Tinplate photos 📸 and videos 📽

Here is the latest Märklin pre-war Güterwagen purchase to arrive from Germany - a very nice 4achsig 1853/0 Tarpaulin wagon.

Not sure if the tarpaulin is original as I would have expected it to have MÄRKLIN printed on the side. So possibly a reproduction but an old, stained one.

I certainly didn't expect it to arrive in a box which I'm sure must be reproduction given what looks like photocopied artwork glued to the box plus the catalogue number is incorrect and copied off the 18520 wagon which was used as a base unit for this variant.

@Fatman posted:

Oh and earlier I hinted at a "Big Find" coming from Europe with the help of Dutchboy , Fatmans trusty companion!

Well he came thru with the goods !

Not so much "train " orientated but falling in my other wheelhouse of vintage kinetic motors , I have shared the Hess Dynamobil before but will include a pic again for reference here ... These items were made in the early 1900's to 30's as an alternative to having your kid head off into the sitting room with a bottle of alcohol and a box of matches to play with a steam engine lol ... much less chance of burning your house to the ground!

They are basicaly a highly geared weighty flywheel which when spun up to speed used the stored inertia to drive steam accessories for a good minute or two after you spun it up ... plus they make a satisfying grrrrrrRRRRRRRRRR.. WHOOOOOOOOOoooooo as they cycle up and wind down

Hess dynamobil

You wind the crank , get it spinning as hard as you can then you can cut in the pulley drive with the lever to transfer the energy to any toy that can be operated by a spring belt ...Magic ! I have a little Carette windmill I power with it .

So Kinda?? Train related as it could sit on any layout lol ...

So to the big reveal !!!

OK ...so Hess went the way of many German toy companies in Nuremburg with the rise of the Nazi's , falling foul of Hitlers "Nuremburg " laws which, when enacted, basically made the German Jewish population stateless by removing their rights as citizens , which in turn meant they could no longer own and operate business's properly compared to "German" citizens ... Hess folded in 1937 and Tipp & Co bought out the tooling etc in a fire sale ...

Tipp & Co then released their own version of the Dynamobil .. the Tippmobil ( how original lol )

Advertised in their 1937 catalogue , but when war was looming, Tipp & Co as the poster child for good little German Toy  Manufacturers then concentrated on making toys of German War vehicles , and the Tippmobil was forgotten ... Thats probably a bit harsh on Messers Tipp & Co as there were indeed one of Germany's finest tin toy makers long before the war .

Ladies and Gennermannnns I preeeeesent to youuuuu..

The Tippmobil!

Mega HUGE props to Dutchboy for finding this on a local Netherlands buy and sell site and alerting me to its existence ... as this was a huge find for me , and the seller did not know its history either and lets just say it was purchased for 1/10th of the only other one I have seen for sale ..errr currently on ebay

A mark of the man I am proud to call my friend is that HE found it , alerted me , purchased it for me with money I transferred to him at exactly the advertised price , and will ship it to me along with the other stuff I have bought from him when we have a full box ... He could have sooo easily bought it , marked it up 500% and then said "Look what I have got ! " knowing full well I would be interested still ( he Bought me a Hess one in the same manner ) A true Gentleman and a friend .

https://www.hesstintoys.com/dyna9.html  I became aware of the Tipp & Co variant thru my research on Hess Dynamobils which pointed me to this marvelous site

Thank you DutchBoy ! ( he must remain completely anonymous due to his work , but he gets full credit as best I can )

Very cool- thanks for posting this (and the link to the Hess toys website). That Tippmobil generator gadget would look awesome inside my power station!

@Mallard4468 posted:

Great story about making the connection.

And too bad about not wanting his hobby to be known... Neil Young, Rod Stewart, Frank Sinatra, Tom Snyder, David Letterman, and Jools Holland all "came out" as train nuts.  Maybe someday he'll slip out from the inky shadows.

Its not about"coming out " as a train nut lol ... just that the nature of his career means privacy of person and whereabouts can be important

I just completed restoration of my Grandfather’s 4692-X-r/c American Flyer (Iron Monarch) set, which I believe was manufactured in 1930. My 90 year old Grandfather told me it was his father’s set but doesn’t remember ever seeing it run. Thanks to exceptional rewiring, new wheels, cleaning and lubrication performed by Joe Mania, my Grandfather was able to finally see this set run. It brought a big smile and quite a few tears to his face, which made it well worth the time. Set runs like it is brand new again.

@Fatman posted:

Its not about"coming out " as a train nut lol ... just that the nature of his career means privacy of person and whereabouts can be important

https://www.memesmonkey.com/to...&gid=1&pid=5

@Don McErlean No great mystery, I think, here, Don. #189 is the number of the villa as sold by itself, and #912 is the number of the plot which includes the house. Same villa but two different products. Daniel's color scheme is also listed in the TCA book as a variation of the #189. It may or may not have come with a scenic plot. I am not home, but when I am, I will double check the book to see if it gives any details of which color schemes for the villas were used in the plots.

This villa was based on either Mario Caruso's home or his brother's- I forget which.

Will:  Got it!  Thanks, I should have looked in the TCA reference but it wasn't handy so I used David Doyle's "Guide to Lionel Prewar Trains" which was where I found the catalog cuts.  Makes sense to have 2 different numbers one with and one without the plot.  Thanks for the information, I like to be always learning.

Best Regards

Don

Hello Tinplate fans, goobernuts what a super American Flyer set!  Well today, I am back to illustrating my modest taste in Tinplate line side accessories.  This one attributed to Hafner and most likely pre-war.  According to the TCA Western Div website page, Hafner used Bing to make their line side structures up until Bing left the market around 1930.  Subsequent to that, Hafner's first offering was a set of three structures, all numbered #1200.  there was a passenger station, a freight station, and a passenger platform.  According to the TCA data, these items were all available separately but never assigned individual numbers.  I have previously posted the station but have been looking for the other two parts of the set.  I recently found one on e-bay and its a fair example, although I believe the freight platform has been repainted.  Here is the #1200 freight station with the loading platform in front and the large sliding door.  These came in many colors and with various lithograph decoration on the sides of the house.

Here is the end view, it has the same name as the station, "Glen Ellen" which is a real place and is in fact a suburb of the city of Chicago where Hafner trains was located.  I have also seen these freight stations with just plain ends and no name.

For comparison, here is the #1200 Glen Ellen station, you can see the variation in the lithography on the front side however, the design on the ends is identical in this set.  In addition, the passenger station is much closer to white/ blue in the litho color scheme whereas the freight station is more of a yellow cream/red combination.  Hey ... these guys were making toys not collectables! (LOL)

Hey that's my input for today.  Best wishes for a good week everyone.

Don

Here's a Lionel No. 66 Semaphore (1915-1926) which came as one of the accessories on my 199 Scenic Railway  and stands 14" tall. It is operated manually with the red upper arm alternating between a red and green celluloid disc over the lamp and the lower green arm which alternates between green and amber. The arms operate independently.

It was intended (in this case) to sit alongside a single set of rails on a curve leading to a signal crossing. It offers no control over the track power and the lamps are always lit.

My question is how would a model engineer operate this accessory so as to simulate a prototypical signal in operation ? What would be the appropriate position of the arms for a train being halted vs a train with the go ahead ? Perhaps it was simply a toy and I'm overthinking it but it seems Lionel would always try and incorporate and promote some measure of realism with their trackside accessories.

@goobernuts posted:

I just completed restoration of my Grandfather’s 4692-X-r/c American Flyer (Iron Monarch) set, which I believe was manufactured in 1930. My 90 year old Grandfather told me it was his father’s set but doesn’t remember ever seeing it run. Thanks to exceptional rewiring, new wheels, cleaning and lubrication performed by Joe Mania, my Grandfather was able to finally see this set run. It brought a big smile and quite a few tears to his face, which made it well worth the time. Set runs like it is brand new again.

Applause and my compliments to you for such a very nice gesture and a job well done! Thank you for sharing these photos! This brightened my day.

Yeah! What he said

EXCELLENT Flyer restoration! That dual Lionel semaphore is awesome!

American Flyer are great looking models, I just have one that I bought at the York TCA meet some years ago and I enjoy to run it. It is very similar to the previous model posted, loco is stamped 4692 and tender 4693; as it has nickeled trucks maybe it was made for the same set.... now I will have to find a matching passenger set.

Have a nice weekend,  Daniel

@G-Man24 posted:

Here's a Lionel No. 66 Semaphore (1915-1926) which came as one of the accessories on my 199 Scenic Railway  and stands 14" tall. It is operated manually with the red upper arm alternating between a red and green celluloid disc over the lamp and the lower green arm which alternates between green and amber. The arms operate independently.

It was intended (in this case) to sit alongside a single set of rails on a curve leading to a signal crossing. It offers no control over the track power and the lamps are always lit.

My question is how would a model engineer operate this accessory so as to simulate a prototypical signal in operation ? What would be the appropriate position of the arms for a train being halted vs a train with the go ahead ? Perhaps it was simply a toy and I'm overthinking it but it seems Lionel would always try and incorporate and promote some measure of realism with their trackside accessories.

Love your scenic railway!! Green-go. Red-stop. Yellow-caution. But seriously that is a question for the "real" train forum. I would google it. Here is some help:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...way_semaphore_signal

@Will posted:

Love your scenic railway!! Green-go. Red-stop. Yellow-caution. But seriously that is a question for the "real" train forum. I would google it. Here is some help:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...way_semaphore_signal

Thanks for the link Will. Just so there's no confusion that photo with the semaphore is not my Scenic Railway but a reference photo .  Hope to have photos of my completed layout soon.

Gman24: that is some signal.  While I am no expert in this area, (taking a risk here)  I believe that the two semaphores represent a "near" and a "distant" warning.  Hence the engineer might get a "green" near signal meaning OK to proceed but a "yellow" distant signal meaning he needed to be prepared to stop or slow down in some reasonably short distance.  I have been told that the distance to stop is specified by the particular Railway's rules and some times is defined as "the length of the train".  Its position just ahead of a blind curve on the layout lends some credibility to this view, the distant signal could be telling the engineer to slow down for a curve coming up or for some obstacle he can't see because its around the curve.

My offering today is a picture of a Hornby Branch Line train.  These used to be common in the UK ( and the US) but are long gone for the most part today.  They went from village to village or perhaps from village to larger town.  They were never fancy, never fast, sometimes the tree branches overhung the right of way and rubbed against the windows.  This one is a mixed train. Having one passenger coach and a Milk Traffic Van likely picking up empties from the morning milk delivery.  Stopping here at the passenger depot in "Small Town" on my layout (today representing "Small Heath" in the UK).

The engine here is a Hornby type 101 shell where the engine has been converted to electric drive via installing a Marx motor mechanism.  The Coach is a Type # 31 1st/2nd class coach in the "blood and custard" color scheme dating from about 1956 but lasting into the middle 60's.  The Milk Traffic van is a No 1 SR Milk Traffic Van first offered in 1949 however this one has plastic wheels, thus dating it from 1951or later, it was dropped from the line in 1954.

Frenchtrains / Daniel :  You have discovered the fun of prewar American Flyer...they numbered the loco with one number, the tender with another and sometimes the combination with a third number!!  Great loco however.

Best wishes to all for a great weekend.

Don

@Don McErlean posted:

Gman24: that is some signal.  While I am no expert in this area, (taking a risk here)  I believe that the two semaphores represent a "near" and a "distant" warning.  Hence the engineer might get a "green" near signal meaning OK to proceed but a "yellow" distant signal meaning he needed to be prepared to stop or slow down in some reasonably short distance.  I have been told that the distance to stop is specified by the particular Railway's rules and some times is defined as "the length of the train".  Its position just ahead of a blind curve on the layout lends some credibility to this view, the distant signal could be telling the engineer to slow down for a curve coming up or for some obstacle he can't see because its around the curve.

Don

That's as good an explanation as any, thanks Don. That little Hornby train is great!

@FRENCHTRAINS posted:

American Flyer are great looking models, I just have one that I bought at the York TCA meet some years ago and I enjoy to run it. It is very similar to the previous model posted, loco is stamped 4692 and tender 4693; as it has nickeled trucks maybe it was made for the same set.... now I will have to find a matching passenger set.

Have a nice weekend,  Daniel

I love that style tender with the barrel back shape.

Super Stoked to announce I have managed to cross another off the bucket list

I will probably throw this in a post of its own in the tinplate section, but this thread and the people in it are my first love on this forum ... now enough soppiness and on with the show !

Thanks to a bit of cross forum negotitation elsewhere ( the Sakai peeps) I became aware of this one going up for sale and staked and battled til she were mine ...

Its a rather unusual locomotive from the Brimtoy company in the UK , and it is rather a mystery to the collecting community with a few theories bandied about but no actual evidence of when, why, and how it was made ... All shall be expounded on later but for now .... PICS ! ( cos thats why you are here right ?)

Brimtoy 6201 locomotive tender and carriage set ! ( and possibly THE best condition I have seen anywhere )

Brimtoy/Wells logo in "shakyvision"

But get a load of this eyeful

Look at the beautiful carriage connections

( I believe they also came in 3 carriage form , but 2 is all we get here )

Now to the mystery/undocumented/what the? component... anyone recognise the motor in this big bad boy?

Yes it appears to be "Marx" or at least of Marx origins ... And here is where the speculation begins .. perhaps the best reference to this loco can be found at http://toyandtrainguides.com/m...british/brmtymrx.htm

I include this photo from there for those too lazy to click ( lol )

You can see that apart from the mainspring key shaft and sideplate attachments the Brimtoy motor is very similar ...It appears the Brimtoy would MUCH more servicable as it can be easily pulled apart .

Now the Marxtin folk have speculated on Marx actually owning Brimtoy at some stage ..if that were true there WOULD be a record of it , and none such exists , so the claim that Marx owned "everything toy-wise " (lol)  is just smoke and mirrors and patriotism IMHO

However if we apply company history we can see that both Marx and Chad Valley at one stage had their bases not too far from each other in Birmingham and surrounds , Brimtoy and Chad Valley often co-operated over the years with esp railway accesories , but then in 1948 British Marx set off to establish a new Factory in Swansea ( Wales ) as after the war the UK was looking to provide employment in the other areas of the UK , reinforcing the UNITED in Kingdom, so no doubt there were incentives for many manufacturers to head into the "provinces" such as Wales Ireland and Scotland .

My personal theory on this loco is that it became part of a joint comercial agreement between Marx and Brimtoy in a "You scratch my back , I'll scratch yours" scenario .. where British Marx contracted Brimtoy to supply some accessories for their sets ( like tinplate stations etc) and in return Brimtoy just might have placed an order with Marx for motor components etc .. An exercise in helping Marx establish in Wales ( as eventually Brimtoy did too a decade and a bit later ) .. now as to the body .. I reckon it bears more than a passing resemblence to the Unique Arts American locos... which it is rumoured Marx bought the tooling of... now Marx never used that tooling themsleves .. but perhaps it was loaned to Brimtoy for the purposes of this 6201 , or Marx used the tooling to form shells for Brimtoy as part of the exercise???

I have no proof of this , but it just kind of makes sense in the new prosperity after the war , rather than fight each other , many companies banded together to increase each others productivity and everyone benefitted .

More toys , more sales. more moolah for everyone !  At least for the short few years in the late 40's early fifties .

I can find no exact dates for the years this set was produced but I would guess @ 1950-54 , I have seen an ad for it but no reference date was attached to it sadly ... Still it remains that not too many of these are out there , for instance a search at Vectis ( one of the UK's premier toy and train auction sites) lists only 4 examples crossing thru them in the last 20 years and TWO of those four were the ones from the Michael D Foster collection sale last year after writing the book on them

Huge thanks to Bryan P for letting this come to live with me

Wow, @Fatman, what a beauty!!

@Fatman ACE! What a find. Thanks for the continuing historical  background that accompanies your finds. I know I enjoy these as a only Lionel collector. Keep up with your hunts!

Fatman: What a fabulous set !!  Thank you for your discussion on the Brimtoy / Marx potential connection.  If the connection is via the motor components, then it is also  a potential US connection as well since all the motors for British Marx were manufactured in the US - at least the electric ones, I am less sure of the clockwork. 

I especially liked what appears to be a coupling between the coaches that appears to have a simulated vestibule.  This makes for a very realistic consist and really looks sharp!

Thanks again for posting.

Don

@Fatman posted:

But get a load of this eyeful

I was just thinking to myself  "hey we were cheated out of our weekly findings from Fatman !" when I doubled back to see you had snuck in when the lights were out.

That set is a beauty, Don Mac stole my thunder,  I was about to cleverly point out how the coach coupling resembles a vestibule. (I wouldn't mind seeing a close-up of that).  Very cool, congrats on your acquisition.

I echo the sentiment of others regarding  the history lessons and insightful commentaries that accompany your posts. They are always a treat to read !

@G-Man24 posted:

I echo the sentiment of others regarding  the history lessons and insightful commentaries that accompany your posts. They are always a treat to read !

I'll echo the echo . . .

LOL Thanks Guys !

But just remember I am not a definitive source of knowledge , I just try to pass on a summation of what I learn researching and postulating on new aquisitions . Always feel free to jump in with corrections or alternative views at any stage , its all about learning and having a bit O Fun

I recently also got my second IGRA set, made in Czechoslovakia around 1967 ...I love the fact that Czech kids were playing with these beautiful tin sets into the 70's  however the company introduced plastics not long after these were made and the tinplate tradition died a little ... There is not a lot of history out in the WWW about them and 99% of it is in Czech ( lol ) so a company history is not forthcoming at this stage but from what I can glean from several sources it was a Co-operative Factory which formed in the mid to later 60's and wound up in the 80's some time ...

I already had one Igra set , this one below  is a later production and has "GASP" Plastic wheels

But now I have the full tin set they made early on .. this version below is the first one from about 1967 with tinplate all round and a great industrial look !  No one could criticise their wonderful use of ribbing and embossing

Wow Fatman...I don't know who your "supplier" or "investigator" is but he is certainly doing quite a job for you.  The Brimtoy was fabulous and is a manufacturer I am familiar with, however the "IGRA" set is a new maker to me.  What a great set and your earlier one is super as well.  Thanks for sharing. 

Best Wishes

Don

Fatman / Will / Rich ...I noticed that all of you have the same logo by your signature..."The 48 Club" ... would you tell us about that organization?  Is membership possible.

Don

@Don McErlean posted:

Fatman / Will / Rich ...I noticed that all of you have the same logo by your signature..."The 48 Club" ... would you tell us about that organization?  Is membership possible.

Don

It's a highly secret society that exists only on the internet.  Here's a link:  https://ogrforum.com/...3#154307984486144853

In order to join, you must read all 300+ posts in that thread.

Now that we've told you, we have to kill you.

OH NO!  I miss eligibility by 4 sq ft!!  My layout, which I dub the Leonardtown and Savannah, or L&S (nickname "long and skinny") is 3 ft by 12 ft.  So I miss the 32 sq ft maximum.  Disappointed.   

Wait a Minute...I have a second, temporary layout on the porch of our summer cottage...its only 4ft X 4ft and fully Marx (one 0-27 circle).  Can I use that to qualify?  I don't have any pictures of that but it is for my Marx 4205, 4 wheel, NYC freight set that I play with in the summer. 

Don

@Mallard4468 posted:

It's a highly secret society that exists only on the internet.  Here's a link:  https://ogrforum.com/...3#154307984486144853

Curses!...I think my Scenic Railway is 49" wide !  Have to check the length to see if I can sneak in.

@Fatman posted:

Is that tab folded over as some kind of safety in case the spring lets go ?

G-man 24 ... I am in the same boat...need a dispensation for 4 sq ft.  Don't know who the "Grand Chairman" is however...to whom do we plead our case?? 

Don

@Don McErlean, your summer railway will get you membership and we need members for the Tinplate Chapter. Just Fatman and I so far and you will note he is also in the Australia Chapter. Apply directly with a post to the The 48 Club topic. Our grand poobah and founder and guiding spirit is @baltimoretrainworks, AKA Jerry. Other than a small layout, the only requirement is to have a certain savoir faire and predilection for dry martinis.

@G-Man24, check that measurement or get your saw out.

@G-Man24 posted:

Curses!...I think my Scenic Railway is 49" wide !  Have to check the length to see if I can sneak in.

As long as the footprint can fit in 32 square feet you're good.

@Don McErlean posted:

Wait a Minute...I have a second, temporary layout on the porch of our summer cottage...its only 4ft X 4ft and fully Marx (one 0-27 circle).

You're good too!

Jerry

@Don McErlean posted:

My layout, which I dub the Leonardtown and Savannah, or L&S (nickname "long and skinny") is 3 ft by 12 ft. 

BTW, I love that layout- great little track plan, but I would worry about the trains toppling over.  I guess that is about as narrow a table as you could fit an O-31 loop on without the track hanging over the edge.

@Don McErlean posted:

Wow Fatman...I don't know who your "supplier" or "investigator" is but he is certainly doing quite a job for you.  The Brimtoy was fabulous and is a manufacturer I am familiar with, however the "IGRA" set is a new maker to me.  What a great set and your earlier one is super as well.  Thanks for sharing.

Best Wishes

Don

Hee Hee .. Don I am gonna have to take full responsibility for the Brimtoy as it was found and bought by me , no supplier involved this time , however DutchBoy! was involved in the IGRA but not in his usual sense ... He listed it on ebay this week and didn't bother telling me as he knew I already had the other IGRA and thought they were the same ( they aren't lol) so I did my usual thing of " Well let it ride , but if it doesnt sell , I'll take it " .. and it didnt sell .. which was rather silly as it was listed at a very good start price ... so its coming down south !

As the others have mentioned the 48 club is full of ratbags having fun with little layouts , finally proving the adage " Its not the size of it , but what you do with it that matters ! "

@G-Man24 , Jerry thats something you will often see in later production mechanisms ( and some early ones too tho ) as its a uber cost effective way of providing some minimal protection against flying springs .

In the 60's and 70's different countries were legislating toy safety standards and exposed mechanisms started to annoy them so the spring "fold" was a token get around I think

( And now we have a generation of kids who think a papercut is the worst thing that can happen to them ... Darwins Theory has been denied!!! )

heads up for anyone wanting a project .. there is a Brimtoy 6201 on UK ebay for 20£ buy it now  with non -working clockwork and really poor litho ... but its rare !!! #114739664954.. not affiliated in any way with me or anyone I know .. just blown away less than a week after I find one there is another ... Super easy to fit a std Marx early motor for electric too .. it slots right in I am told

( sorry if I am breaking rulez but I reckon its better someone here gets it ... I am thinking @WindupGuy in particular ??? interesting motor if nothing else for you )

@Fatman posted:

heads up for anyone wanting a project .. there is a Brimtoy 6201 on UK ebay for 20£ buy it now  with non -working clockwork and really poor litho ... but its rare !!! #114739664954.. not affiliated in any way with me or anyone I know .. just blown away less than a week after I find one there is another ... Super easy to fit a std Marx early motor for electric too .. it slots right in I am told

( sorry if I am breaking rulez but I reckon its better someone here gets it ... I am thinking @WindupGuy in particular ??? interesting motor if nothing else for you )

I can't find that listing, but there is a 1950s Brimtoy station on there from an Aussie seller. You better track him down, or maybe you know him.

Will / Fatman / baltimoretrainworks / All the "48 club"  :  Thanks for allowing me to join in, my little 4 X 4 layout on the front porch (enclosed) at our summer place allows me to "play with" my plastic Marx trains and my 7 year old nephew.  This year we are planning to make buildings and a station out of some conveniently sized cardboard boxes.  At the moment it is only the single 0-27 oval that came with the set (Marx 4205) but I have some switches and a 90 degree crossover that might make a turn back  or an "X" run that might work.  Anyway its just fun.  I "augmented" the 4205 consist with a few other Marx plastic gondolas because its easy for my nephew to "give things a ride" . 

Thanks to all for including me.

Don

Ooops forgot, Will thank you for the complement on the L&S...you are right about the width.  My constrains were 1) I share the room with my daughter in law and her fitness equipment 2) I had storage shelves for part of my collection and 3) I had to leave room for me to fit between the layout and the display shelves.  The real constraint on the 36" width was that I had to get an 0-27 loop INSIDE of it and still allow room for 2 trains to pass each other.  So I had to put a short straight (about 4") at the apex of the 0-31 curve to give some additional inside the loop space.  Yes you are right, there is a danger of the trains tipping off especially as they hit the end curves, but they are closest on the straight and have a little clearance to the edge on the loop .  However, it has happened, especially if I am not paying close enough attention to the throttle.  Heavy steam engines (like my 736 Berk) are the worst so I tend to run small diesels and steamers. 

Thanks again for your comment.  P.S. I am MORE than fine with the Martini's. 

Don

@G-Man24 posted:

Is that tab folded over as some kind of safety in case the spring lets go ?

I believe the tab is there to prevent the spring from opening to such an extent that it would interfere with the operation of the train and the track.  Potentially causing the engine to fall over.   

Fatman, the tin wheel cars are from "zbrojavka" set. Box shown here:

I also like their clockwork trolley but have yet to purchase one at a decent price.

as collectors become more educated the "honey hole" of buying them at a somewhat reasonable price has disappeared.  Used to be able to find a 4-car pass. set for less than 30.00 in decent shape. The tanker car for the freight sets are also tough finds.

Hello again tinplate fans...just got a delivery of some interesting stuff...pre-war semaphore and crossing signals.  I bought a "lot" on evil bay because I want to distribute them over my layout so I was not too concerned with condition, but these turned out OK in most cases.  All of the semaphores are 10 3/8 " high, dual blade,  and mechanically operated.  The crossing signs are American Flyer (EZ they said that on the sign) and what appears to be an Ives 111 made from, 1912 until 1930.  The semaphores are a partial mystery.  I have no positive ID or year of manufacture.  In Greenbergs, "American Flyer O'Gauge" book, there is a reprint of a 1922 AF advertisement that appeared in the "Youth's Companion" which illustrates a set containing a semaphore that looks almost exactly like these but who knows. 

Anyway here are my "new" signals.  Here is the American Flyer crossing signals (one with a base and one without) and the source of their manufacture is easy, as it says "American Flyer R.R." on the center cross piece.  I am sure they are pre-war but do not know the time period, although a similar sign is pictured in that 1922 advertisement. 

Here is what I believe (IAW my Ives reference book) is an IVES 111 crossing signal type 111 dating from 1912 to 1930.  Note that the warning is printed very differently with "DANGER" on the center cross piece  and "Look out " /  "For the Locomotive" on the two angled lower arms.  This one is in rough shape but then it could be 110 years old!!

Finally the semaphores, the lot contained 4 - two green and two red all dual armed.  All the actuation works via mechanical linkages to the base and none are illuminated.  Here are the green ones, with a picture taken both inside and outside to try and get some better light. 

And here are the red ones...same construction except the staff and base is colored red vice green.  Appears to be original paint but could be a re-paint by some previous owner.  The green ones are pretty clearly an original color.   

So I am planning on inserting some or all of these on my layout just for effect, I think it will add to the "Hobby Shop" look I am trying for and maybe just add to the fun. 

OBTW - I know some of you are far, FAR more knowledgeable on pre war Flyer and other makes than I am, so if you recognize anything here and have data please share.  Especially on the semaphores, all I have done is guess based on the thinnest of data.

Don

Don,

Those are all Flyer semaphores.  They did come in other colors than green, but I am unaware of them coming in red.  I have never seen them in red.  I would suspect they are repaints, but who knows?

NWL

Don,

After taking a close look at the red semaphores, I would say they are repainted.  On one of them, one can see faint white stripes under the red paint on the blades.  Also, I would think that having the blades and the mast being the same color, would be unusual. 

NWL

Looks like they were fond of that base, they used the same one on the semaphore and the crossing signals.

I like that fancy font they used for American Flyer R. R.

@Allegheny posted:

I believe the tab is there to prevent the spring from opening to such an extent that it would interfere with the operation of the train and the track.  Potentially causing the engine to fall over.   

Exactly this too ... I actually lay awake in bed last night thinking " Shoot I forgot to add that lol "

Cheaper mechs with lighter springs have a propensity to over run and the spring can expand well past the housing as they expand , as the spring is not as rigidly tempered as bigger thicker ones ( it wants to be flat as opposed to coiled . )

@Will the Brimtoy is still there .. however it may not be showing up in searches as the seller doesnt have international postage enabled ... if you search in UK 'Bay without your address set to your country its there

or .... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/114739664954

@Jim O'C I am looking for a trolley myself lol .. race ya!  Yes the earlier set was marketed under "zbrojovka" or Armoury ... which I think might relate back to our good friends back at Stella ... which was also incorporated into the State Factory status at various times in its life it seems incongrous for us to think of toys and armaments being made in the same factories as a collective so "Armory" then "IGRA " and no doubt IGRA stands for "something " in Czech ???  We need a Czech guy on the forums lol

But I turned up an article just now which states

"

After the Second World War, Czechoslovakia became a satellite state of the Soviet Union and the government’s policy became a Soviet style “socialist system”. Large enterprises were nationalised and small business were forced to form cooperative groups, or Co-ops.

IGRA (the name, a product of the time, originated from the Russian
word “igra” meaning “game” in English) was created by forcibly
merging a several small manufacturers. IGRA started production in
1950 and manufactured various tools, products from hard plastic,
Bakelite, musical instruments, toys and games. Over time, the company concentrated on toys, games, model airplane and boat kits, slot car parts and eventually on model cars. "

( From https://www.maronline.org.uk/igra-old-timers/ )

So it seems the Czech State loved to be literal lol

zbrojovka .... armoury

IGRA .... Games

Ahh the benefits of the Former Socialist State ... when you go to buy Ice Cream , no popping out to Ben and Jerry's .or Wendy's back then . You just come home with " Ice Cream" on the bucket ! No Sorbent or Kleenex You wiped your bum with industrial "Toaletní Papír" possibly with Lenin embossed !

@Don McErlean posted:

Ooops forgot, Will thank you for the complement on the L&S...you are right about the width.  My constrains were 1) I share the room with my daughter in law and her fitness equipment 2) I had storage shelves for part of my collection and 3) I had to leave room for me to fit between the layout and the display shelves.  The real constraint on the 36" width was that I had to get an 0-27 loop INSIDE of it and still allow room for 2 trains to pass each other.  So I had to put a short straight (about 4") at the apex of the 0-31 curve to give some additional inside the loop space.  Yes you are right, there is a danger of the trains tipping off especially as they hit the end curves, but they are closest on the straight and have a little clearance to the edge on the loop .  However, it has happened, especially if I am not paying close enough attention to the throttle.  Heavy steam engines (like my 736 Berk) are the worst so I tend to run small diesels and steamers.

Thanks again for your comment.  P.S. I am MORE than fine with the Martini's.

Don

There is something appealing about a long narrow layout- it's almost like a point to point.  I guess the perspective exaggerates the length. You could put a tunnel on each end and it would be realistic because you would never see the trains tun around.

@Fatman posted:

Exactly this too ... I actually lay awake in bed last night thinking " Shoot I forgot to add that lol "

Cheaper mechs with lighter springs have a propensity to over run and the spring can expand well past the housing as they expand , as the spring is not as rigidly tempered as bigger thicker ones ( it wants to be flat as opposed to coiled . )

From an aesthetics point of view I guess I would prefer to see a separate bracket held on with some fancy rivets or screws...but from a manufacturing standpoint I have to admire the cleverness of just notching the frame and bending the tab over like that.

@Will the Brimtoy platform of which you speak, if its the one I am seeing, is actually from a seller I have bought from before , but sadly I have that variant already , but that one is in nicer condition .. so ... maybe ...

Don,

Here are photos of the various Flyer semaphores that they sold over the years.

The earliest, c. 1916, features a cast iron base and the lower blade features a fish-tale cut.  Colors are black base and lower portion of mast, with white mast above.

The cast iron base was short lived, with the stamped steel base appearing by c. 1917.  Colors change to dark blue base and lower portion, with white upper mast.

At some point, there is a brown color mast/base

Then there is a gray base/mast version

Not sure if there was ever an early version with the double mast posts that was painted green.  The semaphores eventually change to a single mast post, with lithographed blades.

Then a short-lived semaphore blade c. 1935 with the blade being more commonly used on the lighted versions of the semaphores.  This one also regressed to having a double post mast.  Not sure why, as the ones shown above are shown in earlier catalogs than the version shown below.

Then a different style of mast, which is the latest version

Those are only the double semaphores.  The single semaphores are generally similar, but some differences

Again, the earliest one has a cast iron base.  Difference between single and doubles is that the single blade semaphore has a single mast post and the top of the post is crudely cut off (ie it is square cut instead of rounded).

This one, c. 1917, features dark blue, and rounded cut on the top of the post, but still has the fish-tale cut to the blade.

Another early one c. 1918, this one without the fish-tale cut to the semaphore

Then a gray base/mast version

Next up is a green mast version.  I suspect this one was sold during the same era as the brown mast version of the double semaphore, as I have never observed a brown mast version of the single semaphore.

Then the later versions, again with the lithographed semaphore blades, which apparently are common enough that I did not think to take photos of one.

Again, there was a short lived one with the odd style of semaphore blade, c. 1935

There is also a single bladed version with the late odd-shaped blade, but again, I apparently have not photographed one yet for my on-line photo archive.

The ones with the lithographed blades can come in various color configurations (red or green masts with combinations of red or green bases).

Hope this helps to clarify some of the color/style variations of these.

The rarest of these (based on my experience) are the early c. 1916 versions with the cast iron bases.  Specifically the single blade variations, of which I have only observed the lone one in my collection.  I am sure there must be more of them, but I just have not observed any others for sale.

NWL

NWL:  Thank you almost is inadequate compared with the info you provided. I agree I think the red ones are re-paints , I found a place under their bases where other colors were still there. Thanks to you however I can place the green ones and I really love to find the history on items I find.

Best regards

Don

NWL:  I have compared my semaphores with the data that you sent.  Under a magnifying glass in better (natural) light I can absolutely agree you that the "red" ones are in fact re-paints as you suspected.  I can even see, in one blade, the dual white stripes under the red paint.  I guess that some young person, likely a boy, wanted them red and Dad or Grandad obliged or maybe he even did it himself.  It's fun to speculate. 

I have now concluded  that that ones I previously called "green" are really grey.  The paint may have changed color somewhat over the years, but there is no sign of being repainted.  I found that when I looked under the stamped steel base, in the hollow of the raised portion, I could get the best look at the original color and I would characterize it as grey...although perhaps a shade darker than the one you pictured.  There is no doubt about the semaphore blades on the grey mast however, they are an exact match, including the lens colors to the one you pictured with the grey base.  They are the dual mast with the rounded top and a control lever for each blade on the bottom linked to the blade by a rod. 

Well, I have no idea of the collector value or the rarity, but I only paid $12 for the lot of 6 signal signs including the 4 semaphores and 3 crossing signs.  So I feel pretty good about it.  Once I get them around the layout I will post an "after" picture. 

Thank you again for taking the time to post the information.  It is frustrating that there is almost no coverage of either stations or signals for American Flyer pre-war O- gauge reference books I have .  Yet my Ives reference books, also published by Greenberg, have an entire chapter on stations and signals.  Oh well, I suppose that's life.  The LCCA just announced that they had added a section on American Flyer O'gauge to their digital archives so I will see what is there.

Don

@Don McErlean posted:

It is frustrating that there is almost no coverage of either stations or signals for American Flyer pre-war O- gauge reference books I have . 

Don

Don,

The American Flyer Accessories are covered in the Greenberg's Guide to American Flyer Wide Gauge.  The back 1/3 (possibly more) is devoted to Flyer accessories/stations/etc. 

NWL

Wow huge props to @Don McErlean and @Nation Wide Lines for such an in depth look at these early beauties !

Todays insertion from me is a little bit of "rinse and repeat" with another PionerExpressen find.

This time its a neat little Esso tanker from the Mid-50's coming from Denmark shortly

And simply because the same seller also listed ANOTHER clockwork Wittrock Locomotive that was going for stupidly cheap bidding I took a simple punt on it with a maximum bid of 15£ and its coming to me for the massive amount of £6.56 .. or 12AUD or $8.80USD ... and Denmark has really cheap shipping rates ...so I only add on about $20AUD shipping to that ! ( $14USD!!) ...

So now I have FOUR Wittrock Locos ( dunno what it is but I like them for some reason anyway lol )

#4

I really gotta stop buying them LOL! ... I could possibly be accused of "Cultural Misappropriation" by exporting all known Wittrock out of Denmark !

" Tak Danmark for alle dine tog "

A new piece for the collection, a PO steeple cab loco made by LR in France, it dates from 1935 and is equipped with an auto reverse mec. It certainly is one of the most easy to find LR model but this configuration is scarce, generally it has a manual reverse lever. Also has the original box, with packaging to protect.  The loco is not a representation of a real model except eventually an industrial switcher ans has been very popular in his time. With it came a nice SHELL tank car from the same year, the tank is wood.

Have a nice weekend,  Daniel

My latest acquisition is from a German maker who has always been relatively low on the status list. Heinrich Wimmer (HWN) actually dates back to the late 19th century along with Kibri, Cabo, Bing, and Marklin.  HWN is usually associated with low priced trains and accessories. Lithography was their specialty.  HWN made a very interesting station in the 1950s for what seems to have been the USA market.  The station is decorated with USA advertising signs. I think it is charming and fits right on to my Biller small layout.

@FRENCHTRAINS posted:

I love the straw packing.

@FRENCHTRAINS :  Daniel : What a great find.  I am not familiar with the make LR in France but that is a handsome Steeple Cab.  In the US our most famous Steeple Cab is the NYC "S" class that operated in the Grand Central tunnels for decades moving passenger cars.  I am afraid my only French electric engine is a little (French) Hornby SNCF electric that I believe I have posted before.  Here it is pulling its little train of (French) Hornby Pullman's and a Dinning Car.

Lewrail - really liked the HWN station.  I have few HWN train cars but none of their accessories. 

Fatman - great tank car...I have not seen the PionerExpressen red Esso, but you should know there is also a green BP and yellow Shell for you to hunt down (LOL).  My PionerExpressen "collection" is one small passenger coach and one "Kole Vogon" .  Plus, you identified another manufacturer I had not seen before Wittrock...I looked them up on the internet and your engine is clearly illustrated (Binns Road). 

Fatman, thank you for your comment on our AF semaphore discussion.  I tell you that I love this thread as I continuously learn things from the other members on the forum.  I said yesterday that when I got them "installed" on the layout I would post some pictures.  So here they are:  the one on the left is protecting the approach from the tunnel exit to the outer platform of the suburban station , the one on the right is protecting the long "raceway" on the main line leaving the terminal station in the background.  Right now the Rock Island E-7 has the main in front of the station and its train is still on the  track behind the station waiting for "switcher Saturday" loco to move those cars and couple up to the train.

This is all imagination of course, including any idea that I know more than a very tiny amount about how signals on real RR work.  I just think the vintage AF examples here look good and are in line with my early "hobby shop" theme.

Don

A little late to the party; here are a few of the semaphores in my collection.

And a factory error, probably a Monday morning piece.

Semaphores used on Flyer trackside accessories.

and one from Hafner for good measure.

I think there are a few more still packed away.

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

Northwoods Flyer

Greg: Thanks for adding to the party...that "Monday morning" special is a hoot!  OK just to keep the party going, here are a couple of Marx semaphores.

On the left, the Marx 311, likely prewar or possibly both pre and early post war.  This is all metal, actuated via a rod linkage to the base just like the AF ones we pictured earlier. Note the blade shape at the end with a "pointing finger" shape.   When it is put in the "proceed" position, the red "lens" disappears into a metal envelope at the top and is completely hidden.  When "stop" is signaled the green "lens" disappears into a lower metal envelope and is fully hidden.  This makes the signal unambiguous even though its not lit.  Clever design.  Very likely made from the 1930's to 1940's and perhaps again in the 1950's.  If it did re-issue post war, it very likely did not last long as plastic was emerging as the key material and that was cheaper and easier to work with.

The one on the right, is a Marx 063 I believe, almost certainly post war, and it has no activation linkage at all you just move the blade with your fingers.  It is all plastic , does have the added detail of the ladder and it is much closer to scale size and shape...but it's not tinplate!  It may have been sold as a separate piece but was also part of a multi-piece "accessory set" that included other plastic pieces.  My guess is that the plastic piece was available from the 1950's through the 1960's.

OK...that about cleans me out of signals !  Happy and healthy weekend everyone.

Don

Wow great contributions from all this weekend!

My submission is again one of the components from my 1925 Scenic Railway. At first glance it appears just another 120 tunnel, however this one has the uncommon steel inner liner . The liner consists of two straight walls and a curved roof section which that are soldered or spot welded into place.

Greenberg guide describes the 120 Tunnel as follows:

Standard or O Gauge 1922-1927. Steel construction painted waterfall passing under a 3-1/4" fence, white two story house  with maroon roof, no chimney. 17" x 12" x 10-1/2". No reference is made of a  variations with a steel liner unless it appears in a later publication than the one I have.

This  liner adds a significant amount of heft and strength to a normally somewhat flexible tunnel. It is thought to be one of the early versions.  Shortly after Lionel must have decided it was an unnecessary expense or additional step and apparently eliminated it from the manufacturing process .

@Fatman posted:

This time its a neat little Esso tanker from the Mid-50's coming from Denmark shortly

Fatman you struck a double-cord with this posting. A) I'm of Danish heritage and B) I spent virtually my entire career working for Esso/Exxon.

In fact the building shown on these 1940s postcards is the very same building I worked in for 30 years and it looked exactly the same when I left. The refinery and service rail yard loaded with tankers was right across the street.

That's not me in the inset...I'm much better looking 

Congrats on another great find, love the colors on that car.

Tak for de venlige ord Gerry

Some really great Signals showing up on the thread recently , and as you might have gathered the Musee du Gros Homme ( actually that sounds really bad in French hey ?  ... ermmm....the Fatman Museum , much betterer !!)

Ok the Fatman Museum ( lol) gravitates mainly towards locomotives and some running stock but it pretty light on trackside accessories but it does have a few ... none of which I have researched too much so I will put them here with the disclaimer that I know eff all about them And anything I say about them could be 100% true or incredibly wrong ... let the cards fall where they may!

I will preface everything with " I just bought it cos I liked it , and I was probably buying something much bigger and heavier and the seller also had these so I threw them in to make the most of postage )

Ok .. a "no idea" set of telephone poles .. I liked them cos they were large and in charge and looked rather skillfully made ?

A couple of German signals one electric ( sold to me as Bing , but I feel the seller had the same amount of knowledge as me about them Could be anything ? )

This next one was sold to me as "Hornby" .. but I am very much sure it isnt .. it does follow the form of the No2 Hornby Signal, but the signal arms say european to me ?

A couple of "somethings"

And a group I got just for the "Pfeifen! " ( whistle)

Thoughts? Postulations? Vague murmurings welcome!

@Fatman posted:

Ok .. a "no idea" set of telephone poles .. I liked them cos they were large and in charge and looked rather skillfully made ?

Thoughts? Postulations? Vague murmurings welcome!

@Fatman did you check out the sticker on the bottom of the telephone poles?

Agree with the great looking signals and semaphores recently posted.

@Fatman -

You said: "Thoughts? Postulations? Vague murmurings welcome!"

I got a "BEAUTY EH!!" ( I am not sure to which category that might belong ) Great Find!!

Great signals Fatman...the telephone poles are a mystery to me as are many of the other signals.  However, the one you pictured that you said had been sold to you as Hornby I believe may actually be Hornby.  Specifically the No2 or 2E Junction Signal.  Made from 1923 until 1939 and then re-emerging after the war in 1953.  Always some detail differences over the years but fundamentally the same.  Your has the "lattice work" main  and secondary supports which are indicative of pre-war versions.  For comparison , I will attach my post war No 2 signal here:  Note similarity with the actuation levers at the base, the ladder, and the base.  My support posts are not "lattice" which is true of the post war versions.  Anyway there seem to be similarities but who can be certain.

Great signals anyway and thanks for posting.

Don

@Don McErlean yep the form and lattice work does look very Hornby however the signal arms are of a type I have never seen on UK hornby at least ... However in researching this now I have come across the most excellent site at http://www.meccano-hornby.co.u...ano_magazine_30.html  Which is an incredible resource of ALL the Hornby Meccano publications from the early days !!!

For instance the Hornby signal you refer to is catalogued on p60 of the 1930 Meccano magazine

http://www.meccano-hornby.co.u...gazine/1930/3001.pdf

But as you can see different arms and different base configurations to my example

I have a work in progress hypothesis tho ???

Marklin in the early 20's partnered with Hornby to produce the clockwork motors for inclusion in the very first Meccano sets ... So there is a precedent set for intercompany co-operation... I wonder if perhaps when introducing the new Hornby trains if Frank Hornby also got Marklin to make some signal accesories as well ... if that is the case then perhaps Marklin made a few variations themselves for their own domestic market??? There is actual thought that Hornby also had a helping hand from Bing as some very early Hornby's ( The Tinprinted Train) had more than a passing resemblence to their Germanic brothers

It doesnt seem beyond the realm of possibility and WOULD explain the European arms and much larger base of this example? No proof of this at all .. yet ... but its an option worth investigating I think?

@Rich Wiemann  LOL!!! yep they are price stickers from where my man in the UK got them ... they are apparently "German" tho ...

Fatman:  Yes I agree, your option of a combination type product where Hornby and another manufacturer would combine to make the total item makes much sense.  We know for example that Bing made lineside accessories for a number of the early American trains (especially Hafner - who didn't make their own until 1930).  I also agree that when I looked up the Junction Signal, the arms did not look like anything Hornby that was illustrated in the reference...so maybe Marklin participated.  Fun the speculate and investigate in any case.

Best wishes

Don

@Fatman posted:

A couple of German signals one electric ( sold to me as Bing , but I feel the seller had the same amount of knowledge as me about them Could be anything ? )

This next one was sold to me as "Hornby" .. but I am very much sure it isnt .. it does follow the form of the No2 Hornby Signal, but the signal arms say european to me ?

A couple of "somethings"

And a group I got just for the "Pfeifen! " ( whistle)

Thoughts? Postulations? Vague murmurings welcome!

Fatman, as follows:

Picture 1: left Distler 140/1 (1938-1940), right Keim

Picture 2: Bing 12/5128 (1927-1932)

Picture 3: left Adolf Schuhmann, right Distler, both wrong baseplates.

Picture 4: Sign "Pfeifen" Karl Bub 144 (1931-1937)

Arne

A few news in the collection

Bing 10/6112 made 1925-1928

Bing 528/26

Bing 10241 dining car made 1911-1922

Bing 10242 sleeping car made 1911-1922

Bing 10243  made 1911-1922

This 3 cars are printed inside too.

Arne

Just when I thought I could add no more large stations to my layout, an item on German Ebay

spoke to me.  Here it is-- the Kibri 52-43 made in 1935 only.  I had to take my Kibri 52-4 off the

layout and move my Cabo freight station into its place. 

Enjoy.  Lew Schneider

Really love the Bing food & drink refreshment stand Arne. Thanks for sharing the dating info. It seems quite a sizeable piece more matched in scale to std. gauge/spur 1 rather than O. I'm tempted by one for sale at the moment on ebay.de, but the price is more than I can justify.

Thank You @Arne  !!!!

And total WOW @ everything Bing in your follow up post .. beautiful tinware indeed!

Loving the Kibri @lewrail

I am in awe of both you guys with your collections and knowledge sharing .

Wondering if you ( or anyone )  could help me out please with the identity of this signal also ... I left it out of my post up there lol

I originally thought it to be of UK origin due to the arm style .. but the litho rock print base is like some Euro offerings too ?

Fatman,

OK, let me teach you. Some manufacturer had used different battery boxes on the bottom.

Sometimes only the box without battery holder too.

Here a few examples:

Karl Bub, sliding switch on the side

Heinrich Fischer, handle on top

Adolf Schuhmann and Beckh, small handle on the side

Tipp & Co, handle on top

Distler, handle on front side

Arne

Great tutorial @Arne thank you again !

This post comes with the title " The things you do! "

So I am looking on ePay Australia and the following piques my interest ...

Ooh ! What could they be???....at this moment the world is full of possibilities ! ( and a black chequered tablecloth!)

OK clickity click brings me to ...

OK so I admit ... there is a slight hint of disappointment 2 very common late 50's Hornby's , but not a bad pre-war Great Western wagon.. and I started to feel a bit sorry for the poor Jep missing its double bogies ... so yeah this is probably worth the entry price of a measly $20 (Aud) .... but no "treasure" .. sigh...

Then Clickety click again and.... How does this stuff get to Australia?? ... yes folks .. The Money Shot!!!

The nondescript black rectangle at the top gets flicked over and ... ( angelic Chorus ) "AAAAAAhhhhhhhhhh!!!"

Whhhaaaaaaa...???

How the heck did THAT get here ???  pre-war JdeP Switch Post building in amazing condition !

lol Bid.. mine (unopposed) ... happy

@Fatman posted:

That piece looks like it just got pulled from the original box for the first time. Love the graphics. Great score.

Tinplate friends:  First - Arnie the "Drink and Refreshment" stand by Bing is wonderful.  The "Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul observation also by Bing is equally great, obviously given the RR and the train name "Columbia" intended for the US market.  The Bing 1024...X series cars were also really great to see.  Great finds.  Oh and thanks for the illustrations on the battery boxes for the various signals you showed, that kind of data is so hard to find except from folks like you.  Thank you.   Lewrail - one great station for sure.

Fatman...you have pulled it out again!! The switch post is really neat and something I have not seen before.  It is relatively thin, so I am assuming it was intended to fit between two close tracks or against a wall.  OBTW - the crimson and cream Hornby No 31 coach from 1956 came in two versions only and was available until around 1965.   The one I posted a few weeks ago was the 1st/3rd coach (sometimes referred to as the 1st /2nd coach but without any change in marking since on the "1" was on the car) .  What you have is the only other version made in the 030 series of coaches,  the Brake/3rd version. 

So what do I have for today. Well I am going to continue my current quest regarding signals and warnings.  I recently acquired two Lionel 068 Warning Signs...one (more expensive) that is nearly Excellent even close to LN (tough to really hit this quality in pre-war stuff) the other is a little worse for wear with a bit of surface rust and missing paint on the base.  The 068 was made from 1925 through the end of the pre-war period until 1942 with no listed variations in the signal except it was offered in various colors (principally pea green as shown, olive, and orange). 

So here they are:  In both cases, the signal base and support is green enamel and the pole is a square "lattice work" support .  The Sign itself is brass with black block lettering.  They are both rubber stamped "#068 Lionel" in black stamping under the base.   The base is about 2" square and the total height of the sign is about 6 1/2 " to the top of the pole.   You can see that the one on the right, the cheaper version, has a bit of paint missing, some surface rust on the base and is missing its "cap" on top of the support.  However it was  1/4 th the price at auction ($3 vs $13) !

Well have a great weekend everyone and a Blessed Easter.

Don

I'm spreading out my accessories from the Scenic Railway and posting them one at a time so I can stay in the game here lol...

A Lionel #57 Main and Broadway street lamp with die cast base, rolled sheet metal post and celluloid bulb enclosure, ca. 1922-42. The 4 trapezoidal shaped vents on the bottom side allow some of the light to cast downward on the base and is a pretty neat feature on a darkened layout.

Greetings friends,

Didn't I say that I was going to hold off for awhile on toy train purchases?  But what do you do when the phone rings and the net result are 3 beauties.  The first is the Marklin 1040 bahnwaterhaus missing the bell, the second is the large JEP station, and the third is a fascinating Doll Windmill with Miller and Donkey. Enjoy.

Lew Schneider

Actually there is many signals of all kind here.... so here are my AF ones, I do not have many of them as they are not an easy find in France...

Daniel

Not too exciting for many , but I managed to score another Wells O London ( Brimtoy fore-runner) Golden Eagle 2509 loco ... I have several variations on the theme but this was my first BLUE one ! Only the Yellow to complete the set now !

Broke my cardinal rule however and paid three times the loco cost in shipping ( my UK guy is on a break for a few months as he is building and moving house ... how rude ! ) Loco was VERY cheep tho

And scored a load of Bing banked 3-rail from the Dutch connection for cheep!

I smell a new period correct Euro 4x8 layout in my future

@Fatman posted:

I smell a new period correct Euro 4x8 layout in my future

Don't know if this was popular Down Under, but it's the first thing that came to mind...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQFxmAdyKcg

One thing you will learn with being around me is .... Patience lol

For one thing the Bing tracks will probably still be in Europe at least a few months from now ... then they will probably take another month or more to get here and then spend a year being a floor test track ... thennnnn who knows lol

But it will be 4 x 8 compliant in all stages

@Fatman posted:

One thing you will learn with being around me is .... Patience lol

For one thing the Bing tracks will probably still be in Europe at least a few months from now ... then they will probably take another month or more to get here and then spend a year being a floor test track ... thennnnn who knows lol

But it will be 4 x 8 compliant in all stages

Won't it be 1.2192 x 2.4384 meters?

Looking forward to it.

Dont make me get out the Laser measurer!

Fatman, I think you need a table as large as this one for your Euro layout.

Auf Schloss Burg - eine Historische Eisenbahn von Märklin in der Spur 0 - Nostalgie Pur! - YouTube

@O Gauge Guy  I am gonna need a BIGGER house !

Very cool video tho !

@Fatman posted:

Not too exciting for many , but I managed to score another Wells O London ( Brimtoy fore-runner) Golden Eagle 2509 loco ... I have several variations on the theme but this was my first BLUE one ! Only the Yellow to complete the set now !

...

Very cool.  As usual you are sharing something I had never seen before. The lithography on that engine is really nice.

Thanks @jhz563  The same loco came in a few variants of colour and of wheel arrangements most were 0-4-0 but there were 2-4-0 and a 4-4-0 as well

Other 0-4-0's I have

Silver

Red

Carriages and tender for the red set

And a cheeky Silverlink set

This particular range of Loco's was an evolving thing for Wells and they did King George variants as well in 4-4-0 as well as a Mickey Mouse set ( No I dont have either ... yet lol ) as well as other forms in Brimtoy and Mettoy versions ... one of the "Nicer" toy trains around in my eyes

Here is the Mickey Mouse one ( Photo lifted from the Michael D Foster Auction thru Vectis in the UK ) and yep its the pinnacle of this range .. I doubt I will ever see one in the flesh , but I never give up hope !

That set went for 420£ at auction last year so with buyers premium over 500£'s

@Fatman posted:

@O Gauge Guy  I am gonna need a BIGGER house !

Very cool video tho !

...and you would lose your membership in the prestigious 48 Club!

@G-Man24 posted:

I'm spreading out my accessories from the Scenic Railway and posting them one at a time so I can stay in the game here lol...

A Lionel #57 Main and Broadway street lamp with die cast base, rolled sheet metal post and celluloid bulb enclosure, ca. 1922-42. The 4 trapezoidal shaped vents on the bottom side allow some of the light to cast downward on the base and is a pretty neat feature on a darkened layout.

The #57 lamp post has an interesting connection with American Flyer.

Lionel must have sold them to American Flyer and they were marketed as the #2013

This kind of collaboration between toy train companies fascinates me.

Northwoods Flyer

Greg

Can anyone give more details on the Doll et cie Windmill I posted.  It's catalogue reference number is 743.  Still don't know when it was first made and how long it appeared in their catalogs.  Thanks.  Lew Schneider

Wow Fatman, another super loco.  Great find...the "Mickey Set" has a lot of parallels to the Lionel set of the same vintage, even down to Mickey shoveling coal on the tender.  Loco is very different but cars and tender very similar.  G-man 24 great accessory, that "Broadway" street market is a Lionel classic and I for one never knew it also was offered by AF.  Greg picture but my question is...who made the oscilating ball or circular warning signals?  I have never seen those before. Daniel what a great array of signals...thanks for sharing.  Lewrail those finds are really super, the windmill and his donkey engine really brought on a smile on my part.  Thanks for posting

Don

Don,

I assume you are inquiring about these signals on Greg's layout

They were made by American Flyer.  Note there are many color combinations, but the earliest signals have operating rods (top photo, one on right) and the later versions do not have the operating rods.

NWL

@Greg J. Turinetti posted:

The #57 lamp post has an interesting connection with American Flyer.

Lionel must have sold them to American Flyer and they were marketed as the #2013

This kind of collaboration between toy train companies fascinates me.

Northwoods Flyer

Greg

Very interesting Greg. Looks to be identical except for the print on the lamp enclosure. The Flyer print is a different font and  looks like it may have been heat pressed into the celluloid. That would do a better job of keeping it from wearing off.

@FRENCHTRAINS posted:

Actually there is many signals of all kind here.... so here are my AF ones, I do not have many of them as they are not an easy find in France...

Daniel

I always liked that water tower.

That American Flyer water tank sure looks like Bing. Perhaps it was made by Bing for Flyer in the same way that Bing stations wound up in early Flyer catalogs.

Lew

@lewrail posted:

That American Flyer water tank sure looks like Bing. Perhaps it was made by Bing for Flyer in the same way that Bing stations wound up in early Flyer catalogs.

Lew

The Flyer water tank may look like the Bing tank at first glance, but when compared side by side, the construction is completely different. See link, as this has been covered here before.

https://ogrforum.com/...-tank-set-variations

The first Ives set I ever bought, June 2005. The seller was some guy named Dave Mcentarfer😜. Still have the papers and photos from eBay.

Steve