I have found a few pictures of Bub stations with a hole in the roof. Found one poor photo with something in the hole, but could not make out what it is.
Steve
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I thought this hole was for a light. An old style Christmas light would insert and then turn to lock in.
Bill
A dormer would cover the spring clips of the light socket, perhaps attach on to it, as there are no tab holes. They seem to be missing on a lot of them.
telegraph support on the roof. I didn't know what that was... a bird perch
http://www.historytoy.com/Bub-...g-fence#.VrmoEtIUVaQ
keep your browser security up-I got a lot of cross-scripting blocks
I have seen a couple of German stations and they had a candle holder in them, I would suspect the chimney is what went there.
Roof hole is for old style large bulb Christmas light socket is my vote.
Candle lite buildings have a candle holder inside attached to the building base plate.
ogaugenut posted:I thought this hole was for a light. An old style Christmas light ...
you're close... it's for a VERY old style Christmas light.
appearing on many Bub stations, it is a vent for a candle to light the interior.
Gentlemen
From a 20s Karl Bub Catalog
Roland
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Jim O'C posted:it appears some of the stations had a clock tower that covered this hole. Is it possible the hole was the attaching point and could also hold a light? awnings seem to have been optional as well.
Jim, those two pictures show two different sides of the same station: the clock and awning are on the front, the hole in the roof is on the back.
The hole is shaped that way (round hole with two side wing notches) to hold the spring-clip light socket:
This is a modern version (amazon); the original light fictures had a ceramic socket. I've got some around somewhere.
I have seen Bing and Fandor stations with this hole as well as Bub, it was pretty standard, as were the light sockets.
Dept. 56 ceramic buildings have a similar notched hole, for the same purpose, works the same way.
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rdigilio posted:Gentlemen
From a 20s Karl Bub Catalog
Roland
Here is the poor picture I mentioned. Hard to make out, but Roland's picture would seem a match. A light assy with a toggle switch.
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I have several K-B-N stations boxed like new and all of them have the same hole
i would suggest that very few people had access to electricity when Bub first started making buildings.
the light bulb was likely an add-on accessory while candles were generally a more available light source.
cheers...gary
That's probably true Gary, but we've all seen a lot of candle-lit stations that don't have the hole in the roof: the windows are adequate ventilation. And the side notches on the hole are distinctive and serve a purpose: they would not be needed if it was just a vent hole.
I only knew of the ceramic socket with the side spring clips. I see the fixture in the Bub catalog picture has cams like a gas tank cap, that go in the side notches of the hole and then turn to lock. Cool!
d
... of possible interest: similar-shaped holes in the bottom of a JEP (prewar French tinplate) O Gauge passenger coach - presumably to serve the same purpose??
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