There is another variant, a car for horses. the door opens downwards.
Bing 10/552 made 1920-1932
And another cattle car for small animals, loaded with pigs
Bing 10/586 made 1929-1932
Arne
@Arne= WOW what can I say! You folks have some really neat livestock cars for sure. Arne the "horse" car and the "pig" car with their special accommodations are really interesting, I have not seen anything like that before. P.S. I love the pigs, did you actually find those with the car or are they a later find? I just purchased an IVES cattle car (actually made by Lionel and lithographed with IVES name) It was only available for one year (1932 I believe) than Lionel transitioned all the lithographed cars to the Lionel name but for some reason did NOT bring the cattle car across. It should arrive in about a week and I will picture it when it arrives.
Here is my current 2 deck livestock car, its a Lionel "Circus" car from 1956-1957. No where near the antique age of the cars Arne showed but I thought you might like to see it anyway, in case you haven't before.
Well till I get my Ives Cattle car I will see you then.
Best Wishes and great posts.
Don
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A pre-transition Ives stock car:
If you can find an Ives 1678, Don, you've struck the mother-lode. Very rare and a very tough/expensive find.
PD
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Hello Don, many thanks for your kind words. I have left during some time but always have a look to the best forum. Bing has been a prolific train manufacturer and had a huge production, they made some specific items for Great Britain, France and USA.
Some models where not expensives as the littje clockwork locos, tender is lettered for the New York Central and Hudson River
And the matching passenger car, there is also an observation one that I still have to find...
More to come, Daniel
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Good to see you posting again Daniel (FRENCHTRAINS):
You have some very interesting Bing tinplate models. I don't think there were too many that made their way "down under" to Australia, but Fatman would be more knowledgeable on this than me.
Peter....Buco Australia.
Thanks Peter,
I even have got some Buco models, and many more things I will show in a near future,
Daniel
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Daniel: Thank you for the photos of your Buco "Personwagon" and "Mailwagon". I also have numerous examples of these two wagons, being such an avid collector of all things Buco Spur O.
I have attached a couple of photos of a very special "Personwagon" I have in my possession.
All of the early Buco passenger carriages manufactured by the Bucherer family were all signed/labelled as 2nd class and 3rd class, but I have one of the very few later versions made that depict 1st class and 2nd class!!! They are rare and not easily found.
I believe they were manufactured by Fritz Krahenbuhl for a short time (early 2000) when he obtained all of the dies and presses from the original Buco Bucherer bankruptcy, and he continued on with the Buco legend for a few short years.
Peter.....Buco Australia.
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Peter, interesting as I do not have any 1st class coach and was thinking Buco never made them.
I do not have many variations except that i noticed a different color in markings, old ones are yellow and most recent white.
The paint on the oldest models have a tendancy to crack
Daniel
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Daniel / Peter : Wow, Buco is the one mfr that I have never been able to connect with. Its super rare here in the US at least in the places that I can access. They really are neat looking and thanks to both for posting.
Arne - the Cattle wagons by Bing are really neat, its amazing that the pigs are still with the car. Those kind of add on items are so easily lost and we are talking quite a long time. Daniel thanks to you too for showing those Bing items, the loco is really neat and made for the "New York City and Harlem" RR ...
I am expecting delivery of a "rare" (at least in my view) cattle car that I have ordered from e-bay. It is the "Ives" (actually made by Lionel) lithographed #1708 Cattle car. This was one of several lithographed sheet metal freight cars that Lionel made when they took over Ives about 1930-31. They continued to produce these cars (All except the Cattle car) up until the War Production Board stopped toy manufacturing and re-did the lithography making over the IVES logo into the Lionel name but they did NOT bring across the Cattle Car (why? - who knows) and so the Cattle car was only marketed and available for one year, 1931. As you might imagine this makes it quite unusual. So when I get it I will post pictures.
Best Wishes everyone. Glad to see you all back on the forum.
Don
After cleaning and repairs, the next one from Heinrich Fischer.
A clockwork train set made around 1930.
This set is probably unique, I don't know of any other manufacturer that has built something like it.
There is a 4.5 volt flat battery in the base of the lamp. After switching on the lamp, the track also has power.
The lighting in the signal box building and the front lamp of the clockwork locomotive are then supplied via the track.
Arne
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Yes Daniel (FRENCHTRAINS)......the early manufactured Buco wagons had a "riveted" coupler connection (fine steel pin squashed at its end to retain the drop link coupler) where-as the more recent examples (from about the 1970's onward) had a small threaded pin and nut to secure the coupler. This is the easiest way to define the manufacture.
I believe it was in this change-over period that the lithograph lettering changed from yellow/gold to white, as shown in your examples.
Many spare parts are still available directly from Buco Spur O GmbH (https://buco-gmbh.ch/) as well as from Erich at Amiba Lokschupppen (https://www.amiba-shop.ch/Ersatzteile/Buco-Spur-0/)
Peter.....Buco Australia.
@Arne- that new set you acquired from Fischer is quite unique. I really love how in the earlier days the manufacturer's all faced a similar problem. How to get electrical power from the supply in the proper and safe voltage to run the trains and accessories. Their varied solutions are interesting for sure. I am surprised that more did not move to batteries since by the 1930's electric flashlights were common and the so called "D" battery was everywhere. Lionel only experimented with batteries very early, back when many homes did not have electricity. They pretty much abandoned this approach and never went back to it. Interesting the decisions the various companies and their technical leadership came to.
Don
OH HAPPY DAYS!!!!!
I have just the other day been able to figure out why my Australian built "Ferris" O gauge 3 rail tinplate steam locomotive and tender would not track well around my Buco curves for nigh on 60yrs. I have attached a link to an article describing how the building of this great Australian tinplate train occurred, for a short number of years.
https://collection.powerhouse.com.au/object/44983
Here is a recent picture of my little baby that I have owned since brand new back in 1958'ish (I was 6 or 7 years old), when my father apparently (as the story goes) saw it in a local store, and offered the shop keeper a reduced amount to move it on.
OK, to start with, here is the original box it came in, now showing quite some wear and tare, just like its original human owner.
The loco is a 4-6-0 configuration, but the interesting thing about my particular model is that the open-framed and field coil motor is located in the tender, and this "drives' or "pushes" the loco around. Basically, the loco is a "dummy", with all the tractive power being supplied by the tender.
I have replaced the original roller pick-ups with Buco "spoon" pick-ups (I have kept the original roller pick-ups), to allow it to glide seamlessly through my Buco turnouts and crossings. You can see the worm gear on the motor meshing with the brass gears on the front axles of the tender. This tender had "traction tires" on the drive wheels way back in the late 1950's!!!!
The footplate (seen below) is the structural connection between the loco and the tender, and allows the power from the tender to "push" or "pull" the "dummy" loco around, depending on its direction. The tender also has an E-unit very similar to that in the early Lionel loco's, where a rod is pulled up and dropped down to rotate the cogged contact barrel, to get forward - neutral - reverse etc.
OK, the problem that has plagued this loco for over 60 years is.......if the loco is pushed moderately fast (not at the speed of sound) into a curve, it would rear-up slightly off the inner rail of the curve, and then it would de-rail, sometimes spectacularly!!!
For whatever reason, I had it out of the box last week, to give it a run on the "new" layout and, you guessed it, it de-railed rather spectacularly, at the top curve of the layout. Unfortunately it left the bench and "hit the deck", being the concrete floor!!!! This didn't happen as a kid, as we were relegated to running it on the lounge room floor.
Broke the spindle off at the body mount (behind the steam cylinders), where it secures the four wheel truck frame to the body, but no other damage, phew!! I needed to replace this broken shaft ( easy peesy), and while doing so, I decided to see if I could find the reason for the loco's erratic behavior going through curves......something my father tried on numerous occasions over the early years, with no real success.
What I finally discovered was the configuration and position of the front bogie wheels (leading truck wheels) was slightly off, and this was causing the flanges on the front set of bogie wheels to bind on the underside of the leading edge of the cast steam cylinders, when going through a curve.
What I did was carefully grind off/chamfer the front bottom edge of both steam cylinders with my Dremel, to obtain enough clearance for the front wheels to swing freely when going through a curve.
Who would have thought that after more than 60 years I have finally been able to get this loco to run better!!! I had to tell my father (he's still with us at 96 years young) and he could not believe it either.
Now it pulls my one and only Hornby mixed freight and passenger consist (of about the same age as the loco) perfectly around the layout, navigating 031 and 048 Buco curves perfectly !!!! OH HAPPY DAYS!!!!
Peter......,.Buco Australia.
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@Buco posted:OH HAPPY DAYS!!!!!
...
OK, the problem that has plagued this loco for over 60 years is.......if the loco is pushed moderately fast (not at the speed of sound) into a curve, it would rear-up slightly off the inner rail of the curve, and then it would de-rail, sometimes spectacularly!!!
...What I finally discovered was the configuration and position of the front bogie wheels (leading truck wheels) was slightly off, and this was causing the flanges on the front set of bogie wheels to bind on the underside of the leading edge of the cast steam cylinders, when going through a curve.
What I did was carefully grind off/chamfer the front bottom edge of both steam cylinders with my Dremel, to obtain enough clearance for the front wheels to swing freely when going through a curve.
Who would have thought that after more than 60 years I have finally been able to get this loco to run better!!! I had to tell my father (he's still with us at 96 years young) and he could not believe it either.
Now it pulls my one and only Hornby mixed freight and passenger consist (of about the same age as the loco) perfectly around the layout, navigating 031 and 048 Buco curves perfectly !!!! OH HAPPY DAYS!!!!
Peter......,.Buco Australia.
What a great story, congrats on fixing it after so many years, and even better that you could share the victory with your dad. I can understand how it would be difficult to diagnose, since one would never expect such a basic design flaw. Based on the nature of the problem, it sounds like none of the other copies of that engine would have tracked properly - imagine all of the frustrated sons and fathers who owned one.
@Buco - Peter what a great story. Hard to believe that something so fundamental would be the wrong with the locomotive but great job in spotting the flaw (yes I know after 60 years but so what, a fix is a fix!!).
Thanks for posting
Don
Great find Arne.
Saw your post on the Classic O Gauge Forum this morning.
That is an incredible train set in near mint condition, considering it is now 121 years old!!!
Thank you for sharing.
Peter.......Buco Australia.
Arnie: That set from Fischer from 1903 is incredible! The condition is unbelievable for the age!! What a super find!
Thanks for posting.
Don
Some new trains from France, they are from C R aka Charles Rossignol and have been made from 1928 to 1939. CR products may be compared to Marx from USA, light tin clockwork models but they also produced some bigger models in electric mode and in O gauge 3 rail.
For the moment I just have cleaned two electric models and fixed the alimentation which is high voltage. Notice that the motors run well with a 20 volts transformer. I still have to clean the original oval of tracks and I will have another engine and cars at the end of the month.
The locos are representatives of the models running under catenary in that period in France, the grey one has been made with and without pantos and sometime presented as a metro model but it is not realistic; after all they are toys so all is allow....
You may find a good history of the brand on the TCA website here https://www.tcawestern.org/rossignol.htm
Have a nice weekend, Daniel
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@FRENCHTRAINS- Daniel, these locos are really fantastic. When you say "high voltage" there are some early trains in the US which used voltage straight off the lines for power (hence 110 volts) is this the same thing. It was before it became mandatory to meet safety requirements to reduce line voltage via a transformer BEFORE it got anywhere near the track.
Don McErlean
Lovely Daniel .. I have a soft spot for CR as you know 
@Don McErlean posted:@FRENCHTRAINS- Daniel, these locos are really fantastic. When you say "high voltage" there are some early trains in the US which used voltage straight off the lines for power (hence 110 volts) is this the same thing. It was before it became mandatory to meet safety requirements to reduce line voltage via a transformer BEFORE it got anywhere near the track.
Don McErlean
Hello Don, high voltage is 110 volts reduced to around 40-50 volts. They where prohibited at the end of the thirties in France as it may be "a little" dangerous.
Very best, Daniel
Whoa! I agree with the French authorities,110 volts to the toy track is way too much power for children (and maybe adults too!) Glad they moved to make things safer. Still neat looking loco's though for sure!!
Don
Found these AA "Safety First" road signs at the local indoor flea market today:
While not specifically railroad-related, interesting scenic items for the pike.
PD
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@pd The signs are really neat, but I will admit that I don't know what the one that looks like an orange on a pole was for. Do you have any idea?
While I don't have any sign posts, I did acquire an interesting piece recently. This road crossing and gate system came to me as part of a Brimtoy (U.K.) set that I acquired. This is a typical road crossing in rural England and the gates are sometime automatic and sometimes must be moved by people interested in crossing the track.
This is what the crossing, treated as a set accessory, looked like packed with the trains in the set. Note the short piece of track by itself. That was used to made up the distance occupied by the crossing on the other side of the loop supplied with the set.
Well best wishes for a great weekend.
Don
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It’s what’s known as a Belisha Beacon, Don. It’s a marker lamp that is positioned at each urban cross-walk in Britain. Basically a big flashing globe on a pole that alerts motorists to pedestrians waiting to cross the road/street.
my entry here
- walt
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@pd - Hey thanks for the info, that is something I would not have guessed.
Best Wishes, Don
Well hi...tinplate fans, I just received a new addition to the collection. Well not really fully new, its an early Lionel gondola and while I have one in my collection it is a different color, although none of these gondolas really had too much color. This is a Lionel #901 LAKE SHORE gondola, a 4 wheel tinplate freight car from 1924. Its a century old this year so please make some allowances for its wear and tear. It has the name of the RR "LAKE SHORE" in black stamp on both sides and the number "#901" on one end, the other end is blank. In yellow on the black frame bottom it has the Corporation Stamp for Lionel.
Here she is, I was trying to get a picture that make the "LAKE SHORE" stand out more so I took 2 , one with flash, but I must say its rather hard to make out. Perhaps slightly more clear in the second picture.
Well that's my tinplate for today...I plan to find a second tab/slot coupler arm (its missing one) so I can pull two gondolas with my Lionel 152. You can see my other LAKE SHORE gondola in a sort of brownish / red color in the picture below. So soon she will have another vintage freight car in her consist.
Best Wishes
Don
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Hi Don:
That wagon is gorgeous in its simplicity!!!!......and looking good for 100yrs old.
And yes, I can read the "Lake Shore" lettering on the sides.
Peter.....Buco Australia.
Well folks, sorry for not posting anything for some time. It seems my first year of retirement has been busier than expected, but in a good way. My wife and I have spent a lot of time visiting friends and family and setting up our new home.
Train wise I have been busy setting up my train room and have been concentrating on getting my two rail layout up and running.
Now that it is up, more time can be spent with my tinplate and in setting up my tinplate layout.
For now, I thought I would post a photo of one of my new, recently produced, Czech trains, a Zanka acid car made for the German State Railways.
All the best, Miketg
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@Miketg posted:Well folks, sorry for not posting anything for some time. It seems my first year of retirement has been busier than expected, but in a good way. My wife and I have spent a lot of time visiting friends and family and setting up our new home.
Train wise I have been busy setting up my train room and have been concentrating on getting my two rail layout up and running.
Now that it is up, more time can be spent with my tinplate and in setting up my tinplate layout.
For now, I thought I would post a photo of one of my new, recently produced, Czech trains, a Zanka acid car made for the German State Railways.
All the best, Miketg
On one hand, thank you for introducing me to a new manufacturer that I haven't seen before.
OTOH, curse you for introducing me to a new manufacturer that I haven't seen before. 
Thanks for the kind words. I have a soft spot for Czech trains. Over the years I have picked up quite a bit of ETS, Merkur, Zanka and PZ-Model.
My Czech highlight was a visit to the ETS factory in Prague in 2017. One of my all time model train visits!
@Buco- Peter, thanks so much for your kind words about my "new" Lionel 901 Gondola Car. You are most certainly correct, it is very simple. In fact it is part of Lionel's FIRST series 800 four wheel cars (why is it number 901 then? Who knows!!). While the version I displayed above is from 1924, that was near the end of this little cars run, which terminated in 1927. Versions of this car, changed only in the color and stamping (Some Lake Shore, some PRR, some no name at all) date as early as 1917. The one in my train picture, which is maroon, dates from about 1918. I just love the simplicity and think about the youngsters whose imagination "filled in" all the details we seem to demand today and just had great fun with their trains. Again, thanks for commenting. Hope all is well there in Australia, Best regards to your Wife. Happy Thanksgiving (yes I know that's an American holiday, but you are hereby authorized to celebrate this Thursday) !!
Best Wishes, Don
Thanks Don.....the turkey will be on the table this coming Thursday!!!!
Miketg.....I am in awe of your visit to ETS in the Czech Republic. I have an association with Suzanna at ETS, as I purchase their small circuit boards from time to time to convert my open-framed AC Buco motors to the more modern Maxon DC can motors. Their circuit boards are really good, convert the AC to DC, and are relatively cheap, even with the postage to Australia.
Peter.....Buco Australia.
Very nice cars Don and Mike, Zanka has made a good range of freight cars , I just have one, a special edition of the classic wine transport, it has been made for friend who visited a train show near my town, only five where made. A typical french car..... Cheers !!
Daniel
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@FRENCHTRAINS - Daniel...what could be "more French" than a wine car!! Beautiful car for sure, thanks for posting.
Here are two wine cars that I have from Hornby . The first is the barrel car .
Next a wine car of a different sort...a tank car.
Thanks for posting Daniel, its great to hear from you on the forum again.
Best Wishes,
Don
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I am going to "double up" today and post a car that I have looked for continuously for many years. It existed for only 1 year during the depths of the Great Depression. This is the 1932 Ives Cattle Car. The #1708 was part of a line of 9 1/2" lithographed cars that Lionel produced in 1932 and showed in the last IVES catalog ever printed. Lionel had taken control of Ives in 1930. The line showed a gondola, box car, cattle car, and caboose for 1932 all lithographed with the IVES name. Then Lionel dissolved the Ives Corporation in 1933 and moved these lithographed cars over to the Lionel line, changing the name on the cars from Ives to Lionel. However, for reasons not disclosed, they did NOT move the cattle car into the Lionel line. Hence the Ives #1708 cattle car (really a Lionel design) existed for only one year 1932. As a result this car is very scarce and very hard to find. I was lucky enough to recently acquire an example of this one year car.
Best Wishes
Don
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A little Flyer 3006 flat car, found at the local train show this AM:
PD
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