Unique art rock Island f units

Mark, probably closer in function to a Marx type. Looks like a plunger pulling up on a rocker or? Big difference from Marx though is they seem to have 3 positions instead of 2.

Steve

Is the bulb screw base or bayonet? Large globe or small?
It's not uncommon to find used trains with the wrong bulb.
I've owned Unique Line trains, but I haven't had any in a while.
I assume it runs on voltages similar to other "S" and "O" gauge trains, somewhere around 8 to 15 volts, maybe up to 20 volts.
If so, you would be safe with 1447 (small globe, 18 volt screw), 432 (large globe, 18 volt screw), 1445 (small globe 18 volt bayonet), or 57 (large globe, 18 volt bayonet).
There are lots of other bulbs that would be OK. Generally anything in the 12-18 volt range, with low amp and/or watt ratings.

It has a bayonet base and the bulb in it has a small globe. Thanks for the bulb info.

Mark

They certainly had a nice paint scheme.

I like my Unique Art units, as well.  I would like to find other types and road names other than just Rock Island, though.

Jesse   TCA

I have never seen or heard of any others than the Rock Island version!  I find cars for them, with those couplers a lot harder to find than the engines.  I have found the engines new in the box, probably because of the coupler lack of compatibiity, and sold them so have none now.

Interesting history behind Unique Arts toys. They had bought some of the old Dorfan tooling and made trains for only a short time, 1949-51 ?

http://www.tcawestern.org/unique.htm

I have never owned them, but I have always thought that the livery of those RI units is amongst the best looking in the O Gauge hobby.

Is it moving at all? Are they AC voltage trains for sure?

Is it a one direction train AC?

It is slick looking.

   If you pick up the engine, and sort of roll it over in a full flip, you can get "dead coil" e-units to cycle. Sometimes nose up first; sometimes nose down, but each flip = 1 cycle . The flip direction is to get the pawl to grab on Lionel, but Marx is direction sensitive too.

Well I took some time and cleaned and lubed it, the motor needed it more than the wheels and pickups. And I put it on a test track with a ZW and it works pretty good. When I had it upside down on the bench the e-unit would not work because of gravity! The arm that rotates the drum would fall away from the drum and not rotate it while upside down. The flip thing did work. Once upright the arm will pull the drum to the next position almost every time. You can tell it is good old 1950 technology by the blue arc between the commutators and brushes, love the smell of ozone in the evening.   Can't wait to try it on the club layout in a few weeks. Now I just need the adapter so I can hook Lionel claw couplers to the Unique couplers.

Thanks everyone.

Mark    

It may not look like it, but those double tabbed couplers were meant to work with Lionel knuckle couplers. Try it.

Steve

Steve "Papa" Eastman posted:

It may not look like it, but those double tabbed couplers were meant to work with Lionel knuckle couplers. Try it.

Steve

That actually would not surprise me, as I have seen similar home brews that could work with slot and tab couplers and Lionel knuckles.

The history Unique Art trains is fascinating.....it is humbling to realize how much is out there to learn. Thank you for the link.

Peter

Steve "Papa" Eastman posted:

It may not look like it, but those double tabbed couplers were meant to work with Lionel knuckle couplers. Try it.

Steve

That's an interesting detail. I've sometimes adapted Marx tab-and-slot couplers to hook up with Lionel knuckles by slipping a short piece of plastic straw over the tab to bulk it up.

The Unique F unit has lithographed exhaust stacks that suggest two engines, like an E unit.

The body and paint scheme are really cool. I would have liked a less bulbous headlight and smaller trucks to make it totally outstanding tinplate.