Hi ALL
Just got a hold of this F7 (?) Santa HO War Bonnet. It has no markings on it as to who made it. I think maybe it;s from the '70’s !? Any ideas on who and when it was made ?
Many thanks, TedTrain
I’m thinking that may be an early Athearn model. The shell sure looks like the Athearn/Lionel version.
I agree. It is definitely an Athearn manufactured unit. See that little tab on the fuel tank and slot in the body that holds it on. Very distinctive characteristic of the Athearn molds. Athearn did provide units to several manufactures who rebranded them, so It may have been sold under the Lionel name.
Based on the fact that the number boards aren’t molded on, this was probably made when Athearn first got the F7 molds from Globe in the mid to late 50’s. This is the earliest of their gear drives, and the only other diesel to get it was the GP7. The only problem the design had was the 4-wheel electrical pickup. It wasn’t long at all before they “upgraded” to the cheaper plastic tower drive with 8-wheel pickup in the early 60’s, and then to their current gearing only a few years later.
It may not be much more valuable than any of the other Athearn F7s, but you’ve got a real classic there!
Hi,
You all are correct - I can tell you for certain it is an early Athearn BB model. It came after the rubberband drive, but before the flywheels.
Sadly, it isn’t worth much at all - unless perhaps it was mint in the box, etc.
Yup, old Athearn. Much older than 70’s. They actually sold gear drive and rubber band drive at the same time back then. The gear drive had the better mechanism, but was restricted to 2 wheels on each side for pickup - one truck picks up from the right rail, the other from the left. The rubber band drives had 8 wheel pickup.
–Randy
Early…I think based on Lindsay drives. I have a Geep like that, plus a spare set of power trucks. The sideframes are plastic, Globe units, and glue on if I remember without looking. “Dual Geared” was the marketing literature. A really nice unit. Everything held together with 2-56 screws, oillite bearings everywhere.
Run smoothly. I like mine. They only did them a year or two, cost was too high to continue, if I recall, so they went with the snap-together plastic gear towers and metal sideframe assembly.
Yeah, I know, the post is a year old, but I just found it.