Tinplate photos 📸 and videos 📽

Well hello Tinplate fans, it is some time since I have had anything new to post here but I thought I might be able to contribute today.  At a local train show yesterday , full of Lionel and HO gauge I found, sitting all by itself a Karl Bub tinplate station.  It is what I believe their catalog called a "Wayside Station".  It is clearly marked K.B.N, and "Made in Germany" and that was all the information the seller could give me, he had apparently acquired it as part of a package of miscellaneous trains.  I looked in my only Bub reference, the Michael Bowes book, "Issmayer & Bub Trains, the Secret History" and on pg 169 found some pictures from the 1931 Bub catalog with buildings that are similar to this especially as regards the "house" structure.  So I know the maker but not the exact year...I was hoping perhaps someone else on this thread (Arne?) might have better information.

So here is my new Wayside Station:  The door, although hard to see in the picture, is functional and opens.  The mast to the right is the manual semaphore signal (better view in next picture).  It is all tinplate and enamel construction.

Here is a better view showing the position of the semaphore mast

Here is the rear, showing a hole likely for a lighting fixture perhaps a Christmas bulb holder.

Here is a better view of the semaphore, manually operated of course via a lever at the base.  You can see some unfortunate writing on the side of the house.  I have to try and figure out how to remove that without harming the finish.  I tried just a damp cloth and it did not work.  I am somewhat afraid of chemicals as they might remove the enamel.  Suggestions are MOST WELCOME.  Note at the very base of this side just in the second row of foundation bricks you can see the mark..."K.B.N" and then "Made in Germany" underneath those letters in smaller print.  It is the only manufacturers mark on the item.

The opposite end from the semaphore mast.

Well there you are, my newest "tinplate" acquisition apart from a Lionel #821 stock car from 1925 I posted in last weeks "Box Car Sunday".

Best wishes for a great week to all

Don

Hello Don,

it´s like a gatekeeper´s house. Bub No 1622, made 1928-1934.

This building was used on different models and was avaible in yellow and green.

For example Bub 1621

Bub 1628/3

Arne

Arne:  THANK YOU!  It most certainly is the "Gatekeeper's House"  That picture you posted is an exact match.  Yes I agree, the Bub reference I have (not much) does show the building in several different settings.  Thanks so much for your response.

Best wishes

Don

Well everyone, for some reason postings on this thread have fallen way off.  So I thought I might keep going to see if I can stir up any interest.  Fatman posted a wonderful video of a Hornby train race and the little M1 loco's were doing quite well.  So I thought I might post some pictures of what an M1 loco might have looked like when purchased for that all important Christmas gift to a youngster.  The M1 locomotive was available from 1926 and was originally copied from Bing.  In 1930 it was changed to a different pressing and a reversing mechanism was added. Except for color changes it remained this way until WWII stopped production. After the war the M1 loco was the first back in production.  The lithography was new and the mechanism received some post war improvements. Lithography / color changes went on but the loco remained remarkably stable.  It went out of production in 1956 but remained for sale (presumably with left over stock) till about 1958.  The version shown in the pictures below dates from about 1948 (the dating feature is the "Hornby" under the cab windows in black).  This was part of the M1 goods set which was supplied with a tender, track, and two open wagons labeled "LMS & LNE".

Here is the entire M1 Goods Train set in the original box. By the way, the red little stick on label at the bottom of the box lid says: "Made in England for Sale in the United States by H.HUDSON DOBSON  200 Fifth Avenue, New York"

The Meccano Limited Guarantee and test verification.  It is interesting that the M1 series was the lowest price line that included the Meccano Guarantee.  There was an even smaller line ( O gauge but a smaller scale) called M0 and one of the differentiating features was that it did NOT carry the Guarantee and like Lionel "Scout" trains had a coupler that was incompatible with the rest of the line.

If you wished, you could fill out this form and become a member of the Hornby Railway Company

Here are the "extra's" that came with the set.  The key and two lithographed pieces of luggage, I guess these were the "goods" the train was to carry.  Note the small green one says "Hornby Series" on the top.

Here is the Hornby Type M1 locomotive as it would have been from about 1948 to 1954.

Here she is pulling her LNE gondola out of the tunnel on my layout.

Here is the entire "Goods Train" including the two gondolas and the tender.

For those of you who follow railroading in the UK you might wonder why, since nationalization of the railroads took place in 1948, this train set still carries the names of the individual lines.  Well Hornby was quite a ways behind the time, it did not bring out a train set in 0 gauge that carried the post nationalization livery until about 1953.  OBTW, since I had this fellow out of the box, I wound her up and put her on her way.  The M1 handled this little train with no problem and easily made it around my entire loop plus.

Well that's it for me.  I hope we can get a few more "tinplater's" to sign on.  Best wishes

Don

@Don McErlean posted:

...

Here is the entire M1 Goods Train set in the original box. By the way, the red little stick on label at the bottom of the box lid says: "Made in England for Sale in the United States by H.HUDSON DOBSON  200 Fifth Avenue, New York"

...

Beautiful set and the box is very crisp.  Really unusual to see a low-end set in that kind of condition.  And it's a bit sad, as it means that it wasn't played with.

Fabulous little set, Don. I'm a great fan of the low-end sets, as so few of them seem to have survived intact.

Here's a little Hafner Overland Flyer acquired in the last year:

A shelf queen for now, as the spring is broken. I bought a copy of James Pekarek's book on windup repair, so hopefully I can sort it out (although I hear Hafner is not easy). A partially broken pilot, but otherwise in nice cosmetic condition.

@Mallard4468- thank you for your compliment and your comments.  I agree us collectors sometimes sit on the fence...looking for something in great shape but knowing that if we find it that way it means it likely never fulfilled its purpose. Well I can tell you its loved now (by me!).

@pd - thanks for you comment and compliment.  I just recently got a book that has a full chapter on Hafner so I am finally learning some detail about the line.  It looked like your loco is a #100 with a #1181 tender.  This would have been offered in the 1920's up to the early 1930's.  Its really beautiful.  OBTW I share your love for the low end sets mostly because I think that more children got to play with them than the very expensive high end, especially in the pre war period.

Best wishes

Don

Thanks for the info, Don. I don’t know much about Hafner, certainly didn’t know years of manufacture for the 100. I’d love to get this sorted at some point. So many projects...

Great Set Don !!! really really lovely .

Sorry for lack of postage , I do try and keep this thread humming , but I have sadly been a little bereft in new acquirages !

I know right ? Who woulda thunk it !

My name is Fatman.... and I got nuffing ....

@Fatman - Thanks for your comment on my Hornby set...you have a great movie!  That fellow on the drive rods has perhaps more courage than brains! 

Best Wishes

Don

Isn't that Buster Keaton, I think from the movie, "The General?"

Tom

@PRR8976 - Yes it would seem like a Keaton trick, he was famous for that sort of thing.  I couldn't be sure however.  Good observation!

Don

@PRR8976 posted:

Isn't that Buster Keaton, I think from the movie, "The General?"

Tom

Yes.  I have a copy of The General and that is Buster Keaton sitting on the drive rod. 

That is a great movie!!!

Hello Don, excellent presentation of your Hornby set; always a pleasure to see something from Hornby.

The thread is quite since some time and good idea to resurect it, we need more new trains !!!!

Since I have retired, less money for trains, sad, but much more time to classify all the mess I have done with trains since many years. So new display case and presentation is on the way, not too fast I will do more during winter and after all there is no urgency at all.

So a new display of French Hornby locos, there is more but not for here, it is full...

And some better pictures of the French passenger and freight station, 1937 models. 20 years since last time I saw them ....

All my best wishes, Daniel

@FRENCHTRAINS- Wow Daniel, first thanks for the compliment on my Hornby set. Next the very best of luck in your retirement.  I am not sure about less money for trains, less money for sure but now you have more time to buy them !  The trains you showed are beautiful and the station especially "Lyon" is wonderful.  Who made them?  (JEP?)  Glad you are still posting.  Love seeing your trains and hearing from you.

Best Wishes

Don

Many thanks Don,

The two stations are French Hornby models, not very easy to find.

I will post more in the future but since twenty or more years I have published many of my collection, and it is hard to have something new week.

Keep in touch for next trains...

Daniel

Daniel, my best wishes to you in your retirement!

I went to Paris and Avignon and Nimes recently to practice my recent retirement !
Yes I was sad to leave!

thank you for Your great knowledge and posts as always.

I forgot to mention the Lyon station is amazing! Thx for sharing it.

@Don McErlean nice find on the Bub Gatekeeper House! That’s an awesome find at a mainly HO show- love those buildings!

I posted my most recent buildings & accessories in the “buy anything new/cool lately(tinplate edition)” thread- so I’ll post the rolling stock or motive power here:

Starting off with German-made trains:

This pair of Marklin 2942/0 PRR 4-wheel wood litho coaches arrived today. First American Market Marklin items I’ve acquired!

The axles are knurled at the end, wheels have embossed spokes, Marklin logo at lower right corner of each end.

One is in better shape. That same one also has a stamped logo on the bottom.

Bing 4 wheel PRR boxcar & PRR Lakewood Observation(steel litho Coach)

Moving stateside:

I know these Marx GE 70-ton switchers are plastic, but they have near honorary tin status. WP 702 and ICG(needs a coupler). Both run F-R and do it well!

Flyer 1096 box cab electric! This guy has been on my list of prewar electric outlines. Has original wheels, body is in pretty good shape

Back to rolling stock:

Ives 1811(pre-Winner-ized) Pullman and Ives 1504 Pullman. Trying to acquire different makes of passenger cars to see which ones look good together!

A I love the look of these Hafner streamliner passenger cars! I Can’t believe I didn’t get into these sooner!

Can anyone tell me when Hafner made these types of passenger cars? I know the history of the rare, early Hafner Overland Flyer cars. TCA website has the same coaches(diff litho scheme) from a 1941 set.

And just a pic of each building/acc:

Hornby Plate Layer’s Hut(came with box) to the right of an also new Lionel black #56 street lamp:

Skyline Yard Tower is serving as an apartment on the RA&P(Richmond, Allentown & Philadelphia) RR

some newer tin: Modern Marx Queen’s cafe. Love it!

Modern Marx by Ameritrains Union Oil Co.” Oil Depot

enjoy! Help regarding the Hafner question is appreciated!

@StevefromPA - Steve thank you for your comment on my Gatekeeper's House.  I really liked the/ tinplate you posted.  The American Market Marklin passenger cars and box car are really neat.  Personally, after pre-war stuff I am partial to Marx and the GE 70 tonners you posted are neat, the WP from '72-'74 and the ICG from '74-'75. OBTW in case you didn't know the ICG is pretty much a single variation (reverse or non reversing) but the WP came in 2 or 3 other color schemes (Green / yellow and Green/cream for instance) which are quite scarce and very collectable.

OK now to your question...IAW Greenberg's Early American Toy Trains reference, the passenger coaches you show seem to be No 405 (no number appears on the car) from the period 1940's -1951.  There is a variation in the circular logo that helps date them.  Early cars say "HAFNER'S / STREAMLINERS/RAILWAYS"  and then at some point production dropped the " 'S" and it became "HAFNER/STREAMLINERS/RAILWAYS"  .  The reference maintains that the logo with out the apostrophe is the later cars.

Great finds. thanks for posting

Don

Well Tinplater's we don't seem to be doing so well in keeping this post populated.  So I will try by posting a little item that I just acquired.  Its a Japanese lithographed tin plate floor toy (TN is the maker).  It came with no tender but one passenger coach.  I really just love the Japanese lithograph work of the late 50's and 60's it was really spectacular (then it all moved to Korea and China ).  Anyway here  is my little train (locomotive 6" and Pullman 5" in length).  The coach is missing one wheel set but that should not be too hard to replace .

The power for this toy is one D battery that goes inside the boiler via the boiler front which should open like a door.  At the moment it appears stuck and I have not decided whether I will try to force it or not, as I am unlikely to operate the toy anyway.

The boiler front view (should post on Front End Friday!) The lithographed details are quite elaborate.

The passenger coach - no interior details just a shell.

The coach from the  rear view.  I did note that there is no provision for a coupler on the rear end.  Hence, I am assuming the toy is complete and never had any additional coaches.

Well here's hoping that some of you tinplate fans will post to our thread.

Best wishes

Don

A nicely refurbished Marlines Jubilee found at York for just a few bucks:

The loco looked familiar, but I couldn't place it. My wife said, "Hey, that's the train under the Christmas tree in the last scene of The Polar Express" and, after a quick watch, so it is. Not sure which Marx tender goes with this, but looking.

PD

@pd- Unlike Lionel or American Flyer, Marx mainly sold tenders as separate items from locomotives.  So you could really run almost any tender with this loco (which is really nice by the way) and be "correct" .  The type 451 especially "Canadian Pacific" tenders would be more common or type 951 (called the "wedge type" ) tender was also used commonly with this locomotive.

Don

@Don McErlean posted:

Well Tinplater's we don't seem to be doing so well in keeping this post populated.  So I will try by posting a little item that I just acquired.  Its a Japanese lithographed tin plate floor toy (TN is the maker).  It came with no tender but one passenger coach.  I really just love the Japanese lithograph work of the late 50's and 60's it was really spectacular (then it all moved to Korea and China ).  Anyway here  is my little train (locomotive 6" and Pullman 5" in length).  The coach is missing one wheel set but that should not be too hard to replace .

The power for this toy is one D battery that goes inside the boiler via the boiler front which should open like a door.  At the moment it appears stuck and I have not decided whether I will try to force it or not, as I am unlikely to operate the toy anyway.

The boiler front view (should post on Front End Friday!) The lithographed details are quite elaborate.

The passenger coach - no interior details just a shell.

The coach from the  rear view.  I did note that there is no provision for a coupler on the rear end.  Hence, I am assuming the toy is complete and never had any additional coaches.

Well here's hoping that some of you tinplate fans will post to our thread.

Best wishes

Don

This is a cable train was offered as just the 2-car set and designed to run around the floor following a rubber tube track. Acceptable tenders that were similar in size include the Northwestern tender from their C62 set or the 20th Ex Press tender. TN made several of these trains that run over "cable". They also produced a mine car set in conjunction with Biller that used the same battery motor in a diesel switcher-type loco. I use standard 3/16-ths ID rubber vacuum tubing which can be purchased at any auto parts store to replace the original green rubber tubing track, just superglue the ends together. Instructions included in the original box showed various layout options (bends in the tubing).

@JimO’c. Thanks for all the information. Great to know somewhat more about this little train.
Regards

Don

A few new additions from York this past week.  MTH 1835E and MTH 1764E.

Tom

Picked up at York...

The SGMA Industries building and a Pioneer Zephyr in standard gauge by @Jim Waterman.

@Don McErlean posted:

@pd- Unlike Lionel or American Flyer, Marx mainly sold tenders as separate items from locomotives.  So you could really run almost any tender with this loco (which is really nice by the way) and be "correct" .  The type 451 especially "Canadian Pacific" tenders would be more common or type 951 (called the "wedge type" ) tender was also used commonly with this locomotive.

Don

Thanks for the info, Don. I wasn't aware that Marx sold locos and tenders separately. I most frequently see this loco mated to a 4-wheel wedge tender, which I have one of. Until I find something that looks better, I'll use that.

Hello everyone,

It’s been a long while since I posted on here. Anyway, how many of us have gotten the chance to see a Dorfan in operation? Let alone a rare piece such as the 417 position signal? While I don’t technically have the signal hooked up as it was originally intended (middle light should illuminate), you should get the idea. I’ll post a picture of the whole signal when I can.

                                              Trainfam

Today, I offer up the American Flyer O gauge 3019 locomotive.  This item was cataloged from 1923 to 1924 and appears to have been sold through 1925.  It is simply a cheapened variation of the 3020 as it is an 0-4-0 engine (in most cases) as opposed to the 3020 that was a 4-4-4 engine.

The earliest version was likely painted black, as this color has been reported in the Greenberg's Guide to American Flyer O Gauge.  I do not have a black 3019.

The 2nd version appears to be the dark green with red window trim, as shown below.

Then there is a later lighter green version with yellow windows.  Mine is even more unusual in that it is a boxed item and came on a 3020 frame.  This is a 1924 or possibly 1925 item (as the dark green lithographed Illini cars transitioned to a lighter green colored lithograph, apparently in 1925).  Not sure as to why this 3019 cab ended up on a 3020 frame, but my guess would be either poor quality control, or simply a lack of 3019 frames and too many 3019 cabs.

The Greenbergs Guide lists a 3019 in brown, which would likely be a 1924 item.  I do not have one of those.

As the Columbia cars transitioned from brown lithography to maroon lithography c. 1925, as evidenced by the brown Columbia cars not having an observation car and the maroon Columbia cars having observation cars, with 1925 being the first year that observation cars are cataloged, it would appear that the maroon 3020 and, if it exists, the maroon 3019 both date to 1925.

Here is the maroon 3020

And the maroon 3019 c. 1925

NWL

This week, I had found a newspaper kiosk made by Heinrich Fischer Nurnberg from the 30s.

The size and the roof are the same like the Fischer Victoria Box.

Here with other models made by Fischer.

And together with newspaper kiosk made by Kibri and Bub.

Arne

Arnie - what a great piece, thanks for posting!  Its fascinating to me that in the early days, concern for relative scale was not a driving function to the designers.  Your newspaper kiosk is about the same size as the Victoria Switch Tower, which I expect would not be the case in real life.  However the charm and color of the toy does not depend on scale size but on the beautiful detail lithographed into the decoration.  Beautiful !  Thank you.

Don

Parts of Heinrich Fischer are hard to find. I´m happy to find a lot of them together.

Arrived this week. All made in the late 20s -early 30s

Montgomery Ward had sold American Flyer trains with this accesories from Fischer.

The set needs a bit help.

Arne

Arnie,

The trains shown in the Montgomery Ward Catalog image appear to be Hafner trains, not American Flyer.

NWL

Beautiful pieces Arne - thanks for posting

Don

@Arne nice finds of H Fischer!! They are difficult to come by! Love how the bridge & the track on it arched. Most prewar bridges with ramps/approaches are just flat and simulate an arch with the underlying structure- interesting engineering. Also love that footbridge! Have been seeking a pedestrian footbridge for my layout that works with how my track is configured near the stations.

nice finds Arne- thanks for posting!

@Don McErlean nice find on that Bub gate keeper house! Love it. The lithography on the house looks like it’s in excellent shape, even with the writing on it! Will you be putting it on your layout?