Train Repairs in the 40’s and 50’s

EISOGR Forum Member

When I was a youngster I received an American Flyer 4-4-2 Atlantic for Christmas sometime in the late 40’s. I loved the train and played rough with it, meaning it was often in need or repairs.

My father did all of my train repairs. He was a husky man with big strong hands, not well suited for the rather delicate work of small train repairs. He was much more comfortable working on tractors and heavy machinery. Regardless, train repairs fell to him.

None of his tools were suited to small train repairs. As I remember, all repairs required some soldering. I don’t know if electric soldering guns even existed then, but his soldering gun was a kerosene fired blow torch similar to this:

To get the blow torch going properly, a small amount of kerosene was put in the cup above the tank and lit on fire. After a while the valve was opened and the blow torch was started. The soldering iron was left in the flame until it was glowing red and then it could be removed from the flame and used to melt the solder. The iron would remain hot enough for several minutes of use and then would be returned to the flame for reheating.

There was no resin core solder that I was aware of. The solder he used was probably 1/8” thick. He may have used some acid in the process, but I was too little to remember.

The repair cycle was always the same. Dad started out in good spirits, but his spirits were soon drained away be the frustration of using his big hands on tiny parts and numerous failed soldering attempts. The language used during the repairs also degraded along with his spirits (similar to the father ’s language in “The Christmas Story” movie when he tried to repair the furnace).

However, after about four hours, Dad always got the train running again and I was back in business with my beloved train.

I no longer have my American Flyer train. Mom gave it away after I went to college. I bought a similar train at a train show a few years back. I still find the engine still difficult to work on with my specialized tools and modern soldering guns with resin core solder. I think of my father and sympathize with him whenever I work on it. I don’t know how he was ever able to accomplish all he did.

Earl

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1/18/161:08 PM

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aussteveOGR Forum Member

Never had that repair experience. Sounds like your dad was more of a craftsman than most.

My 1948 Lionel train set still works today. The little milk man is showing his age however, because he used to be able to hit the back of the milk platform with those milk cans.

1/18/161:29 PM

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C W BurfleOGR Forum Member

Boy, that was quite a piece of equipment to use to solder wires on electric trains. But your dad managed to do it!
I like the corncob handle.
Do you remember what material the head was made from?
The ones with which I am familiar are made of copper, and the whole soldering tool is called a "soldering copper"
(see the "Tools" paragraph in this Wikipedia article)

I am fairly certain that electric soldering irons did exist. I have some old Radio hobbyist books that are from the 20's or 30's that cover electric soldering irons. I'd have to check about fluxes and whether flux core solders were available.

I learned how to use a soldering copper in junior high school metal shop class. They are basically shaped copper bars, mounted to a shaft with an handle on the end. They were heated over a burner.

Later I had occasion to use one when I was working in an old theater. My electric iron didn't have enough mass for a soldering job, so I used an old soldering copper that was laying around. I heated the copper over the burner of an old gas stove that was in our shop. Worked like a charm.

Here is a clip from that Wikipedia article:

A soldering copper is a tool with a large copper head and a long handle which is heated in a blacksmith's forge fire and used to apply heat to sheet metal for soldering. Typical soldering coppers have heads weighing between one and four pounds. The head provides a large thermal mass to store enough heat for soldering large areas before needing re-heating in the fire; the larger the head, the longer the working time. Historically, soldering coppers were standard tools used in auto bodywork, although body solder has been mostly superseded by spot welding for mechanical connection, and non-metallic fillers for contouring.

1/18/161:29 PM

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gptomOGR Forum Member

Dad had an electric soldering iron of that vintage which he fixed my Lionels' He also had a blow torch with tinning pot for plumbing

In metal shop, we had an iron heated in a small gas furnace. Not fun with 12 guys trying to get their projects done

1/18/165:31 PM

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juniata guyOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Boy; your comment about your Dad having hands not suited to the delicate repair of toy trains struck a cord with me!

God knows I do my best when working on my trains but, fat fingers (and a fat head on occasion) make it a struggle. Of course, when I do successfully manage a repair, the feeling of accomplishment makes me forget the hassle and I'm ready to tackle the next job.

Curt

1/18/165:40 PM

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