Hi Guys,
I recently posted a question about Kadee wheelsets but didn’t get a complete response.
I bought some Kadee #520 smooth-backed wheelsets at a train show recently and discovered that they had the raised letters on the outside like the “ridged-back” wheels. It says “Association of Manufacturers of Chilled Wheelsets AAR 1940” or something like that on the outside of the wheels.
I just wonder if the writing on the side of the wheels was prototypical to only the ridged-back wheels and Kadee discovered that and therefore started making the sides of the smooth-backed wheels without the lettering. I wrote to Kadee folks and they can’t remember why they removed the lettering on the smooth-backed wheels. They did know that it was many years ago.
Does anybody know if the lettering on the outside of the wheels was prototypical for smooth-backed wheels or for only the ridged-back wheels?
I model the 1959 era and hope the wheels with lettering are prototypical.
Thanks in advance for any help.
Mondo