Hi Arne,
You are a winner. Bub, Doll, Kibri, and Cabo
The Kibri 52-11 is new and adds to what is becoming an extensive Kibri collection.
I was very surprised to see the way the clock was painted on the tower. It is true that my 52-15 has a painted clock but it is much different from the 52-11. All my other Kibris 52-000, 52-1, 52-3. 52-5, and 52-43 have separate clocks.
Lew
Elgaucho - loved the book and the "hand drawn" like illustrations. Clearly some of them come from tinplate trains as I can see a strong resemblance in your last view to the Marx M10000 stream liner of 1934-37, picture below.
Thanks for posting a really neat book.
Best Wishes
Don
Amazing book @Elgaucho love the illustrations ...
Still nothing new as train funds have been a bit re-routed lately for a less selfish cause 
So delving back into the photo archives of the collection to find something, anything to post lol ...
And I came up with some ephemera from early Australian Model Railway History ...
A while ago I came across a collection of "The Coupling" from 1938-9 the Victorian model railway society newsletters that were bound into a volume by an early modeller ..
Some great art and articles .. in old school mimeograph ! Only the covers were fancy printed paid for by the advertisers .
Ok Broke the collecting drought just now ....
Annnnnd added to the " Gee Fatman, you realllllly doooo buy some rusty crap " pile 
( Hey it wuz local , you might be tripping over them there in the USA , but not here my friends lol but hey it was priced ok -ish )
Warning.. if you love pretty shiny unbent museum quality trains ... well you better look away now or be scarred for life .. You have been warned!!!
Needs some major tweakage and a gallon of spit and polish ... and it will still look like a turd lol ... but all are welcome at Casa Fatmanos .. we dont judge here 
Besides if I looked like that after 85-7 odd years I would be fine with that
Fatman: Great find. “Rescue” trains are great fun and we keep them going for future generations. Best wishes
Don
Got my pretty nice condition original paint gray 318 back from the shops today and oh boy what a smooth runner it is now. Kudos and many thanks to Bill at Des Plaines Hobbies for fixing it up better than new. Check out how smooth it glides along the tracks at a low speed. Time to hook it up to some 500 freights and let it do its thing. Very happy!
Have a great weekend all you tinplate nuts! W1
Hello everyone,
Here is a video of my Ives clockwork number 11, with its tender and a number 51 Hiawatha limited vestibule express passenger car. The set is running on some original Ives banked clockwork track. The term “banked” means that the track has been produced with the ties cut to be in a specific degree and angle so that the set that is running on it will not derail as easily. Think of it as a race track and how the speedway is at an angle. Banked track is a bit of a life saver for these types of engines considering that these clockwork engines don’t really have that much of a speed regulator like electrics do. Also, off to the side is a number Ives 107S semaphore for some scenery. The natural lighting provided a nice opportunity for the set to show off its nice original glossy paint and lithography.
Here are some stills
Trainfam
Nice addition, FM. Prewar streamliners in any form are a great window into the era. I'll be interested to see how she looks after "reconditioning".
@TrainFam : Neat set, if you have a chance how about posting some static pictures of the set, it almost goes too fast for a good look in the video. It is in amazing condition however, what a great find. Thanks for posting.
Don
@Don McErlean posted:@TrainFam : Neat set, if you have a chance how about posting some static pictures of the set, it almost goes too fast for a good look in the video. It is in amazing condition however, what a great find. Thanks for posting.
Don
Thanks for the kinds words Don,
When I get a chance I’ll take some photos of train and the cars when it’s not going mach ten. It’s truly a fine set.
Trainfam
Arne - fantastic stations, beautiful. Thanks for showing us.
Don
Beautiful is right. And in such great condition. What is the age of the creation.
During the last part of the 19th Century and into the second decade of the 20th many toy train manufacturers offered for sale what I call one car wonder train sets. These are sets consisting of an engine, a tender, a single passenger car, and a small circle of track. These sets were most often the lowest priced set offered and, while undoubtedly many were sold, their survival rate as far as complete sets in nice condition is not good. Below is an assembly of some of the one car wonder train sets I've managed to locate. From left to right they are American Flyer Hummer, Issmayer, American Flyer set #0, Hafner with New York Flyer passenger car, American Flyer Set Number Unknown, and Rossignol.
@Robert S. Butler posted:One Car Wonders
During the last part of the 19th Century and into the second decade of the 20th many toy train manufacturers offered for sale what I call one car wonder train sets. These are sets consisting of an engine, a tender, a single passenger car, and a small circle of track. These sets were most often the lowest priced set offered and, while undoubtedly many were sold, their survival rate as far as complete sets in nice condition is not good. Below is an assembly of some of the one car wonder train sets I've managed to locate. From left to right they are American Flyer Hummer, Issmayer, American Flyer set #0, Hafner with New York Flyer passenger car, American Flyer Set Number Unknown, and Rossignol.
Wow Robert, those are some excellent set’s! I really love the look of early American flyer sets, especially from the metzel era. I’ll have to try to get my hands on a set at some point.
Trainfam
@Jim Kelly-Evans posted:1. "Great Hauler - Its power is surprising, being greater of course than No. 33. It will haul one dozen or more trail cars. The controller and the greater pulling power are easily worth the difference in price, between this and No. 33."- Lionel 1917 catalog.
2. I found this nice No. 38 at a show last year sitting on the table all alone waiting to be adopted...
3. It's a common piece but one that has charm and is fun to run.
1. Interesting how Lionel pitted 2 of their own items against each other! 😄
2. "adopted": good description. 👍
3. It certainly does have "charm"...and runs very nicely, too. 😊
Mark in Oregon
I would like to add to the fabulous picture posted by Robert S. Butler of "One Car Wonders". This one is an M0 "Train Express set by French Hornby. Offered first in the 1933 catalog and the sets stayed in production for over 30 years with little to no additions. It came with a loco, tender, one coach and a oval of rather flimsy 9 inch dia track. This version shows the early post war additions of smoke deflectors and simulated cylinders (note no linkage). The version shown below likely from 1953-56.
Wow ! Some quality showing up in this thread lately 
@Arne those stations are to die for , and what a diverse selection of "One Car Wonders" from @Robert S. Butler ( who coincidentally has the worst OGR forum name to quote LOL .. I always forget the . after the S !)
Beaut condition later French Hornby from @Don McErlean too!
I have nothing as nice a condition myself to offer , but I did pick up a couple of rarer Hornby items , one I already had one of, but the other I didnt .. so it all works out ... its part of my " He who dies with the most toys wins " Strategy I think ?
Anyway .... Der Hornby Mitropa Schlafwagen + Speisewagen ( sleeping and dining cars)
These were produced as export only for the "Continent" ( Europe ) and thus were known as the Continental Sets . The cars themselves were produced in England , but they owe their form to the tooling recovered from Hornby's failed attempt to break into the US market in 1927/8 . Hornby U.S.A. made different Pullman variations to the std UK ones and were released as Washington and Madison named cars . These were also made in the UK from the recovered US tooling ..
However the Mitropa set marked a departure for Hornby with the addition of "gold" shiny base tin , onto which the further litho colours were printed ,I suspect this was a legacy of USA stock as well .. over time this has proven to be a bit of a weak point as the gold base tin sheets turned out to be shockers for corrosion and thus it is incredibly rare to find any of them in mint condition . They were produced around 1930/1934 . As these have "drop-link" couplers it is likely they are they earlier versions .
Fatman thanks for the complement on my French Hornby M0 set. Your Mitropa cars are also really neat. I can see the US Hornby heritage in the shape of the car especially the celebratory roof but until your post I had no idea that Mecanno had done "other" things with their US tooling. Thanks for posting.
Best wishes
Don
Got some more goodies coming shortly , but the deal is not 100% done yet ( Some French stuffs ... lol ) so until it is ... here are some references for the previous post about the Hornby continental set ..
A comparable Pre-War UK Hornby 4-wheel set of the period was the M1 locomotive and tri-colour coach set below , the tri-colour coaches were much less common ( most Pullman's of the period were the same body, but with black chassis and cream or light grey roof's )
Below some normal/common Hornby Pullman's of the period
The USA tooling produced the Madison and Washington Pullman coaches ...
Very different
Hornby also produced a "long" variant of the Pullman cars at a higher price point , these are fairly collectible
Fatman: I really like the early Hornby coaches. Here are a couple of mine, these are M0 coaches from about 1930 :
Best wishes all
Don
As hinted at earlier , some pictures of the incoming French stuff Not exactly O Gauge , but you know me I will snaffle anything lol
A Joyax set from the 50's ... only runs in a circle on its own tracks .. no expansion here , the loco even has its wheels angled to suit .. really colourful litho on these .. And yes the tunnel and station are included in the set ... no box unfortunately but this one has been on the radar for some time .
Even to the extent of lithographed "Patina " and wood plank underneath
And a French version of the Technofix 284 set I cannot so far determine who made it , even tho I have seen photos of the box , no makers name ... Presuming Technofix might have been getting litigious by the mid 50's? ( if that is indeed the time-frame this set comes from )
Any info will be appreciated ?
Fatman - great train toys...thanks for posting. I just noticed on the "Technofix" base each corner is a different picture and the two sides of the pond are also different. WOW that is really top notch lithography and super neat.
Don
It is good to search "elsewhere" occasionally and I was very happy to acquire these few items on Etsy recently. All were quire reasonable in price but the HWNs took some time to arrive from the continent.
HWN Beer Car
HWN Boxcar
Chein floor train set
J Hoefler clockwork loco listed as "Japan"
The nice natural lighting outside gave me a ample opportunity to photograph some of my nice Ives litho train cars, including my Ives Harvard and Yale cars. 
Trainfam
.... a few of the many side dump tinplate offerings that have been made over the years...
Another dump car, the 6.5 inch long Flyer early darker green version
and the later, lighter colored version
NWL
Don't forget the Lionel #809 from 1932.
Thanks Robert S. Butler and NWL, most of those you posted I have not seen. I do have the Marx and the Hornby McAlpines but none of the others. Great to see them all.
Best Wishes
Don
I'll Play
Hornby McAlpine
Another with the Trinidad Asphalt Rotary Tipper on the left
And in Green ... ( bit rarer)
Some Keim ..
And a Bing
I don't normally contribute to the Tinplate Photos & Videos, but follow it religiously.
Couldn't help but post a couple of photos of one of my (I have three) Buco tinplate side-tipping wagons. They were the last new item to be produced by Bucherer Buco in Switzerland, before going into liquidation in 1957.
Hope you enjoy.
Peter.....Buco Australia
@Fatman : Thanks for posting, had not seen (except in pictures) the green Hornby McAlpine's and had never seen the Keim (German? ) . Peter - you as well, any Buco is unusual here in the States and had never seen those tip dumper's before. Best wishes for a great week everyone.
Don
Arne - fabulous pictures of long ago trains, thank's so much for sharing.
Don
OK one more from me...a reproduction of a French Hornby rotary tipping wagon by Hatchette. The original wagon was available pre-war only and this reproduction dates from 2002-2004. Its colorful anyway.
Have a great Tuesday! Best Wishes
Don
@Don McErlean posted:OK one more from me...a reproduction of a French Hornby rotary tipping wagon by Hatchette. The original wagon was available pre-war only and this reproduction dates from 2002-2004. Its colorful anyway.
Have a great Tuesday! Best Wishes
Don
Don, that looks pretty cool. Normally I prefer originals, but that repro looks great!
Trainfam
@TrainFam- Thanks for your complement. I agree, I much prefer originals but somewhat like "Lionel / MTH" Tinplate Trains, these were faithful copies and they are now approaching 20 years old, so they have a bit of provenance of their own. Also, candidly, the originals for the most part come from UK or France and the E-bay shipping charges are outrageous!! Thanks again for your comment and your complement.
Best Wishes
Don
Hi everyone,
Side dump cars are fun to use, nice selection but strange that no one offered the standard gauge Lionel 219, a great impressive model and a "little" bigger than a poor Hornby one...
Daniel
Found a few Flyer Red Streamlined passenger cars. A little rough though.
They will go with my Chrome set I guess.
Also got another 5640 loco to rebuild, I'm a sucker for 3/16th's O locos.
Already found a good cow catcher and half a steam chest, Motor is free so it should run after some service...
Dennis,
I saw those cars on ebay and wondered who got them. The only issue I noted with them was that one of the cars only has 4-wheel trucks. The red cars never came with 4 wheel trucks, so you will have to find some 6-wheel trucks to make them match the other cars in the set.
NWL
Yes, I have a couple of six wheel trucks although I was planning to stick them on another cast tender for a 1680 lol. I might consider picking up a couple of sideframes and try to put some together lol. They would have been a much better deal if the price was lower I just sent him a Buy it now and he accepted. SO I paid more than I think I should have considering the decals are falling off a couple of sides etc. But you know how it goes, excitement gets you down the rabbit hole!
Almost 2 years ago and 5 posts on from the original first post , I shared my wonderful John Van Riemsdijk 4-4-4 find .
https://ogrforum.com/...5#148957538611447475
It was the pinnacle of my collecting at the time
And now we kinda come full circle as I have managed to lay my hands on a different controlled clockwork locomotive made again by JVR
A short history of the man can be found in this post https://ogrforum.com/...7#148957538627772967
Sooooo locally I managed to score an..... 0-6-0 tank version This make 3 JVR locos in the collection and I think for now that will HAVE to be enough, I have certainly used up a LOT of my luck in finding them , but like anything, a little bit of knowledge can be a powerful thing when hunting obscure "rarities", as you often see them listed for sale with the seller having very little idea of what they are .
This one was "kind of" close as it was listed at a certain auction site as a "Kit Built Bassett-Lowke type" Which isn't far from the truth , but completely ignores the basics that make it so collectible ... Using the "Walker-Riemsdijk " controlled mechanism as its power source these locos were solely available through Walkers-Holtzapffle in the UK ( the Walker part of the name ) and were a far cry from your average clockwork mechanism , with JVR using his noggin to figure out how to regulate the speed of a clockwork drive that could be easily adjusted "on the fly" to allow a wide speed range without hobbling the performance greatly . In this loco the rate of unloading is controlled by the gear poking thru the cab roof
This 0-6-0 version was made in greater numbers than the 4-4-4's but its still hard to find one , I think I was blessed 
I know I have not posted in ages had some health issues to deal with. Glad to be back after my absence.
In the photo there is some Sakai, Maerklin, Jep and a wonderful French Station from the early 1900s, plus some modern HO and O scale items.
All the best, Miketg
Fatman - what a fantastic find! I love this thread as I learn things every week that I had no idea before how they worked or even if they existed. Miketg - Welcome Back! - hope those health issues have been resolved.
Best Wishes
Don
Ho Fatman!!!
Wonderful find. It of course is the W&H late postwar version with the slanted coal bunker. They usually came in black and the owners then decided how to paint them. Mine is also a W&H 0-6-0 but seems to have a shell very close to if not really Marklin. The cost of those babies before the war was quite expensive--in the same range I think as the Hornby Princess Elizabeth. Lew Schneider
Nice catch @Fatman it is a gorgeous loco and I still need to find one.... not an easy thing here.
While I was looking on the auction site, just curiosity of course because i do no need to buy something.... I came across an auction in Germany with a poor distressed Lionel 42 so I make an offer, really low one, bought it and received a complete loco in running condition. I was very surprised as the seller sended me all the parts for the engine as they where not pictured.
This poor loco has been repainted, not too bad but I will have to do restore it entirely as the "decals" are not decals but paper varnished on the paint and a step needs to be re soldered. A new paint black or other, I do not know for the moment, maybe grey or green as I already have a black one.
The main problem will be the screw for the external lighting on the back of the loco which I do not have and finding one in France is really out of question.... Here are some pictures of the thing, I will make better ones when it will be done.
Daniel
Well tinplate fans, I used the link in Fatman's post to take me back some 2+ years and find that our postings have dwindled somewhat in extent and in participants. I hope we can re-kindle that interest because we represent an important part of this hobby and our heritage. Well to try and keep all this up, today I have a two car set of 1932 American Flyer lithographed passenger cars that I acquired just last month. These cars came in several uncatalogued sets and in different color schemes but the orange cars are best known to be listed with the "Dictator" set of 1932. The passenger car "Lexington" and the observation car "Paul Revere" were sometimes lithographed with one of the two names on one side and the second name on the other ! These however are consistent with the same name on each side.
Here is the 1932 AF "Lexington" passenger car . Note these were not numbered and for the most part uncatalogued.
Here is the end view of Lexington, note that across the top of the end are the words "American Flyer" and across the bottom are "Made in US" In this picture you can only see half that script but the wording was split so that half appeared on each side of the seam.
Here is the platform type observation car "Paul Revere" with a brass colored railing with a black top rail. The "umbrella" portion of the platform roof is white and hangs down in traditional fashion.
Here is a closer look at Paul Revere's platform and railing.
Here are the two cars as they would have appeared in the "Dictator" set. By the way, does anyone else think the name "Dictator" to be an odd choice for a child's toy?
Well best wishes to everyone and hope you have a great week.
Don
@Don McErlean nice Flyer coaches you recently acquired. Not being a Flyer collector I always enjoy and learn from your posts. And YES that is certainly a strange name for a child’s train set. I wonder if its just a random word, like Lionel used for ordering to save on telegram/telegraph costs?
Rich Thanks for the compliment. You know you could be right in that “dictator” was just a random word used for ease of communication. I had not thought of that.
best wishes
Don
Some work done on that 42 Lionel; resoldered step, rewired, found a correct terminal post, same than on an old 81 rehostat where it is now missing...... And tested, runs really well both forward and reverse. Just waiting for new decals from USA.
Now I do not know what to do.... total restoration or leave it as is. It is more colorfull than my original one with those red center wheels; all red and gold paint is new, body has many touch up and polish on the original paint. For a $ 130 loco it is not too bad.....
Daniel
Great work; she really looks spiffy! I wouldn't restore: even the repaint has a history, now, but that's just my thoughts. I'd apply the decals and run that old girl as is.
(Purely my own perspective, but that red/gold/black paint scheme reminds my of my favorite Frisco engines.)
@FRENCHTRAINS I agree with @palallin, apply your decals and enjoy this beauty. Nice purchase at a great price.
@FRENCHTRAINS: Daniel, I guess I agree with what Palallin and Rich have said. No matter how well its restored it will never be "original" and your price was nothing short of incredible...its less than 50% of the cheapest guide book price for a #42 as listed in the Greenberg Price Guide. Not only that but it looks beautiful just as it is now. I would advise just run and enjoy!
Best Wishes
Don
Thanks guys, I think you are right, I could do a better restoration but it will still be a restored model.
So she will run in this condition with a set of 18 19 and 190 passenger cars and I keep the original one for collection.
Thanks and have a nice day, Daniel
Pictures later when the decals will be at home.
Love that #42.
I'm not sure I should even post anything here, since I'm such a newbie to Standard Gauge. Having said that, I do want to show these (3) gondolas and post an observation:
The two smaller ones are both stamped "112" even though they are different sizes (9 1/2" and 11 1/4"); the large one is obviously a "212" (also 11 1/4" but is way more massive).
Now for the observation: when it comes to Standard Gauge, I guess there is no such thing as "scale"...(?)
Mark in Oregon
@Strummer posted:...Now for the observation: when it comes to Standard Gauge, I guess there is no such thing as "scale"...(?)
Mark in Oregon
I am much of the same opinion Daniel @FRENCHTRAINS she is just too pretty now in her old clothes to restore
As for me .. well as they say " When it rains it pours ... " this week TWO rocking horses are being crossed off the list ... the Walker-Riemsdijk a few posts up in the thread and then "Bugger me dead" ( as we say here in the colonies) what should show up next than ....
Doesn't look like much do she?
But she is indeed a gem in tinplate clothing ... although missing her steam chests and her side rods , she is still in quite ok condition ,
The auction site had it listed as a "Chad Valley or similar " locomotive .. and luckily for me it did NOT include a front on shot of the boiler , where there should be a whacking great " Whitanco" logo ( maybe its been painted over or something?)
Nevertheless it IS a Whitanco locomotive , a firm that once took on Hornby for the crown of affordable model trains and tin toys .. Whose owner was said to have been one of the original Hornby employees striking out with his own business ... sadly tho Whitanco lost and went into receivership in 1921 just as Frank Hornby started storming the market with his versions of the original " The Clockwork Train " sets ... with the challenger firm ceasing trading in 1924 ...
http://www.binnsroad.co.uk/rai.../whitanco/index.html
I made a very cheeky offer , the seller listing it and I have had quite a long relationship over the years so he accepted and she is coming to me , Would I like a more complete nicer one? well heck yes! , but I have not exactly been stumbling over them and I have been looking for a while now lol .. so THIS baby will be right up there in the Treasures Found column .
Fatman : Fabulous find ! Congratulations...the Binns Road Site had pictures of this exact #696 locomotive and I didn't think yours was too bad looking at all. Thanks for posting. Remember its likely near (or even just over) 100 years old...I doubt I will look that good at that age 
Don
@Strummer posted:Now for the observation: when it comes to Standard Gauge, I guess there is no such thing as "scale"...(?)
Mark in Oregon
The scale for standard gauge is just standard scale.
Hey Robert, I talked about your diorama some in an earlier post but my TCQ arrived in the mail yesterday and let me tell you the cover is just spectacular! In the larger magazine size with the more vivid colors than I get on my computer you can really see the beauty of the picture. Just wanted to say again, great job!!
Best Wishes
Don
Thanks again Don. I'm looking forward to getting my copy.
Received just this week, my Parfait Products Viaduct for Flexi-track.
7-sections measuring 92-inches long with a center rise of about 5-inches. Had to assemble out in the yard......
8th section is used to reinforce the tallest fold-up feet and hold the under cross track.
Definitely for large layouts only.
More info and photos on the Binns Road website. Parfait Products and Kaywood Corporation (binnsroad.co.uk)
@Jim O'C posted:Received just this week, my Parfait Products Viaduct for Flexi-track.
7-sections measuring 92-inches long with a center rise of about 5-inches. Had to assemble out in the yard......
8th section is used to reinforce the tallest fold-up feet and hold the under cross track.
Definitely for large layouts only.
More info and photos on the Binns Road website. Parfait Products and Kaywood Corporation (binnsroad.co.uk)
Do you have the track that goes with it?
No track, unfortunately. Still, worth the $$ it cost me.
I was in a tinplate mood this past weekend, so I loaded up the layout with some of my command control favorites. I started out by putting on my MTH 1694 with a set of matching vintage cars.
Then I got my Southern 263e set up with a freight train of alternating MTH and vintage Lionel cars.
I missed posting this on Tinplate Tuesday so I guess we'll have to settle for Pre-War Wednesday!
After a bit of input Guys .. My lovely fellow Dutchboy has found me a couple of new little things and as accessories are my kryptonite when it comes to knowledge ( Some of you might think EVERYTHING is my kryptonite lol! ) I need a bit of a hand tracking down some info on these... Specifically the End Buffers ? but Bridges too ? Closest I have seen is Marklin , but they are a bit more complex and carry the TM loud and proud , these have nothing , nada, zip!
I love the form of them however and they will do nicely on a French ( mainly) based 2-rail clockwork layout in the future .
Any Ideas @Arne , @FRENCHTRAINS, @lewrail Anyone?
Fatman my friend, that´s easy. Tunnel Joustra French around 1950, the 4 buffers HWN (Heinrich Wimmer Nurnberg) No 200/15 made 1953-1958, the 2 bridges HWN No 200/12 made 1953-1958.
Arne
Thanks @Arne ! I did actually google Wimmer but nothing similar came up I probably need to get my German more up to scratch , I find it amazing how Germans concentrate a phrase into a single word , but man it makes it hard searching for things when you have no clue of the phrase LOL!
Google translate gives me "Zug Prellbock" but if I use Wimmer or HWN , NOTHING like them comes up in picture mode 
Same with using Blechzug Prellbock , Bahnstopper, Spurpuffer ... Ahhhhhhhghhhhhh! LOLOLOLOL!
You are a maestro Arne . Thank you again
Hi folks. I am unsure if this is the right forum at all. However I saw these AF and Dorfan in a Phoenix AZ antique store on Friday. If anyone has an interest in them (I don't), they could call (602) 942-0030 or (888) 942-0030 and request information regarding the trains in display case #8. They did seem in rough shape to me, but if, by chance you were to cut a deal with the owner of the trains, I would be willing to pick up your purchase and send it to you via USPS Flat rate. The website is https://brassarmadillo.com/. USPS reimbursement would be nice, and no charge for the gas. Fair enough? Chuck242
I bought this set several months ago, only to discover that the bracket holding the motor in place was broken. After I discovered that, I took a second look at the ebay listing and saw that the seller had clearly disclosed the issue and I missed it.
This weekend I was visiting a friend and found a junker motor, with a good bracket. So I removed the bracket and installed it in the nice motor today.
Now I am going to repair the broken bracket and install it into the junker motor.
NWL
@Nation Wide Lines : Super set in great condition regardless of broken bracket. My reference says 1928 for the loco and 1925-1934 for the cars. At almost 100 years old the condition is superb. What a great find.
Thanks for posting
Don
Some nice posts this week. I really like the Empire Express Set!
Well after a very long search I finally found a Marklin Stellwerk in very good condition and also two oil barrels. I am more than pleased.
The postcard is by Josef Danilowatz, the artist who created Marklin catalog art in the 1930s. His work is superb and I also own a couple of books that he illustrated.
All the best, Miketg
Great pieces Mike, a stellwerk in such good condition is not an easy find.
I just got another variation of the Hornby loco N 3, a 1930 model in 4 volts, intended to be run with batteries, it runs well but I will have to test it in original way....
Daniel
Daniel - what a beautiful locomotive. My reference on French Hornby lists the 31240 as one of the "Train Bleu" locomotives and offered (after 1929) in Nord brown and PLM maroon, am I correct in identifying your locomotive? It does list the "4 volt" motor but I had never known that this meant batteries...can it also be run with track power?
What a great acquisition, beautiful for sure. Thanks for posting
Don
@Don McErlean posted:Daniel - what a beautiful locomotive. My reference on French Hornby lists the 31240 as one of the "Train Bleu" locomotives and offered (after 1929) in Nord brown and PLM maroon, am I correct in identifying your locomotive? It does list the "4 volt" motor but I had never known that this meant batteries...can it also be run with track power?
What a great acquisition, beautiful for sure. Thanks for posting
Don
Hello Don,
You are right, identification is perfect and the loco is listed in the French Hornby book. At first they where sold with blue train cars. The 4 volts Hornby motor is intended to be run with batteries when you didn't have electricity at home, which as common in those times but Hornby also offered different transformers which are more easy to use.
I have this one which is fixed output of 4-5 volts, maybe more intended to be used with Meccano motors,
So you have to use a special rehostat, to do variable speed,
This one is a 6 volts but it is OK, there is not many difference between the 4v and 6v.
In fact when I test those old motors, I use more power, 9-10 volts ut with heavy amp and for a short time it works very weel, I have run engines in 4 or 6 volts during 3-5 minutes and never had any problem.
All my best wishes, Daniel
Daniel : Thanks for responding and providing me a glimpse into the low voltage power supplies. As I said, I knew of the 4 volt motor but for some reason did not connect it with running with batteries, although that makes perfect sense. Seeing the rehostat was also new for me, thanks for explaining how the system worked. You may know but in that era, as you mentioned, when electricity was not common in every home, Lionel published instructions on how to make you own battery using glass cylinders and sulfuric acid! Imagine the poor mother of that time having that on her beautiful carpet!!
Best Wishes
Don
Well Tinplate folks, I didn't think I would have much to post this week, but I realized that I had made one "tinplate" acquisition at the TCA convention over the 4th of July weekend. Its not too much of an acquisition but it did represent a small series (650/2650/ 3650) car that I did not have an example of in my collection. It is the Lionel electric operating gondola (i.e. side dump) #3652 made just before war preparations were about to close down the line for toys, 1941-42. Note that the "26--" and "36--" designations in front of the "650" number more or less just designate the coupler change from latch to some type of box or automatic coupler. For the most part the rest of the car is the same as the plain 650 version. So here is the humble 3652 operating gondola car from 1941.
Here is the side view, this car was always yellow but was made with nickel plates in 1939 and red stamping in 1940. Black stamping dates this car from 1941 and that lasted until production ceased in 1942. Yes this gal has had some playing with, but at 80 years old who cares.
Here is the "data end" of the car. Note that the bottom of the car is slanted towards the front end of the picture. This side of the car is actually the door and it swings up on a simple pin hinge at each end. The load then dumps out via gravity.
Here is the number end of the car. This is the last form of the box coupler, which did not return after the war. Note the simulated knuckle and pin represented on top of the box casting.
Well tinplate fans, I am afraid that is all I have this week. I hope you are having a healthy and happy week as we pass by "hump day" on the way to the weekend.
Best Wishes
Don
Hi Don, I have a very nice set of 2600's including this 3652 car. It's the only 3600 series I have and never noticed the distinctive coupler. Thank you, I just made note of that in a photo label. The 2652 has metal inserts for the car number and the Lionel name but it is not a dump car, whereas the 3652 is. When I got the 3652 home the seller had included 6 small wooden barrels. I thought that was a nice touch. Chuck
@Chuck242: Thanks for the comment. You know, I never thought of barrels! They do make more sense than "coal" or some granular substance which I doubt would empty very well, but barrels will roll right out. If you happen to have or can get access to Greenberg's Guide to Lionel Trains, 1901-1942, Vol II in the chapter on "Trucks and Couplers" a short but well detailed discussion on box couplers authored by Robert Pauli can be found on page 130. He points out that the change from the double rib box to the simulated knuckle and pin box took place in 1940 along with several other changes to the coupler mechanism.
Your 2652 is also a handsome car, I like the 650 / 2650 series even more than the 800 /2800 series because they "fit" better on my small layout. The 2652 as you described it , with nickel plates, was always yellow. It didn't switch to rubber stamping until 1940 and then in that year it also switched to orange in color.
Best wishes
Don
Just got mine with red lettering a couple weeks ago. Added the missing brake wheel to it's and need to rewire. I'm going to keep her just the way I got her! 
One thing about tin trains, like the real deal they get chipped, scratched and bent. Testimony to just how much they were played with, tinkered with and enjoyed by generations. Thanks Donald and Donnie - not a bad conversation considering a single yellow 'toy' that is 80 years old inspired it.
Here's my red 2652. Didn't want to leave her out! 
Let’s not forget my two 1939 nickel plate version with black journals and double ribs on the box coupler. Also since I haven’t picked up any prewar barrels I made my own loads from wood dowels. One car uses 7/16 inch diameter and the other has 3/8 diameter one inch long barrels. Both sizes work equally well. Hopefully at York this October I will pickup some needed parts, including a replacement coupler.
Some beautiful stuff appearing this week ! Good Stuff Guys!
Have I mentioned lately how much I love Dutchboy? He had a little something something in one of his auctions for a set of Bing rails on ebay , couldnt get a bid! But I noticed it had a vintage track connector so I asked him if I could buy the auction, he could keep the track and resell/relist without it ... within minutes he has emailed me back basically saying " Stuff the ebay clowns " the connector is mine .. gratis 
I already have a goodly amount of Bing track but no connector rail so a huge win for me and a little bit of love sent off into the ether for Dutchboys kind heart 
Bing?
Nevertheless its nice to have such a cool old item .
Dowel Barrels is a great idea, thanks for sharing. The prewar barrels are tapered with the ends so rounded that they hardly stand-up. I don't think it was that necessary, they probably roll and dump easily enough. I enlarged a previously 'attached' photo from two days ago that showed a glimpse of the barrel in the lower right hand corner of my yellow dump gondola. My next mini-project will be to make a series of barrels and drums out of dowel sticks. Thank you.
Wow guys, I never thought my humble 3652 gondola would result in such a great conversation, great fun! @Chuck242 - no question the barrels or the dowel's solution to payload works best. @Donnie Kennedy - neat! you got the 1940 "red stamp" version as well as the orange / white version, neat...I have yet to find the orange one. @Rich Wiemann - two handsome examples for sure and the dowel's payload is a great idea. Thanks to all for posting.
@Fatman - You have the knack of coming up with some of the most obscure yet interesting things. The Bing track connector is really interesting. A much more complex design than the Lionel "Lock On".
Best Wishes
Don
Hello everyone,
This week something a little different. The lowly and unappreciated transformer. I have always had a fondness for these, probably since my father was an electrical engineer. So here are some pictures of a couple of Marklin transformers. I love the design and heavy feel of them. Does anyone know where to get replacement cords or knobs for these? Does Ritter have them. So this week hats off to the transformer!
All the best, Miketg
@Miketg- Well someone who likes transformers, Oh Boy! That is neat! I have never had anyone show an interest before, so I thought I might contribute something that I obtained with an old standard gauge set many years ago. Pictured below is a Lionel transformer, designated "Multivolt" and using a stamped steel case which was introduced in 1922. These continued in various models until 1938. The 100 watt, type T, that I am showing was first available in 1923 and continued until the end of the line in 1938.
Here is the top view of the transformer. The voltage delivered to the track depended on two things. Where the swing arm selector was positioned in its motion from left to right and what set of terminals you used to supply the track. For example, if you used terminals C-U (U being neutral or ground) then the voltages available at the moveable selector were 2-4-6-8-10. If you used the highest set of output terminals say A-U then the voltages available would be 17-19-21-23-25
Here is a side view of the stamped steel case. It is about a 3 1/2 " cube and it must weigh 10 lbs!! Note this same transformer, at least from an electrical viewpoint was available with a cast iron case from about 1915. I have a copy of the 1917 Lionel catalog and it is pictured in that publication.
Here is a close up of the "Multivolt" data plate with the designation type T visible in the upper right.
Here is the plug for the mains...my label for this is ..."How to die playing with toy trains" 
By the way, the insulation on the wire is the old fashioned fabric type.
So there you are folks, how you got power to the track in the 1920's. In Europe, they made 4 volt motors that could operated on batteries. MUCH SAFER!! I have never plugged this baby in and never intend to...
Best Wishes
Don
@Don McErlean nice transformer. I have a later type K transformer… probably 1918 or later… someone replaced the cord with a fairly newer one… probably 20 or 30 years ago… that cord being replaced is the only reason I still use it… it works well although…
Trainfam
Don, I use a T in much the same condition for the lights, etc., when I set up my SG. It would be very easy to sort out the stray strands in that plug, and I'll bet it would provide you with similar service for years to come!
Transformers you say?
From new to old ...
Kleinbahn ( Austria)
Still basically making the same model today I think lol !
DAVIS ELECTRA ( Australia )
Made in the 40's and 50's and included in Robilt Maurlyn, and other sets ...
The ubiquitous little Marx ...
And another with the original CP set ..
And then we travel all the way back in the mists of time with ...
A Karl Bub rheostat from the early 20's
@palalliln- thanks for the tip, I might try that although I am a mechanical engineer who grew up on the phrase from maintenance..."show me a wire and I will show you a problem!" So down there in Australia if in the near term you should see a bright light in the North and hear a scream, you know why!!
@Fatman - you always have some of the most amazing items, the Karl Bub rheostat is really fascinating.
Best Wishes
Don
Scott Smith
Access to this requires an OGR Forum Supporting Membership
