American Flyer Assistance Requested

Classic Toy Trains Forum
1

My local dealer recently picked up a large lot of American Flyer, and requested my assistance on identifying the following item.

The inserts appear to belong to a signal. The question is what signal went with the inserts and associated track clips. He thought that it was a 582, but couldn’t find any evidence to support this.

In addition, how does one attach the clips to the track, and how do they work? He was not able to get them to attach to S, O, or 027 track.

Here are the pictures

Thanks in advance for any help.

2

The signal is the 636-R. It’s very simple, just snap the clips to each individual rail.

3

Also, would anyone know what the part number for the track trips is?

Thanks again in advance for any help.

P.S. I would appreciate if those whose only goal in life is to be a pain it the butt would refrain from responding to my posts in the future giving totally false and incorrect information.

4

Ben, is there any chance those lockons are AF Standard Gauge? That would explain why they won’t connect to O, O27, or S. Not what I would expect to see in a pile of Gilbert-era stuff, but a pile of early Marx stuff I bought had some Lionel Standard Gauge items in it, so I guess nothing should surprise me.

5

Dave,
Thanks for the help. The thought did cross my mind, although I didn’t mention it to the dealer.

I’m inclined to think that that’s not the case, though, because, as far as I know, Gilbert never made Standard Gauge under the American Flyer name. The controller is marked Gilbert, and the inserts appear to be of Gilbert design. Note, for example, that the controller button is attached to the cardboard using a “T” clip, something which I’m only aware of Gilbert doing.

I’ll still suggest to him that maybe he try it on standard gauge, though. Anything is possible, and it may just work.

6

Hello Ben ! Hobby surplus in New Britain,Connecticut should be able to help you out.They bought out American Flyers parts inventory in 1967 after AF went out of business.There is also another place called Levintons that handle American Flyer Parts. They advertise in CTT. One of them should be able to Identify the parts you have in your picture.Hobby surplus also has a website so you can probably scan your photo’s so they can see what you’ve got.Good Luck…Keith