Just wondering if anyone else is in these forums, i often feel all alone…
My focus is in 0 gauge, prewar Lionel. So far most of my roster is from 1925-1932, but I will eventually be adding an early electric set. Given your username, did Ives make a prewar O gauge trolley? At some point, I will begin adding Ives, AF, and others to my roster. I really like Ives’ passenger cars from this time period. Far better names than just pullman and observation which dominated Lionel. Although still under construction, my website is www.tinplaterr.info.
We recently recieved two Lionel Standard Gauge engines and track with switches at the museum. I set up a large loop and am surprized how much intrest it has drawn.
Yes, I do. So does Northwoods Flyer. The two of us have made quite a few posts to the Pre-war Flyer thread on this same forum.
My only real early ones are a 154-600/600/601 set from 1917-23 and a 402E from 23-27. I have a growing roster from the early thirties.
Spankybird, I meant to comment on your photos a few Sunday’s ago when you shared some prewar gifts. Great looking stuff. I’m glad they are getting some attention at the museum.
Mersenne6 and Northwoods Flyer. Your Prewar AF thread is one of the reasons I love this forum. Great thread and thanks so much. You should print off the pages and make a book!
How Old? I like a mix.
Maybe I have asked this question before, but can the older pre war couple with some of the newer stuff, like can a # 158 couple up with a # 2653. The one uses latch & pin and the other uses box & pin.
I have a couple of pre war sets that were my dad’s, and I have some 027 pre war that I bought.
Lee F.
My collecting interest radiates out from what I inherited and was ‘gifted’.
So I have an ‘O’ guage No.4 from '28-'29 and similar and later prewar freights, plus postwar stuff. I’m looking to add an electric engine and some pass. cars from the mid twenties thru thirties era.
I have one engine which may be pre '25. It looks sort of like that little steamer in one of the photos in this thread. It’s been packed away for over 20 years so don’t remember exactly.
I recently was at an estate liquidation auction with hundreds of lots of prewar strandard guage. The stuff is absolutely georgeous! Made me want to start another collection.
While I have your attention-- I’ve made a number of posts asking what other brands of switches besides lionel are compatible with prewar, and have received no responses. I have found that Gargraves doesn’t work- the cars derail. Doesn’t anyone operate prewar ‘O’ in a mixed layout, where they want turn outs other than lionel’s 031 or 072?
runtime
You’re not alone…
My Lionel Std. Ga #5 spcl I believe is from 1910, and runs like a top. I also have std ga #6 that runs great, 42 double motor (intact but one motor needs work) 42 single motor (basket case in pieces waiting for restoration) and a couple 33’s. Got some older O gauge suff as well.
Usually around Christmas time I shelve all the modern and postwar stuff for a while and pull out all the real old stuff to run.
Gotta post some pics sometime.
CJ Meyers
Better responses than i’d expected. Yes Ives did make trolleys. They are very scarce, and command top dollar. I don’t own any yet… Heres a picture from the Ives Train Society site. Can’t figure out how to post a link, so just google it.
I got into Ives because i love the history and lithography of the old trains. The Princess and Buffalo series cars really show the styles of the times. Anyway when i get home, maybe i’ll start a picture thread with some Ives. Plus the early stuff seldom pops up for sale so it keeps me from spending all my college money on trains.
I acquired a 0-4-0 Lionel 33 with the accompanying Pullman and Observation cars.
Also acquired a 4-6-2 Boucher/Voltamp 2500 engine. Not sure how to date this engine so any input would be appreciated.
A few of my Standard Gauge pieces were made prior to '25, including my IVES 3241–in fact, probably all of my IVES is pre-'25. Most of my Lionel are Classic Period, but some of them are earlier.
For some reason that even I do not understand, I have no interest whatsoever in prewar, tin O gauge, but I truly appreciate and admire SG. Go figure.
Runtime:
The only switches I use are Lionel, but they don’t always work (train or cars bounce through and/or derail). Switches and tinplate have always been and still are an issue. Some run fine on Gargraves, some do not. Here is a link to an OGR thread on the subject. As I have said before on this forum, the best thing to do is test them at your LHS. Otherwise the unfortunate truth is that nobody currently manufactures a switch that successfully runs all tinplate (original and repro). Sure would be nice if someone did! I’m hoping that the 5-rail switch that is being developed will do the trick.
I have been collecting some of the earlier trains when the budget allows. I really like the toyish look of the tin plate trains and the key winds. Lately I have become interested in the early cast iron floor trains.
Envfocus:
Thanks for the response regarding prewar O and switches.
I’ve taken a tinplate car to my LHS and rolled it over a No4 Atlas ‘O’; seems ok; seems better than Gargraves. Unless I hear of some negatives, Atlas ‘O’ may be in my future.
runtime
ivesboy,
My collecting efforts are for American Flyer with an appreciation for all other toy trains. I collect across the entire years of production of Flyer, but the heaviest concentration is in S gauge and prewar O and Wide Gauge. I have some trains from the era that you are inquiring about but not a large amount. But that doesn’t mean that area of the collection won’t expand at some time.
I hope you do start a thread for Ives, and post pictures. I only have a cursory knowledge of Ives and I would like to learn more and see what items they produced. The same is true for Lionel or any other manufacturer. It would be great to have a photo thread for each.
Northwoods Flyer
In regards to the switches, you my wish to look at the new kline/lionel snap switches. I replaced my o-72’s with them and have no real problems with them. The only thing to to be aware of is items with the larger flange wheels (Lionel jr 1700, MTH 260e 8 wheel tender w/ std gauge wheels) ride just a bit hide on the one side but have no problem as far as derailing and making any unusual noise going through. Nice website RJ. Spanky, I am very envious of having a muesuem like that in your area.
Ives Key Wind Set
[C):-)]I have an old Marx wind-up,and a set of cast iron,don’t know how old,can’t find a date anywhere.I do have others from 1935,Lionel,Marx,AF,up to 1950,priceless!