Tinplate photos 📸 and videos 📽

@WindupGuy- THANK YOU for posting those pictures of your wind up lay out.  Its just great!  I agree I have tried to collect the metal buildings myself although I don't have enough space on my current layout to use them.  The Colonial Brick House and the Freight Station are just too big for the open space I have.  I will also admit that when I look at the shelves in the background of your pictures they  look a lot like mine !  What a great picture of you opening the box at Christmas and that set with the box is really neat.  Here is a set I recently acquired, clockwork but a "Whistling" Engine.  It is set #965W with a clockwork Mercury.

Thanks for the tip on using 0-27 tubular track with the center rail removed, that is a very good idea especially for the larger radii.

@pd- Classic Marx 6" tin lithographed 4 wheel gondola.  The 241708 was first made in 1953 and likely continued until the end of Marx in 1972.  It came with a red interior, black interior, and a grey interior but always with a yellow exterior.

Best Wishes

Don

Wow ! Some great activity on my favourite thread on the internet !

Lovely stuff Fellas

I am a little bit excited today with my post as I have ticked off another from the bucket list with my first ever RUSSIAN bit !

Its a bit shabby , but since when has that ever bothered me lol .. simply the fact it exists and was up for sale here in Australia makes it desirable to me ...

The station from a Moskabel set , complete with inbuilt "buzzer"  I can translate the main station hording as "Pioneer" , but as to the markings on the ticket window I cannot say .. any ideas/translations appreciated!

"KACCA" ?

Sadly this now reveals to me the probability a whole Moskabel set is somewhere in Australia ... another challenge ?

@Fatman posted:

Wow ! Some great activity on my favourite thread on the internet !

Lovely stuff Fellas

I am a little bit excited today with my post as I have ticked off another from the bucket list with my first ever RUSSIAN bit !

Its a bit shabby , but since when has that ever bothered me lol .. simply the fact it exists and was up for sale here in Australia makes it desirable to me ...

The station from a Moskabel set , complete with inbuilt "buzzer"  I can translate the main station hording as "Pioneer" , but as to the markings on the ticket window I cannot say .. any ideas/translations appreciated!

"KACCA" ?

Sadly this now reveals to me the probability a whole Moskabel set is somewhere in Australia ... another challenge ?

Nice find!  A few years ago I passed on one because the sign was missing - kicked myself about that for a long time.  Since the Russian stuff was sold only as a full set, one does have to wonder what happened to the rest.  Sounds like you should start going door-to-door looking for the other pieces.

A very nice little suburban station, FM; I'm not too familiar with Russian toys other than some of the tank models they produced back during the Cold War era. A thorough cleaning and a bit of corrosion-stabilization and you'll have another nice stop on the pike.

PD

Found of the year, 2 very rare Issmayer circus cars from the 20s.

Arne

Wow, those are crazy cool, Arne. Are the cars heavy enough to actually move the mechanism?

PD

PD,

The carts are fairly light, but the movements require very little force. The monkey moves back and forth and the tiger moves up and down in front.

Arne

Arnie...Those are FANTASTIC!  I had heard about them but had never seen them beyond pictures.  What a find!  Thank you for posting.

Don

Wow! @Arne find of the year indeed!

Marvelous condition considering the years too! Amazing! They have a great home now .

Todays new additions to the FM hoard...

A little Paya Fantasma loco from I think the 1950's ... cute little bugger , I have always liked the look of them .. this one is clockwork but I am looking for a three rail version as well ... ( always loooking looking looking lol )

Very lightweight shonky mechanism tho ! Bit of a shame ...

Hey Fatman:

Seems you are a sucker for those Paya (Spanish) trains!!!  They come complete with lousy mechanisms and zinc pest/flaking wheels. Why do you punish yourself so????

I have a good friend (Swiss John) in Switzerland that will completely gut these 3 rail tragedies, and install a decent Maxim can motor with good quality gears and drive wheels, so you can enjoy them running as the manufacturer once hoped they would.

Good luck in finding more to extend your agony 🤣🤣🤣

Peter.....Buco Australia

@Buco posted:

Hey Fatman:

Seems you are a sucker for those Paya (Spanish) trains!!!  They come complete with lousy mechanisms and zinc pest/flaking wheels. Why do you punish yourself so????

I have a good friend (Swiss John) in Switzerland that will completely gut these 3 rail tragedies, and install a decent Maxim can motor with good quality gears and drive wheels, so you can enjoy them running as the manufacturer once hoped they would.

Good luck in finding more to extend your agony 🤣🤣🤣

Peter.....Buco Australia

Hello ... my name is Fatman.... and I have a problem ....

@Fatman posted:

Hello ... my name is Fatman.... and I have a problem ....

And you are not alone Simon. my name is Daniel......

Very Best

Well Fatman and French Trains (Daniel) I have a solution to your problem...just send those tinplate Paya trains to me and I will promise to admire them forever...and running or not, I can admire them sitting still  

Best Wishes, Don

Note- the above is my amateur attempt at Holiday season humor.

Simon and Daniel,

can I join your club ?

I bought a Paya train new from the store around 1990. It was actually almost only in the boxes. But almost everything made of zinc is broken.

Not only did Paya use bad zinc, they also used used sheet metal. KAS is a plant fertilizer.

Arne

My condolences Arne (and Don as well)......but what can I say, that's Paya all over.

The Spanish did however make great motorcycles....Bultaco, Montesa, Ossa etc. but couldn't quite master the simple art of making good tinplate toy trains!!!

Peter.....Buco (Swiss) Australia

@Buco I concur .. I actually grew up around Lyle and Gary O'Brien ... Lyle was the importer of Montessa in the 60's to 80's and Gary was a Team Montesa rider and went on to establish a MC shop in Geelong ... I had a Cota 247 .. she was a BEAST!

@Arne the re-issue runs were even worse than the originals when it came to zinc pest apparently .. such a shame because they are beautiful things otherwise   The earlier Paya were truly hit and miss , my 837 set from the early 50's is perfect with not a hint of pest , it truly was luck of the draw ( or the casting plant )

Such a shame because they really did make nice toys

@Don McErlean  I see you are still in the denial phase ...  

Fatman......you must be my brother from another mother!!!!

I also had a Montesa, a King Scorpion 250cc that I rode in many enduro's up here in the "Sunshine State" before it got the better of me, and I traded it in on a brand new Yamaha TY 250A.....now that was a trials bike!!

Oh, the memories of my fleeting youth.

Peter.....Buco Australia.

Hello Arne,

Zinc pest with Paya is really a pain; less common with older models but systematic with the latest productions. Spare parts may be found on the Spanish web site "Todo collection" but a little expensive in my opinion. Maybe you will have better luck in making them by yourself.

Good luck with your project, Daniel

Hello Fellow Tinplate Train Tragics':

Everyone seems to post about the "new" tinplate treasure/s they have found from long ago, and how they now reside in the loving care of their new owner/s.

Well.....I am just the opposite...... I am the proud owner of some absolutely "brand new" tinplate wagons from my favorite manufacturer - BUCO!!!!

About two years ago Buco Spur O GmbH in Switzerland released two new tinplate "beer wagons" in a limited production run. I was not quick enough to get my order in, and so I missed out😢😢

After pressuring their production manager - Ms Priska Sigg over the past year, she informed me recently that she had "discovered" one of these beer wagons was still in their warehouse storage, and did I want it????

You know what my answer was......so I finally have one of the beer wagons that has been missing from my collection. It is stamped No.19 of the limited production run, and the original Buco product number is 8640.

Buco Spur O GmbH (Switzerland) generally release a new wagon every year, (based on the old Buco wagons using stamped tinplate from the original Buco Bucherer operation), and the model release for this year is a small flat car with a scale tractor mounted on it. I just had to have it as well!!!

It is stamped No.14 of the limited production run, and the original Buco product number is 8694. The DV stands for a historic railway company in Switzerland that restores old Swiss railway carriages, wagons, and some locomotives, and runs steam and electric train excursions to help pay for the restoration work.

All of the new Buco tinplate wagons don't have the old style pressed tinplate wheels any more, but instead have turned solid metal wheels that track so much better, and add the extra weight needed in these light weight tinplate wagons. It is almost impossible to tell the two types of wheels apart, except for their weight.

Call me crazy but........I JUST LOVE MY NEW WAGONS!!!!!!!

Peter....Buco Australia (keeping the tinplate train dream alive)

@Buco  Peter, what great new wagons.  The Beer Wagon is really great and who doesn't love a tractor on a flat car!  I really enjoy your posts about Buco, a company that we hear very little about (nearly nothing ) in the US.  Its great to keep up with their production and offerings.  Thanks for posting.

Don

Thanks Don......your comment's mean a lot to me.

Stay tuned, as I am embarking on a new project to construct a "one-off" Buco Bell Refrigerator Wagon on an extended Buco bogie axle chassis. I will be using two ordinary short chassis "Bell" wagons, and cutting and combining the two tinplate bodies to fit on the long chassis.

Watch this space!!!

Peter....Buco Australia

Some lovely news there Peter @Buco  handsome little fellows !

Thank you Fatman.....but wait - there's more to come in the not-to-distant future!!!

Oh, and not forgetting.....Merry Christmas to all of my Tinplate Tragic Friends  🎅🎅🎅

Peter....Buco Australia

@Buco...Thanks Mate! for your comment.  Will be looking forward to that Refr wagon as your project goes along.

Happy Christmas

Don

Buco is nice to collect and run, and those limited edition cars are great pieces.

Time to run a French model for me, three rail O gauge of a curious train made by a french firm "Batimetal" whish has been made for one year, around 1952, a fun piece.... Loco also pictured side by side to a classic Lionel 10e in standard gauge to show the size, as you can see it is a wide model.

And to all Tinplate friends, have a nice Christmas time and stay safe,  Daniel

@FRENCHTRAINS- Wow Daniel, that is a really interesting and neat holiday train.  Thanks for posting.  May you also have a very happy Christmas and a happy, peaceful, and healthy New Year!

Don

OK I admit it maybe I am taking up too much space today, but we get our mail in the late afternoons and I just got this neat little tinplate station (really more like a passenger shelter, open on one side but roofed over - little like a lean-too)

This station was made by Banner Plastics, a company that was founded when WW II interrupted the delivery of toys from overseas.  The founder a Mr. Emanuel Pressner, was a toy importer and found himself out of business so he decided to initiate his own toy manufacturing business. Banner Plastic made toys from both plastic and metal and it was rumored that he used the "drop off" sheets of steel from where they punched large holes in steel sheets to make his toys.  If you are familiar with Banner Plastics (note not Banner Toys which is a long established maker of wooden baby toys) you would recognize several very well known trucks from the 1950's made from sheet steel. This station was made in the 1950's and Banner Plastics would continue in business till 1965.

This station is entirely made of lithographed steel sheet.  It is not large the base measuring 6 3/4" X 3" and the station house measuring 5"L X 2"W X 2 1/2 " from base to peak of roof.  It is open in the front but enclosed on the other 3 sides.  Here are some pictures.

Front View - you can see some of the interior.  Note I had to over expose the roof to get enough light on the inside.  Roof is naturally somewhat dark red.

Here is another view of the inside.  Note ticket windows on rear wall, news stand and snack / soda fountain on the left wall and , of course, the station name..."Bannerville" !

Here is the out side of the building.  Green and white in color with simulated "grasss" at the base.

OK so that is my "Bannerville" station and it is fully in tinplate!

Best Wishes

Don

@Don McErlean It’s nice to continue to learn about these obscure tinplate manufacturers here on this thread. I’m curious is this printed on both sides of a single sheet? Or is this wrapped around the corner post and just printed on one side? Nice find on your part! Enjoy.

@Rich Wiemann- In regard to your question, there is no evidence, at least on this piece, that there was any lithography on the reverse side before the station was manufactured.  In making this station however the walls of the little house were clearly lithographed on both sides as the design on the inside is different from that on the outside and the wall is but 1 sheet thick.  What I found interesting was the assertion in the reference I used (Internet) that the basic material for the toy making was just scrap sheet steel obtained from other manufacturers.  Thanks for your interest Rich.

Don

New this week a Bing 12/5108 train indicator with electric lighting  . Only made 1929.

A similar indicator without lighting is the Bing 1380/0 from 1912

And new:

A crane made by Heinrich Fischer in the late 20s

And a goods depot made by Heinrich Fischer around 1930.

Arne

Arnie - what wonderful finds...the train indicator is really something, I have never seen such before.  The Henrich Fischer items are really neat as well.  I love the little goods depot, as you can see by my post earlier, I really love these little tinplate structures.

Best Wishes and Happy Holidays

Don

In my collection of windup trains, I only have one lonely Dorfan locomotive.  Yesterday, however, a Dorfan 150 set arrived, complete except that the loco (like most Dorfan locos) has a serious case of zinc pest, coupled with a very broken motor.  And that is what made the set perfect for me, as my lonely Dorfan locomotive completed the set.  I did some minor repairs to the box - two corners were torn, so I glued in cardstock reinforcements to prevent further damage.  I also made a few inserts to keep the track and cars separated... not original, but it helps protect the litho.  The broken locomotive might make a good project someday...

@WindupGuy- What a set!!  I am not sure that I have even seen a Dorfan box before...which is strange since I lived, for the first 17 years of my life, in a suburb of Newark, N.J.  Based on your pictures, I looked in my "Dorfan" reference, which is not very elaborate, and date your set to around 1925 especially from the #355 Pullman's.  What an outstanding set, now approaching 100 years old.  Super find.

Best wishes and Happy Holiday's

Don

@Don McErlean Many thanks for looking it up in your reference, I was curious about the age of the set.  I don't have a lot of boxed sets in my collection - I tend to concentrate on the locos - but I just couldn't pass this one up.  It's amazing that the box survived all these years. 

The loco in the picture is the one I already had.  The loco from the set has a lot of issues.  The body has a lot of broken parts, and cracking all over the remainder.  I'm afraid it's too far gone to salvage, too many missing pieces.   The motor is a mess, lots of problems.  I believe I can salvage the motor, although it will be a lot of work.  I'm putting it aside for a future project - perhaps I can make a "Dorfan-esque" body to put on the repaired motor.  But, that will need to wait until I retire.

A "new" trainset makes for a Merry Christmas indeed!

Hey Wind up Guy - James - Your set just sparked my curiosity, so I looked at the set # reference.  Set #150 is listed as a mechanical set (so...good for you "wind up guy" ) using the Number 155 engine and tender.  Description of the No 155 is as follows..." 1925-1930 Die cast bright red-enameled 6 1/4" body, clockwork motor ; pressed steel wheels; no drive rods; embossed "MADE IN USA"under pilot; Type 1 tender.  Similar to #50 that is electrically powered."  Except for the loco color everything you showed matches the set description including the two #355 Pullmans and the cross over track.  

Its a superb set...just matching up a loco and the cars to rescue the set is super.  As for the original loco...well Dorfan was famous for "zinc pest" and the damage it did to their locos and cars so having another appropriate loco is really good.

Best to you and Happy Holidays

Don

It's been a while, but here, ladies and gentlemen, for your viewing pleasure is the result of my latest tinplate project I was rabbiting on about, at the beginning of the month.

It is the building of an "extended" version Buco "Bell Khulwagen".

Here is the 1952 Buco catalogue showcasing the various two axle freight cars manufactured by Bucherer of Switzerland. It is the only catalogue they produced with an English translation.....they were mainly in German and French. (sorry about the stickers at the top of the catalogue....they were from two Buco tee shirts I bought from the new Buco company last year) This is my workshop catalogue, and not my pristine 1952 collectors catalogue!!!!

Below is the page illustrating all of the two axle freight cars they made in 1952, and then a close-up of the actual "Bell" refrigerated wagon, with its catalogue number.

And now, the two doner wagons that agreed to be cannibalized. They are well worn members of my collection, and have "patina" (I call it surface rust and poor paintwork), but I wasn't about to repaint them and lose their lithographed signage. Before you purists want to burn me at the stake for cannibalizing rare tinplate wagons, they are still readily available second-hand, and even brand new from Buco SpurO in Switzerland. 

I did purchase a new long petrol tanker chassis, and a matching long freight car roof from Buco SpurO to mount the project on. The chassis came with the buffers already attached, and threaded mounts for the drop-link couplers, and the attachment for the bogie wheel frames. I had all of the other components (drop-link couplers, trucks, side frames, wheels, axles) in my spare parts bin.

I then proceeded to remove the bodies of the Bell wagons from their respective chassis', and then accurately measure and cut the tinplate walls of the bodies to get the two halves to match the existing stamped rib format, ensuring both sliding doors and tracks on each side were preserved and operational.

I carefully cut and then re-joined them on the diagonal so as to increase the structural integrity of the tinplate shell, and increase the rigidity of the walls when remounted on the chassis platform. You can see where the join is at the very edge of the door opening, on the R/H sliding door, in the photo below.

I then cut the roof to match the length of the wagon, with access ladders at both ends of the car now, and re-painted the standard silver roof in an off white color to match the car body. See photos below.

You can see the chassis' of the doner wagons on a siding in the photo above. This will form the basis for yet another "Buco project". Watch this space.

Peter.....Buco Australia.   

@Buco-great project and super results.

Don

Thank you Don.......once again your comments are very much appreciated!!!

Peter....Buco Australia.

What a ripper Peter !!! Well done looks grouse!

I have some new fun prewar standard gauge trains to share.  Stay tuned for some awesome videos.

As always Cheers!       W1

Excellent !!!!   at @Buco your conversion looks very well made, congrats and many thanks for the idea I do have some worn models that could have a new life.

A video from @William 1 is always a great pleasure for me to look at, hope to see many more in a near future and maybe with some new pieces....

All my best wishes, Daniel

Hey guys - I was lucky to score this super nice 385e while in exile.  This guy likes to run and will haul tons.  Sure is handsome too, I like em!

Cheers,       W1

Thanks Daniel......if you need any tech info on these conversions, feel free to ask. I get a lot of help and tech advice from my good friend "Swissjohn" (Hans Schweizer) in Switzerland. He is the expert on modifying Buco trains!!!

Peter....Buco Australia.

This is what it’s all about.  My dad’s gray #10 set.  96 years old and is the smoothest running sweetest honey in the fleet.  I guess you could call this a reaquisition, spare you the details but I had to wrest her back from my brother in law who tried to claim the set after my dad died.  Not happenin bro, she’s comin back home with me where she belongs.  Good for me - Yay!  

This set is what got me into the prewar std gauge bug, something inherently cool about a 96 year old set that runs and looks like new, with just the right touch of patina from being played with by my dad and my uncles.  Doesn’t get any better than this in my world.

Cheers,       W1

On the last day of 2023 I finished another project, rebuilding 2 BUB cars from 1910.

They were homemade converted into a cable car.

Soldering the roofs

Hand made replica of the couplings

Made new wheels (hard lead)

And finish.

Arne

Just for fun, another not so hard to find but I found it, this 511 flat car in the darker green with bronze stakes and brake wheels, other guy is all nickel.  Now all I need is a 514r with a blue roof and I think I might have all the major color schemes of 500 series freights, in case anybody has one they can part with for a fair price keep me in mind…. Haha There are some rogue 515 tank cars, a yellow shell I see Trainz had for $360, I don’t need it that bad thx.  I’ll keep my eyes peeled for a blue topped reefer.

All my boxes in a row, all I need is the 514r with the blue roof to complete this package.  Sure is a colorful train as is, just needs a chaser  haha

Cheers and happy 2024, let’s make it the best ever!

Time for a blue baby state run.  This engine is a honey, smooth as hash under glass with a Jim Beam chaser…

Funny, even on a layout of this simplicity some engines run better on the loop one way or the other.  She likes it this way, if you’ll pardon the expression, I like it too!

@William 1- Beautiful Comet William and she does sure seem to run smooth.

My post today, is a repeat of one I put on "Front End Friday" because that was the day I was able to open the box that this gal came in over the Holidays - she arrived while I was out of town.  She is a Lionel #253 from 1925-1926 period.  After examining her in some detail (details of the motor will have to wait till I get her apart), she is period correct except appears to have aftermarket replacement roof handrails.  They are supposed to be brass and these are nickel. Every other detail is correct from the flag pole holders to the name plates and reverse switch handle. She needs a thorough cleaning but that will come later as I work her up to operation.  So here she is , my "new" Lionel #253 now about 100 years old.

Best Wishes Everyone...Happy New Year

Don

@William 1 posted:

This is what it’s all about.  My dad’s gray #10 set.  96 years old and is the smoothest running sweetest honey in the fleet.  I guess you could call this a reaquisition, spare you the details but I had to wrest her back from my brother in law who tried to claim the set after my dad died.  Not happenin bro, she’s comin back home with me where she belongs.  Good for me - Yay!  

This set is what got me into the prewar std gauge bug, something inherently cool about a 96 year old set that runs and looks like new, with just the right touch of patina from being played with by my dad and my uncles.  Doesn’t get any better than this in my world.

Cheers,       W1

I wanted to revisit this.  I suspected that this gray #10 was a bit different because it has a green frame.  I’m looking at the Greenburg guide that is telling me that the green frames were used in promotional sets around 1930.  This gray with with a dark green frame is part of set PO-99.  I think that’s cool.  There are also peacock colored models with green frames.  Ok, I’m not a freak about collecting but I will keep my eyes out for a smooth running peacock colored Macy’s special #10.  I might need one of those in my life some day…

I have a Mojave too, another beauty, #10s have a lot of trim pieces, actually fancier in my opinion to a #8, 318 or 308.  Begs the question, what sets ran with the peacock #10s.  It had to be a passenger set, I don’t know so I’m askin.

Have a great weekend all you train nuts!

Cheers,       W 1

Another in my series of really bad videos of really great trains.  My precious 384 pulling a good string.  She’s a honey but she takes no prisoners, best hauler in the fleet.  It’s her way or no way.  Give me all you got she says, I can take it.  Well, yes ma’am…

#384 workin the nite shift haulin commodities.  Oil straight from the Straits of Hormuz and lumber sticks from the sticks of Alberta Canada.  I don’t know where those two spots are on the planet she says, or how they got here, but let’s get hooked up and take ‘em where they gotta go since they’re here.  Trains bring the world together ok.  
Pretty as a peach but never a diva, she’s very practical, hard working and always ready to roll, and we all appreciate that on the Floor Layout Central, very much.

Cheers,       W1

Btw - don’t know if you noticed or anyone cares but there is a 90 xover that got moved by a crew to the center of the layout.  Rumor has us there a big changes afoot for the FLC.  Something about new track, switches, maybe more.  I think we got some new investors who want to expand operations.  Over my pay grade till told otherwise.  Kinda would be cool to get off the floor and have a layout in that spare bedroom…  

I just got handed this by mgmt.  Here is the layout.  I love this plan.  2 remote switches, 2 manual, xover.  Can reverse direction.  If I have the space I will put a 2 track yard on the LH side. 2 sheets of homasote a few sticks and a burst of motivation this might get done.  Might be fun too.

Added a tinplate firehouse thanks to a friend.

Well Tinplate fans, I have some "Hafner" for you today.  At a recent Train Show just last Saturday I ended up acquiring a Hafner 1010 loco and train.  I was interested in just the tender but the seller wanted to sell the entire train and the price was so reasonable I took it all... it turned out well because as well as the tender I got a great operating loco and a somewhat uncommon caboose...so all was good.

Well here is the entire train.  The oil car and caboose are late Hafner freight cars made from 1937-1951 (after 1951 Hafner was acquired by Wyandotte toys ...the "All Metal Products Company" and their logo began to appear on the cars).   The #81932 PRR lithographed caboose is one of Hafner's short streamlined cars (see today's "Tail End Tuesday for more pictures of the caboose).  The 1010 oil car is somewhat common and came in a bewildering number of variations, this one with white ends.  The 1010 engine (by the way 1010 was the street number of the Hafner factory in Chicago) in black and silver is a Type 1 (per the reference nomenclature) with the streamlined cowl hiding the domes and stack and the sideboards running the entire length.

Close up pictures of the 1010 loco.  Just to be complete, the sideboards would have originally been fastened to the loco body by rivets not screws, screws are likely a later replacement.

Ty

This tender was what originally I was most interested in.  I did not have any example of a Type Va tender (reference book nomenclature again) in black.  The all black sides with the gray / silver lower coming is like the original but the "Hafner" sign is not as best I can tell.  Likely added by a user.  The original would have either a blank panel under that sign or the word "Hafner" embossed in the sheet.  Tenders of this sort while not exactly rare are not easy to find.

"

The rounded "wings" on top on either side of the coal pile are called "coal boards".

And here she is...my new Hafner loco and tender.

So that is my new Hafner clockwork tinplate train and loco.   OBTW she runs fine.

Don

Flyer 2005 manual signal:

Looks like a prop from a Dr. Who episode.

PD

Nice example pd,

As an FYI it comes in green and blue.

Exterminate!

Northwoods Flyer

Greg

Some big changes are afoot on the FLC.  Got the big rig on the job and some fresh track.  Boss says we gotta job to do so let’s get to it.  This could get interesting…

Reminiscent of photos from the 1930s...standard gauge running on a wood floor. Wonderful!

PD

This house was built in 1927, about the same time that beautiful 384 was as well.  Going on 97 years, I think that’s cool.

Very cool...you can't beat an old, well-maintained house.

I feel like this thread has run its course...not!

A selection of prewar American Flyer tank cars:

PD

Look at all the sizes of American Flyer O ( Narrow Gauge ) gauge trains.

and some Wide gauge mixed in

Northwoods Flyer

Greg

Yay! a revival lol ...

This thread should never die , but sadly I have not been doing a heap of collecting recently, but I did just luck into a nice pair of cast F.W.Strong level crossings. These were made here in Australia in the 1950's and are very reminiscent of actual crossings in Australia at the time , with the classic crossed arms signs and swing gates

Getting harder and harder to find so thankful I got a couple

Also added a few items to the steam accessories division .. some Fleischmann and Arnold pulley driven toys

The Scissors Sharpener guy is the coolest , he shoots sparks LOL!

@Fatman The crossing gates are very nice. Are they stamped underneath by the F.W. Strong company?

Tom

Good to hear from you again Fatman.  Those crossing gates looked very familiar....I thought I had a set when I was but a boy, many moons ago!!!

I have no idea where they are now....maybe you are the proud owner of them???

Peter....Buco Australia.

Nice level-crossings, FM. I could see making a few of those from bits of cardboard and basswood.

PD

@Fatman- Great to hear from you again Mate!  Neat crossings and steam powered figures at work.

@Greg J. Turinetti - Hey Greg, beautiful passenger cars and what a size difference...but don't forget the "little" guys!  The engineer in me loves that these were all stamped on one flat piece of tinplate then folded into a car like Origami!.

Also Greg, don't have anything like your selection of lumber cars but here is a log car from the late 30's and the beginnings of AF moving into 3/16" scale.  This one is 3/16 scale but 0 gauge.

@pd...here is another American Flyer tank car...similar to one of yours but with red lettering vice black

GREAT to have the "tinplate" thread back guys...best Wishes and Happy Easter.

Don

Marx 3/16" tinplate cars converted to Flyer 3/16" with Flyer trucks.

A pair of repainted Flyer 3/16" hoppers.  The Burlington car has a cover from a postwar S gauge car.

Industrial Rail Atlantic with prewar 3/16" Flyer K5 Pacific tender.  Best of both worlds - tinplate and modern.

New in the collection.

Found a Bing Loco 19592 from 1906. But was missing 2 Buffers and a side rod. And the clockwork was complete destroyed.

With parts from a other clockwork repaired.

Before

After repair

New side rod made from a computer part

Orginal part on top

Loco finished.

And new in the collection:

Bing indicator 14132 made 1906 - 1907 with stations only in Berlin

A indicator 2003/6/18 made by Kraus Fandor in the 30s

Arne

A temporary layout for the 40th anniversary of the French toy train museum, the "Rambolitrain"

You can see trains from LR, Hornby an JEP.

Daniel

Just Thursday I received my first Marx, which is also my first lithograph train. When I got into O gauge 3 years ago, this was another thing that I'd never buy. "Too much like a toy," I thought. But we change, so now I have a Marx 9452 "Diesel Type Electrical Train" set with B&O #62 AA units. The box is in great shape. No track or transformer, but in addition to the 7" #37956 PRR Merchandise Car, #80982 Wabash Gondola, and #C506 B&O Caboose that -if I understand correctly- were part of the original set, the seller included a 6" #28500 Lehigh Valley Gondola and #86000 Lackawanna Hopper. They're all in what is to me great shape for being about 70 years old. As a tin litho newbie, I appreciate details like the shadows on the box car grab irons and in the engine's windows and the roof walk that isn't just flat but is stamped out with ridges as though it's separate boards. Marx didn't have to do that but they did. All beautiful, and 100% pure toy goodness! When I first put it on a temporary O-27 loop and gave it power it wouldn't go much. I had to push it. But I've seen enough YouTubes and read enough forum postings that I did my best to service it. Cleaned the wheels, oiled the wheels, sprayed contact cleaner in the reverse unit, removed the brush plate/commutator cover/or whatever it's called and wiped the commutator although it doesn't look good. Now it runs great. It's kinda funny sometimes with the reverse unit, but that might be my transformer.

John

@Arne- beautiful work Arne, lovely piece.

@FRENCHTRAINS- Great to hear from you again Daniel, really nice set up and layout for the museum anniversary.

@John's Trains- Be careful, take it from me the Marx "bug" can be catching!  Thanks for posting John.

best wishes to all

Don

My tiny 3x4 all tinplate all the time layout featuring Lionel,  MTH, American Flyer and Marx trains and accessories.

Nice candy-apple red finish on that Marx CV.

PD

@OKHIKER- neat little layout and the brick paper around the edges is a real classic.

Best Wishes

Don

@Don McErlean posted:

@OKHIKER- neat little layout and the brick paper around the edges is a real classic.

Best Wishes

Don

Thanks a lot Don, it was a lot of fun putting together.  Certainly wish I had more room but all I could handle was a 3x4 platform.  Still, I love running it.

A little Marklin set recently acquired:

Headed north on the mainline outer loop, an 0-4-0 #890 heads a three-car express.

PD

Today I have finished a long-term projekt.

5 years ago, I had made a Table train like Bing as circus train. All tinplate.

But a suitable locomotive was still missing.

I have built it now.

etched panthographs

Märklin elektric motor

And finished.

With Bing table train loco

With the 0 gauge template.

Arne

Gorgeous work Arne ... Karl Bub would love it !

Again not much for me lately .. but I did pick up a Cragstan/ALPS Shuttle locomotive set

Quick video of a similar Alps train set in action

@Fatman posted:

Again not much for me lately .. but I did pick up a Cragstan/ALPS Shuttle locomotive set

Quick video of a similar Alps train set in action

Very cool - similar to the one you helped me find a couple of years ago.  Nice to see one that works reliably after so many years.

@Arne must have triggered off my collecting gland again with his marvelous "re-scaling" of his electric outline locomotives above

So much so when I saw a bargain Marklin RS920 locomotive it had to come live with me

Catalogued from 1936 Clockwork with braking and reversing .

Apologies for the photo orientation , this is from the seller

1936 catalogue entry ....

Annnd lovely seller just mailed me with a further offer not to be refused .. a set of carriages for the above

You guys are waking me up.   Congrats on that nifty Marklin set Fatman!

A few York odds-n-ends:

Lionel 656 (late):

Flyer 1120 coach:

Flyer 3142 observation:

Lionel 651 flat:

Pastor Ingqvist (Barclay?):

Mostly parts, paint, and other supplies this time through.

PD

@pd - neat cars, thanks for posting.  Here is another AF 1120 in a different color scheme.

Best Wishes

Don

I got these - my first Marx accessories - from Trainz for what seemed to be a good price.

The searchlight tower is I'm pretty sure unused.  Not a scratch. Everything works. The bell crossing is delightful, but I need to get an outside rail connector from Robert Grossman or elsewhere. Going by the box diagram I presume it's a spring switch that allows the weight of passing wheels to close the circuit that provides track power to intermittently ring the bell(?).

John

@John's Trains posted:

Going by the box diagram I presume it's a spring switch that allows the weight of passing wheels to close the circuit that provides track power to intermittently ring the bell(?).

Or better, an insulated outside-rail section and a power connection back to your transformer.

PD

@Don McErlean posted:

@pd - neat cars, thanks for posting.  Here is another AF 1120 in a different color scheme.

Best Wishes

Don

Thanks, Don. I have three of the red 1120s, all marked "Seattle", but had not seen the blue/green version before. Still trying to get my grandfather's 1096 that heads the set running...seems to do okay on DC, but just sits and clatters on AC.

PD

@pd...don't have a 1096 but I have a matching 1097 in the red/green color scheme.

Best Wishes  Don

In the collection of stuff I got from Trainz was a set of apparently brand new all metal Marx switches in their box. One switches quickly back and forth. The other one moves haltingly and doesn't complete its travel. I don't want to over work it and risk burning out the solenoid. UPDATE: I sprayed some contact cleaner and some oil and gave time for the contact cleaner to dry. Maybe that was exactly opposite of what I should have done but the switch works perfectly so I'm happy.

@Fatman posted:

Again not much for me lately .. but I did pick up a Cragstan/ALPS Shuttle locomotive set

Quick video of a similar Alps train set in action

That's wonderful stuff. A lot of fun. Congratulations on the acquisition.

A new C.M.T. Victory Diner I was able to get at York...

It's lighted and even has alley cats in the back

-Tom

@John's Trains posted:

That's wonderful stuff. A lot of fun. Congratulations on the acquisition.

Thanks John ... It's not always about "serious" stuff to me , I like to look at things thru the eyes of a young kid and often measure "worth" in terms of smiles per mile hence my collection often has items like this shuttle set or other tin track type items.

A lot of Big Value trains were bought by a father to play with and the poor kid often didnt get a look in LOL !

Sometimes we all get too serious, and thats when the ridiculous becomes fun again !

Here's just some of the weird and wonderful I have

@Fatman posted:

Thanks John ... It's not always about "serious" stuff to me , I like to look at things thru the eyes of a young kid and often measure "worth" in terms of smiles per mile hence my collection often has items like this shuttle set or other tin track type items.
A lot of Big Value trains were bought by a father to play with and the poor kid often didnt get a look in LOL !
Sometimes we all get too serious, and thats when the ridiculous becomes fun again !
Here's just some of the weird and wonderful I have

Your toys are indeed "weird and wonderful," @Fatman! They are the domain of children and those with your rare gift of being able to "look at things thru the eyes of a young kid." These and others I've seen in the forum revived a lost memory of toys I had in the 60s. One was a brightly-colored tinplate police car. The memory movie is brittle with age, but that police car (or others I had) were either the kind you pulled back on and then released, or the kind that you pushed forward several times before releasing. They made a wonderful whirring sound.

Growing up and "Adulting " is hard ... and I dont recommend it at all !

As a young'un I didnt have a lot of toys ( I have made up for it 1000 times over lol ) but I did have a memory of two Matchbox cars that were my world for many years , and naturally as you grow up, move, make different friends etc such little treasures get left behind, victims of the parade of life ...

A few years ago I made up my mind to find them , it wasn't hard , they are not rare or anything but the sheer joy of just holding them again , while it did not bring up specific memories they did impart a degree of nostalgia that surprised me

Grabbed them as mint examples in the box still ...

The purple beach buggy .. and the hovercraft .. an incongruous pair but since when did that ever affect a kid

Know exactly what you mean Fatman!!!! 

My two favorite "Matchbox" cars back in the 1950's was a cream MG TD sportscar, and the red Coca-Cola delivery truck. Lost both of them to time!!!

You have inspired me to go a-hunting for replacements, as I also have extremely fond memories of both of them, cause my parents couldn't afford many toys for us seven kids.

Peter.....Buco Australia.

Heh heh ... my evil work here is done @Buco

(oh BTW its SUPER evil .. because the two models you describe are the very early Moko Lesney ones and you will be paying for the privilege lol)

@Fatman and @Buco - great stories about your childhood Matchbox cars.  Most of mine have disappeared too.  However, I still have my Hot Wheels cars and track - they've followed me everywhere since the late 1960s.  (Don't know if they had Hot Wheels Down Under - similar in size to Matchbox, less detail, but FAST and ran on their own track.)  The car that came with my first set would be worth a lot of money if it wasn't very nicked up, but of course I'd never sell it.  Kind of funny, as my first set was the bottom-of-the-line entry level item.

OK Fatman, Buco, and Mallard I want to join the fray.  Recently, while doing what our Scandanavian friends call "Death Cleaning" I re-discoverd 2 Matchbox toys from my childhood.  They still have their original "matchbox" like box and are in great shape (I was an only child and rather careful with my toys ). So here is Matchbox #2 and #7 likely from the early 50's

Best wishes

Don

A few military Dinky pieces from my ill-spent youth:

How they've survived after all of these years, no idea. Certainly not because they've received great care over the intervening fifty-some years (or maybe they have).

PD

A Marx Sparkler protected by Barclay WW I infantrymen and a modern era Lionel by MTH reproduction Ammunition train topped by an original Lionel 153 engine circa 1927 with its passenger consist on my all tinplate all the time 3x4 layout.

You were soooo right Fatman on the price of my two missing Matchbox cars!!!

Out of curiosity I went on "the Bay" yesterday and did a search.....that has shattered my dreams well and truly!

Can't afford either of them....some guy in America wants almost $900.00 just for the Coca-Cola truck and its box!!!

Cheaper to stay with my tinplate O gauge Buco trains.

Peter....Buco Australia.

@Buco  you might want to put in an offer on @Don McErlean 's lovely couple of early ones in the box .. they are beauties Don!

I am a little confused Peter on the RED coca cola one you reference ... I am NOT a matchbox collector but most/all of the early Moko-Lesney ones I have seen are the yellow truck with the Coke billboard on top in red .. they go for $30-$200 ???

Your MG you can pick up for the same range ( add a repro box ?? )

A prewar American Flyer 407 sand car from the TCA deaccession table at York.  This car is in C7 - C8 condition and has postwar Lionel compatible couplers.

You are right again Fatman......my fading memory had me thinking the Coke truck was red, when in fact it was yellow, as the "Bay" search revealed!!

The truck I saw listed was:

Matchbox Regular Wheels No 37B Karrier Bantom Coca Cola Truck ULTRA RARE SPW

Au $999.95 + AU $13.45 postage.

Matchbox Regular Wheels No 37B Karrier Bantom Coca Cola Truck ULTRA RARE SPW

AU $999.95

+ AU $13.45 postage

Also, I wouldn't imagine trying to pry those two memories away from Don, especially considering the great condition they are still in, after so long.

Peter.....Buco Australia

@OKHIKER posted:

A Marx Sparkler protected by Barclay WW I infantrymen and a modern era Lionel by MTH reproduction Ammunition train topped by an original Lionel 153 engine circa 1927 with its passenger consist on my all tinplate all the time 3x4 layout.

I looked for one of those prewar Lionel single-track bridges at York (actually the only item on my "buy" list), but did not find one. Did come home with something, of course, but will have to keep an eye on buy/sell forum and eBay for that tinplate-appropriate bridge.

@Buco & @Fatman Thanks for the compliment Peter / Fatman on my "long lost but now found" matchbox pieces.  Your right, fellows those are staying right here in Texas !

Best Wishes

Don

@Buco That ebay guy is dreaming lol

Near Mint with box I can find one for $180 on the Bay here in Aus... another @ $155

A very nice one with just a few chips in unimportant areas is like Buy it now for $30 add a $14 repro box and you are pretty golden for under $50 !

BTW you haz email ... make sure the missus doesnt hide it from you LOLOL

@Allan Miller posted:

I looked for one of those prewar Lionel single-track bridges at York (actually the only item on my "buy" list), but did not find one. Did come home with something, of course, but will have to keep an eye on buy/sell forum and eBay for that tinplate-appropriate bridge.

Allan, I was lucky enough to pick that one up on the bay a few years back from a vendor who lived in Southeast Pa.  It was and still is in superb condition.

Thanks again Fatman.....you're like a true bloodhound, sniffing out the real bargains!!!

I'm on the right track now (so to speak), and I may come up with something new to show off to you guys.

Stay tuned!!

Peter.....Buco Australia

@OKHIKER posted:

Allan, I was lucky enough to pick that one up on the bay a few years back from a vendor who lived in Southeast Pa.  It was and still is in superb condition.

I'll just keep looking online and at local shows. I'm confident one will turn up in due time. Was just kind of surprised to not find one at York since just about anything and everything can be found there.

I saw a number of the standard gauge versions at York, Allan, but no O-gauge. In October there'll be twenty of them...just the way it works.

PD

Got a couple of new ( old) tea cups lol

Gulflander a small heritage railway in far north Queensland

https://www.gulflander.com.au/

@pd posted:

I saw a number of the standard gauge versions at York, Allan, but no O-gauge. In October there'll be twenty of them...just the way it works.

PD

You are likely quite right! In the meantime, I have a couple of friends who will also be on the lookout for them.

Who doesn't love a 408e?

Sunrise

@Sunrise Special - WOW! What a color display, a std gauge "girl's train" super.  Thanks for posting

Don

Don McErlean

Hey Don......sent you a couple of E-mails......did you get them???

Peter.....Buco Australia.

@Buco- NO I have not received them.  my e-mail again is:  dpmcerlean@gmail.com

Don

Thanks for that Don (Don McErlean).....yes, it is the same E-mail address I have sent the last two messages to. Maybe check your "junk mail", but I'll send you another one just in case.

And here is the result of Fatman's efforts to have me replace two of my lost childhood Matchbox cars!!

I am grinning from ear to ear Fatman!!!!

Thank you for your sleuth work finding these little beauties....they have taken me on a long trip down memory lane!!

Now back to tinplate trains.....I got an E-mail from Buco Spur O GmbH in Switzerland last week (my favourite trains), advising they are about to release a new anniversary freight car to celebrate the company's 80th year producing original O gauge Buco tinplate trains......I've already told them to set one aside for me.

A photo of some (by no means all) of my Buco tanker cars...and two of the Buco transformers to run them.

Just some of my Buco 301 loco's....there are also 304 & 314 model loco's as well, of which I have a large collection. The boys in Switzerland reckon I have the largest collection of operating Buco O gauge trains outside of Switzerland....in the words of Forest Gump,,,,,I don't know about that!!!

Anyway, the other news was they (Buco Spur O GmbH) intend to sell the company, as they are all getting old and want new blood to take it over, and carry on the tradition of making genuine lithographed tinplate trains, using the original stamps and presses.

Kinda got the impression they were sounding out their regular customers (me for one) for expressions of interest, but in  reality there is no way I could entertain the idea financially, let alone pack-up everything and move over to Switzerland to live......I'm a fourth generation Queenslander, and we don't go anywhere!!!

We will have to wait and see how things pan out for them, but I would hate to see the last O gauge tinplate train manufacturer call it a day!!

Peter.....Buco Australia.

@Buco posted:

Thanks for that Don (Don McErlean).....yes, it is the same E-mail address I have sent the last two messages to. Maybe check your "junk mail", but I'll send you another one just in case.

And here is the result of Fatman's efforts to have me replace two of my lost childhood Matchbox cars!!

I am grinning from ear to ear Fatman!!!!

Thank you for your sleuth work finding these little beauties....they have taken me on a long trip down memory lane!!

Now back to tinplate trains.....I got an E-mail from Buco Spur O GmbH in Switzerland last week (my favourite trains), advising they are about to release a new anniversary freight car to celebrate the company's 80th year producing original O gauge Buco tinplate trains......I've already told them to set one aside for me.

A photo of some (by no means all) of my Buco tanker cars...and two of the Buco transformers to run them.

Just some of my Buco 301 loco's....there are also 304 & 314 model loco's as well, of which I have a large collection. The boys in Switzerland reckon I have the largest collection of operating Buco O gauge trains outside of Switzerland....in the words of Forest Gump,,,,,I don't know about that!!!

Anyway, the other news was they (Buco Spur O GmbH) intend to sell the company, as they are all getting old and want new blood to take it over, and carry on the tradition of making genuine lithographed tinplate trains, using the original stamps and presses.

Kinda got the impression they were sounding out their regular customers (me for one) for expressions of interest, but in  reality there is no way I could entertain the idea financially, let alone pack-up everything and move over to Switzerland to live......I'm a fourth generation Queenslander, and we don't go anywhere!!!

We will have to wait and see how things pan out for them, but I would hate to see the last O gauge tinplate train manufacturer call it a day!!

Peter.....Buco Australia.

Great finds and collection!  @Fatman is quite the enabler, isn't he?

What is the official Buco website?  I did several searches and couldn't find one.

@Buco posted:

Anyway, the other news was they (Buco Spur O GmbH) intend to sell the company, as they are all getting old and want new blood to take it over, and carry on the tradition of making genuine lithographed tinplate trains, using the original stamps and presses.

Kinda got the impression they were sounding out their regular customers (me for one) for expressions of interest, but in  reality there is no way I could entertain the idea financially, let alone pack-up everything and move over to Switzerland to live......I'm a fourth generation Queenslander, and we don't go anywhere!!!

We will have to wait and see how things pan out for them, but I would hate to see the last O gauge tinplate train manufacturer call it a day!!

Peter.....Buco Australia.

The photo above got me looking for and finding the Buco website this morning.  Hmmm......

@jhz563 posted:

The photo above got me looking for and finding the Buco website this morning.  Hmmm......

What's the URL?  Searching for Buco gets a bunch of articles and posts, but not the company's website.

Morning Mallard4468:

Here is Buco's web site   https://buco-gmbh.ch

Received a response E-mail from Priska (Mrs Buco) this morning....yes they are "getting out", and want someone else to continue the tradition.

You will note that most of the items listed for sale in their web store are now sold out, and it appears there is no plans at present to produce replacements, even though they appear to sell very well.....very strange!!!

I have a heavy heart, as this is the O gauge train set I started with, way back in the mid 1950's when I was but a boy of 5yrs old. Been collecting it for most of my life. It's like Lionel and American Flyer is to you guys.

Peter.....Buco Australia.

@Buco posted:

Morning Mallard4468:

Here is Buco's web site   https://buco-gmbh.ch

Received a response E-mail from Priska (Mrs Buco) this morning....yes they are "getting out", and want someone else to continue the tradition.

You will note that most of the items listed for sale in their web store are now sold out, and it appears there is no plans at present to produce replacements, even though they appear to sell very well.....very strange!!!

I have a heavy heart, as this is the O gauge train set I started with, way back in the mid 1950's when I was but a boy of 5yrs old. Been collecting it for most of my life. It's like Lionel and American Flyer is to you guys.

Peter.....Buco Australia.

Thanks for the URL.

A toy train company that is selling well but has no clear succession plan.  I think I've seen this movie...

https://buco-gmbh.ch/

LOL ! Very happy you grabbed them Peter @Buco  Job well done and I hope Sue is not too mad at me !

Bummer about Buco-GMBH   Are we sure you couldnt be convinced in a Half yearly commute to Switzerland ... you could winter there ( our Summer) and escape the Queensland humidity and tourist season  Bonus!!!

I reckon you should go for it ( and then I could get free trains lol )

It looks a very lovely place on Google maps !

Nice and secluded warehouse in a lovely valley in the mountains !

Well tinplate fans I have a long post for today.  Afraid I can't be much help to Buco (Peter) and his beautiful Buco trains, but perhaps I can hold your interest in some UK trains, likely of the 1950's.  This is a Brimtoy set of unknown date, but the tender shows "British Rail Ways" (written as 3 words interestingly) and the "lion and Wheel" symbol which makes the set post nationalization hence 1948 or later. Anyone with further data, please post as it would much interest me to have the background.

Athough the top of the box says "Brimtoy" this lower symbols appears to advertise Wells toys with the name "Welsotoys" which is unfamiliar to me.  However I liked the saying "Toys for Girls / Boys" and loved the detail on the steam engine illustrated.

Of course as is typical of the era when one opens the box the train is not quite what is pictured on the lid .  However this set is complete including a circle of track + a short section of straight to make up for the width of the included road crossing.  I also have the key (yea yea!!).  Loco, tender, and 2 coaches plus the road crossing make up the contents.

Here is a close up of the included road crossing.  Classic UK gated crossing.

Here is that mighty locomotive.  An 0-4-0 without drive rods plus a very nice 4 wheel tender with simulated coal pile.  The "Lion and Wheel" symbol on the tender is clear in this picture. The loco is numbered 5060 on the boiler front and under the cab windows.

Here is one of the two coaches.  It is numbered 5060 B and I have no idea what the designation "B" might indicate (again if anyone has information or a comment please send in)

Here she it full up and departing.  The curved track is elevated on the outside to help help prevent de-railing at speed and uses a slight ramp in the sleepers to elevate the outer rail.

So there it is tinplate friends, my "new" Brimtoy set.  I purchased this from the UK and waited some weeks for delivery but the price was modest and I just love it.  The condition of the trains themselves are near perfect, the box well  not so much.

Best wishes

Don

Haven't participated for awhile on the Forum. Not even sure I'm posting in the correct box.  But I did want to share with the tinplate fans some of my  more recent  Kibri and Marklin stations. I'm now up to 48 stations!  Lew Schneider