Think inside the box

Just about all, if not all the electrics standard gauge and O used the cast headlight in the last years of their production. My guess is that the original owners dad went to a hobby shop with the great idea of putting a light in his sons cabin car and the good folks at the shop had a spare part they suggested would do just fine for the modification.  Probably had a whole bin or drawer of them. He had to add the roller pick up as well. So what else came with the set you purchased?

Frank

Basically within a mixed lot of PW the 1946 set contained a 1666 with whistle tender, a 2452 gondola, a 3559 dump car and the caboose.

Bruce

Surely no self-respecting LHS would do so. Especially when the opening for the factory light socket is right there.

Originally Posted by brwebster:

The caboose looks to be in great shape. I hope the rest was the same or better. You have the beginnings of what would be a nice set for under the tree. 

neat find.

A headlight in the parts bin has zero value, but a headlight working to illuminate a caboose has purpose. Leave it be. Consider it in storage in the caboose and enjoy the light.

Bruce,

   I totally agree with Bobby on this one, leave the headlight in the caboose, it's a real nice addition to the original caboose, and will make the old caboose look great on the tracks.  Real nice custom detail lighting in an old Tin Plate Caboose is always a plus, change the original light to an LED bulb to help keep the power draw down!  Still a great kids Tin Plate toy, no doubt about it.  Serious find for sure.

PCRR/Dave

I'd leave it also. I enjoy other peoples creations. Folks getting something done with whatever is available at the time.

Steve

Sure, I might have left well enough alone if the headlight had been visible but its all but impossible to see it inside the assembled car.  Had I not wanted the body off for thorough cleaning, I never would have even known what was hiding inside.

Because of its slot and tab construction, lighting needed accessibility without disassembling the body.  I was already pushing my luck disassembling the car a known second time  Any more bending and those tabs are sure to break.  Maybe I would never have had to change a bulb during my term as conservator but it would have been inevitable in the future.  I'm saving a big disappointment for some distant owner.

I retained the roller truck, did away with the potential short producing solder joint and cloth tape connection and in turn fixed the electrical connection to the coil coupler.  When I come across a proper clip in light socket, it again will be illuminated.

Pappy: The 1666, associated whistle tender and cars were only part of a larger package of PW Lionel. Everything pertaining to the '46 set were loose items without boxes and below average, high milers left in some damp storage.  It all cleaned up well and other than missing it's front truck the 1666 runs and whistles great. The later PW, while in better overall condition still suffered from moisture.  I have spent most of the last week furiously cleaning and reviving the lot.  You'll probably see more of it posted elsewhere when I take a breather and snap some shots.

Bruce

It never rains but it pours.    Instead of posting a new topic I thought it best to continue here since the new items relate.

Keeping with the immediate postwar theme, here's more of what was the last gasp in Lionel tinplate cars.  This is another 1946 set I just had to have...it's becoming quite the habit..  The entire 2103W set was purchased as a lot and their equal quality and matching features leads me to believe they were always together. 

Rather than the previous 027 set this is entry level "O".  Again, the condition of the 224 equals that of the other components.  As Colonel Potter said ' Not enough O's in smooooth to describe this one". 

Every piece had a box although the master carton was missing.  More importantly, what seems to remain is the feeling of joy and pride the original owner had and the love he gave this wonderful survivor.

Bruce

That's a great looking set! I've been collecting postwar, mainly stuff from the 1953-57 timeframe, but this early stuff with the tinplate connection is also really cool and has its own charm!

beautiful set!

Bruce,

  Nice looking cabin car. Here is one of mine.

Tom 

Thanks guys.

  Anyone else wish they were able to raise a glass with Harry Morgan?

Tom,

  Until your post I hadn't connected the prewar cabin with the variety of smaller B6's from the same era.  Now I'll need to search for one with box couplers to go with my 201. 

Regarding Andrew's collecting parameters, it's clear now how collecting without a narrow focus in mind can quickly turn into a run away train that's too big to handle.

Bruce

I've been a Harry Morgan fan since I was a kid watching him in Jimmy Stewart movies with Mom & Dad, and on Dragnet.

Exactly, Dave.  There was much more to the man than just Colonel Potter on M*A*S*H.

Bruce

And to keep Harry train related...

Jerry

that was a great movie!