-101. These frames all have three air brake components applied as separate castings underneath. Ladder bottom rungs at the car corners are wire, ladders up the sides and ends are cast on. The paint jobs appear to be original factory jobs. Some trucks and couplers have been changed/updated. The die-cast construction makes the cars rather heavy for HO items.
Following photo shows a white D&RGW boxcar which appears to be MDC and is similar to MDC items I bought new beginning in the 1970's. It has a plastic floor and plastic shell, die-cast frame is numbered FB-101A and has the air brake parts cast on instead of separately applied. The corner rungs are part of the plastic body. This one item shows an evolution from die-cast parts to more plastic. I believe the trucks are Central Valley, not original MDC.
So my question here is, what is the time frame for all-die-cast MDC cars as shown above?
When did MDC transition to plastic body shells?
Last two pics show three boxcars of a different make. They each have a wood floor base, sheet metal ends and sides and doors, pressed steel frame components, separately applied ladders and rungs, die-cast roof walkway, and die-cast non-operating knuckle couplers. One car has a loose end panel and I left it hanging out to show how it's a separate part. Are these cars early Athearn?
The Erie boxcar appears to have stamped sheet brass sides. The AT&SF cars look like steel.
I don't expect that any of these cars are particularly valuable. I'm just interested in the history and evolution of older model trains.
). He only had one Athearn metal car on his roster. I think both lines go back to the late 1940s, but I'd have to spend some time looking thru old MR issues at the Athearn and Roundhouse ads.
