Hi Jim,
Thanks for posting the picture of the 718 mail car. Its always nice to have you contribute. Your S gauge car had a predecessor in the O gauge 3/16 line that Gilbert marketed before the war. It was numbered 492 and according to the Greenberg guide it came in red, green, and tuscan. The cars were marketed in 1940 and 1941. I think its interesting that Gilbert continued the theme of some cars from the Coleman Chicago era. I have the S gauge versions packed away somwhere. I only have a very few examples of the pre war 3/16 O gauge line in my collection at the moment, and unfortunately the 492 is not one of them. I have been looking for an example of a picture to post but I haven’t been able to find one yet.
I also thought of posting a video of the 718 in action, but I have not been able to find one on YouTube. Its a fun accessory to watch. I think there are some segments of it spliced into the American Flyer Boy’s Railroad Club episodes too. I haven’t been able to find any of them posted either.
I did find this copy of the page from the 1941 catalog that featured the 492. Its not in color, but you can see the similarity to the later S gauge car.
http://www.myflyertrains.org/AF_Catalogs/1941Catalog/AF_1941_catalog_page37.htm
Enjoying the World’s Greatest Hobby
Northwoods Flyer
I just wanted to briefly comment that this is one of the most entertaining and educational threads I have ever read here. As a toy train "Marxist"I had no idea how fabulous the AF line was. Keep those photos coming…fantastic.
I just recently purchased another one of Lionel’s Pre war small freight cars. I’m posting it as an addition to the part of the thread that compares Lionel and American Flyer small freight cars from the prewar era. Unfortunately Flyer had nothing in its 6 inch freight car line to compete with:
Lionel 620 Floodlight Car
The 620 was cataloged from 1938 through 1942.
My version is well marked on the bottom.
The floodlight swivels on the base.
And it looks great lighted as it rolls down the track.
While American Flyer had nothing to compete with the floodlight car in its 6 inch car line, it did have the 3213 searchlight car in the 9 1/2 inch freight car line.
Type XIII Hiawatha
In 1936 American Flyer added the diecast Hiawatha locomotive to its line of Narrow Gauge trains. It is a fairly good representation of the Milwaukee Road engine of the same name. It only appeared in Flyer catalogs for two years, 1936 and 1937. In those two years there were two variations.
The 1936 version is numbered in dealers lists as 1682, and when it comes with its matching tender it is numbered 1683.
This first version has an interesting leading truck that has two different sizes wheels.
The front set has the ability to move, while the second larger set is fixed and will not swivel.
You will notice in the picture above that the rear truck is intended to look as if it has two axels, when in reality it has only the one.
That second set of fixed wheels in the front presents a real problem in that the engine does not track very well when going around curves. Many times you will find the 1936 version o
Streamlined Passenger Cars
Hiawatha
American Flyer introduced their streamlined passenger cars in 1936 and kept them in the catalog through 1940. During those years there were only two body styles; coaches and observation cars. Sadly, they never produced a baggage. The cars were introduced in 1936 with the Union Pacific Set, the Hiawatha, and during their run they were matched up with Hudsons, Pacifics and Atlantics.
The Hiawatha set had a beautiful color scheme for the 12 inch coach -#1641
and for the 13 3/4 inch observation - #1642.
Schuweiler describes the observation this way in the Greenberg Guide to Prewar American Flyer Trains:
“The observation car in the Hiawatha set has a special rear-end contour, the “beaver tail,” to simulate the appearance of the real train. Observation cars in all other sets have a more conventional “boat tail” appearance.”
Christmas Wish List
1926
What an exciting year it has been. Some very interesting events have occured; Francisco Franco became the General of Spain,Robert Goddard launches the first liquid fuel rocket, Roald Amundsen flies over the North Pole, Gertrude Ederle becomes the first woman to swim the English Channel from France to England, Harry Houdini dies on Halloween and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the New York Yankees in the World’s Series.
But the really important events of the year are yet to come: picking out the Christmas gifts to ask for from Santa. It may be early November but the American Flyer catalog has arrived.
Its filled with an incredible array of wonderful trains and other toys. Any child would want something from this catalog. But the really savvy ones want The President’s Special.
Its a beauty, and it has those 19" cars.
Christmas Wish List
1927
The world is moving at an ever faster pace and it seems as if it is shrinking. During this year: the first transatlantic telephone call is made from New York to London, the first armoured car robbery is committed by the Flatheads Gang in Pittsburgh, Bell Telephone Company transmits an image of Commerce Secretary Hoover, which becomes the first successful long distance demonstration of a new fangled thing called television, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is founded (The “Academy” in the Academy Awards), Charles Lindburgh makes the first solo non-stop transatlantic flight from New York to Paris in The Spirit of St. Louis, the movie The Jazz Singer opens in the United States and begins the era of “talkies”, and the Holland Tunnel opens linking New York and New Jersey.
Most importantly to the children of America its the 20th Anniversary of American Flyer Trains. The Company is introducing their Rainbow Line of trains with a gorgeous catalog. Its just the thing to spend some hours looking at and making Christmas wishes.
The Wide Gauge line of trains is breath taking, but the Narrow Gauge trains really illustrate the concept of the rainbow, especially when you look at this two page spread:
1926, a little before my time. However this Christmas I will be able to have a
(newly aquired at York) Presidents Special under the tree, something I’ve
wanted and waited for a LONG time. Warren Buffet bought a RR, I’m happy
with the PS. One minor problem- the 4392 Obs has incorrect #/name plates;
does anyone know of replacements?
DixieRR (happy in sunny Florida)
DixieRR,
[#welcome] to the forum and to this thread. Your Christmas should indeed be special with the President travelling around your tree. I don’t have the President’s Special in the two tone blue yet, but it is on my “Wanted List”. I’m afraid that if I ever do get to York I’m likely to come home with many more goodies than I should. [:O]
I am not aware of anyone who has reproduced the name and number plates at this time. On occasion some of them do appear on eBay when someone is parting out a car. Someone else may have more information than I do.
If you have the capability to post photos of your beauty,please do so.
Enjoying the World’s Greatest Hobby
Northwoods Flyer
Christmas Wish List
1928
Its 1928 and the Roaring 20’s are in full swing. Its an era of energy and fast paced events. This year: the Second Winter Olympic Games are held in St. Moritz Switzerland and the Summer Olympics are held in Amsterdam, the first regular schedule of television programming begins in Schenectady New York by General Electric’s television station W2XB, Aviatrix Amelia Earhart becomes the first woman to successfully cross the Atlantic Ocean - with her pilot Wilmer Stultz, an iron long respirator is used for the first time at Children’s Hospital in Boston, the US congress approves the construction of Boulder Dam, Mickey Mouse appears in Steamboat Willie - his first movie with sound, and Herbert Hoover wins the presidential election.
But of course for most boys one of the major events of the year is the arrival of the American Flyer catalog at the local hardware store. Flyer is touting the Rainbow Line again this year.
The pages of the catalog are filled with a colorful assortment of trains. The Wide Gauge trains are visions to fill dreams for many an afternoon. Many children will stop on page 10 in the Narrow Gauge section.
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Are you sure the plates aren’t “correct”? By this I mean do they look like they have been tampered with or do they look like factory installations? If it is the latter then I’d leave them alone - Flyer often put the wrong plates/number boards on cars and engines. On an earlier page in this thread I posted pictures of my “Ambassador” set - none of the plates match what was advertised and the cars are completely original.
Christmas Wish List
1929
This year is a study in contrasts. For adults the events of the year sound as if they could have come from a novel by Charles Dickens - “It was the best of times,it was the worst of times.”: The Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre occures in Chicago when seven gansters of Al Capone’s rival are murdered, Congress establishes Grand Teton National Park, the first Academy Awards were presented in Hollywood with Wings winning best picture, the Dow Jones Industrial Average peaks at 381.17 (a mark it will not reach again until 1954), and then the Wall Street Stock Market Crash wipes out $30 billion from the New York Stock exchange, but there is nothing really to worry about - President Herbert Hoover announces to Congress in December that the worst effects of the Stock Market crash were over and that the American people had regained faith in the economy, and the Philadelphia Athletics beat the Chicago Cubs in five games to take the World’s Series.
In the world of adults things may look a bit cloudy and overcast with storm clouds on the horizon, but for kids who love American Flyer trains the catalog is still filled with a rainbow of trains and dreams. The catalog cover shows The President’s Special racing down the line.
Inside there is almost an unlimited number of trains and opti
Christmas Wish List
1930
Its a brand new decade, and most folks are glad to see the old one go, particularly with the way it ended. The new one isn’t starting out so wonderfully either. But there are lots of interesting things in the news:
Mickey Mouse is now starting to appear in the daily paper; with some of the new technology in photography and high powered telescopes a new planet is confirmed in the solar system- Pluto; John Dillinger escaped from prison using a carved wooden gun; a new type of taste treat is invented called the “Twinkie” (I think some of them from the first batch are still around); the radio drama The Shadow airs for the first time; two men from Missouri drive from Los Angeles to their home town in reverse gear - the trip takes 42 days; and President Herbert Hoover goes before Congress to ask for a 150 million dollar public works program to help generate jobs and stimulate the economy. Maybe better days are ahead.
For kids making out their Christmas lists and letters to Santa its a great year. The American Flyer catalog is filled with wonderful trains and toys.
There may be lots of other toys in the catalog, but the trains are still the biggest favorites. Its hard to decide what to ask for. If you like the Narrow Gauge line there are many choices including some new steam locomotives.
Christmas Wish List
1931
Its been a tough year for the folks around town. Lots of people have lost their jobs and even mom and dad have been talking about having to cut back. Its a good thing that there are newspapers and the sunday funnies, books, and the old Philco radio in the parlor to take your mind off of the world situation.
Many interesting things are going on in the world though: Charlie Chaplin is packing them in at the movie theaters, and there is some new scary movie about vampires called Dracula starring Bela Lugosi. Its supposed to be at the Majestic theater sometime soon. All the kids hope that they can get to see it. The Star-Spangled Banner was adopted as the National Anthem of the United States and kids in every grade have learned it and sung it at school assemblies and programs most of the year; one of the guys swears he broke his vocal cords trying to hit the high notes. The Empire State building was completed in New York - its the tallest building in the world. Wiley Post and Harold Gatty take off from Roosevelt Field on Long Island in an attempt to accomplish the first round-the-world flight in a single-engine plane. Al Capone is sentenced to 11 years in prison for tax evasion.
It may be a bad time for the economy but nothing can stop you from dreaming about the trains you want to ask for from Santa in the new American Flyer catalog.
Christmas Wish List
1932
Its another year of ups and downs. The economy isn’t getting any better, but the winds of change are blowing. Events in the news certainly show this. Hattie W. Caraway becomes the first woman elected to the United States Senate. The Winter Olympics are held in Lake Placid, New York and the Summer Olympics are held in Los Angeles. The infant son of aviator Charles Lindbergh and Anne Morrow Linberg is kidnapped. Tarzan the Ape Man opens, staring olympic gold medal winner Johnny Weissmuller. Amelia Earhart flies from the United States to Derry Northern Ireland in 14 hours and 54 minutes. There are some new and interesting programs on the radio: Jack Benny has his own show, there are several dramas on weekly that are sponsored by the big soap companies, Fred Allen’s comedy show debuts this year, there is a comedy serial called Vic and Sade, and Buck Rogers in the 25th Century airs for the first time. If real life isn’t very pleasant at least the radio can bring some humor. Franklin D. Rooselvelt defeats President Herbert Hoover in a landslide election for the presidency. “Happy Days are Here Again”
One of the most pleasant diversions for kids is going to the local merchant and picking up a new American Flyer catalog.
There are always so many great trains an
Christmas Wish List
1933
Holy Mackerel! What a year. The world events are happening so quickly you can hardly keep up with them. Here are just a few things that happened this year: Construction of the Golden Gate Bridge is started in San Francisco Bay. The Twentieth Amendment to the Constitution is ratified and goes into effect; it changes inauguration day from March 4th to January 20th. Nazi leader Adolph Hitler is appointed Chancellor of Germany by German President Paul von Hindenburg (and to say that all hell breaks loose in Germany during the year is an understatement). A great new radio program called The Lone Ranger starts. Someone tries to assassinate President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt in Miami but ends up killing the mayor of Chicago instead. Fay Wray stars with a huge ape in the movie King Kong. Mount Rushmore National Memorial is dedicated.
[:)][C):-)][C=:-)][4:-)]
Frances Perkins becomes Secretary of Labor and the first female member of the Cabinet. President Roosevelt talks to the nation by radio in the first of his “Fireside Chats”. Beer is legalized in the United States again and eventually Prohibition is ended completely with the Twenty first Amendment to the Constitution. Someone sees the Loch Ness Monster again for the first time in modern times. The Century of Progress World’s Fair opens in Chicago. The first Major League All Star Game is played in Chicago at Chomisky Park. Strong storms in South Dakota rip top soil from the dry land creating dust s
Christmas Wish List
1934
It looks as if everyone is interested in all things modern and fast. The Century of Progress World’s Fair that was due to close last year has been held over for another year. It showcases lots of new and modern inventions. In the news there are lots of stories of change and new things happening.
There are some new comic strips in the newspaper; one is called Flash Gordon and the other is L’il Abner. A new theater opens in New York that everyone is excited about called The Apollo. Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert star in a movie called “It Happened One Night” - it wins all 5 of the major Academy Awards. More than 20 severe dust storms tear through the Dust bowl in one day. Down at the Majestic theater they have been showing some new shorts that feature three very funny men. They are called The Three Stooges. Its a bad year for bad guys and criminals: The police shoot and kill Bonnie and Clyde in Black Lake Louisiana, the FBI shoots and kills John Dillinger outside the Biograph theater in Chicago, the FBI shoots and kills Pretty Boy Floyd near East Liverpool Ohio. Donald Duck debuts in his first movie “The Wise Little Hen”. The Dionne Quintuplets are born in Callendar Ontario - they are the first quintuplets to survive infancy. The world famous Brookfield Zoo opens outside of Chicago. Adolph Hitler becomes the Fuhrer of Germany. A gust of wind on the top of Mt. Washington in NH is measured at 231 miles per hour. The first run of the Pioneer Zephyr on the CB&Q takes place on May 14th. It makes the run from Denver t
Christmas Wish List
1935
Its the middle of the decade and things just seem to be grinding along. Lots of folks are tired of scrimping and saving and cutting back. There are a few bright spots in the news. Most of it kind of looks grey and dusty like the Dust Bowl storms that are sweeping through the mid west and devastating the farmland.
Here are a few of the interesting events. The darling of the air Amelia Earhardt continues to dazzel the world with her feats of adventure. She becomes the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to California. Its still a bad time to be a crook: The FBI shoots and kills the Barker Gang including Ma Barker in a shootout. Porky Pig is everybody’s favorite as he makes his debut in a Looney Tunes feature. Adolph Hitler announces that Germany will start building up a store of weapons. A few folks are concerned because this breaks the Treaty of Versailles that was signed after the Great War. There is a really funny radio show that comes on the radio for the first time called "Fibber McGee and Molly" It really is funny McGee! The first nighttime Major League Baseball game is played between the Cincinnati Reds and the Philadelphia Philles at Crosley Field. The Bambino - Babe Ruth appears in his last career game, playing for the Boston Braves. (Say it isn’t so!) James J Braddock defeats Max Baer at Madison Square Garden to win the heavyweight boxing championship of the World. President Roosevelt signs the Social Security Act into Law. Humorist Will Rogers and aviator Wiley Post are killed when Post’s plane crashes in Alaska. Howard Huges set
Christmas Wish List
1936
Events in the world seem to be pretty tumultuous. Things are changing almost faster than you can tune them in on the Philco radio in the parlor. Day by day there seems to be something happening in Europe, but it seems a long ways away. King George V of England dies. His eldest son succeeds to the throne and becomes Edward VIII. Later in the year King Edward abdicates and his brother Albert ascends to the throne and takes the name King George VI. It seems that Edward had taken a fancy to a divorced American woman and had fallen in love with her and wanted to marry her. What a love story - Yuck! and they call that news?. The radio show “The Green Hornet” debuts on radio and a comic strip hero in tights called “The Phantom” makes his first appearance in American newspapers. The Winter Olympic Games are held in Germany and the Summer Olympics are held in Berlin, and there is even a live television broadcast. Now if you only knew someone who had one of those televisions. An African-American athele named Jessee Owens wins a gold medal in the 100 meter dash at the Olympics. The furher is not happy. Hitler is up to some tricks in Germany when he violates the treaty of Versailles and reoccupies the Rhineland. Italian forces take over Ethiopia. Max Schmeling knocks out Joe Louis in the 12th round of their heavy weight boxing match in New York. And here is some really exciting news, the Santa Fe Railroad starts an all Pullman train called theSuper Chief passenger train between Chicago and Los Angeles.
If the Santa Fe can run a new pass