There have been a lot of big event in the news this year. The biggest one that has everyones attention is the disappearance of Amelia Earhart and her navigator Fred Noonan during her attempt to become the first woman to fly around the world. Its been the topic of conversation for months. There are many other events too: President Franklin D Roosevelt is sworn in for a second term. A new comic book shows up at news stands called Detective Comics. There is a new character in Looney Tune cartoon shorts. He’s a crazy black bird called Daffy Duck. The German airship Hindenberg bursts into flames when mooring to a mast in Lakehurst New Jersey. The coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth takes place in London. Wallis Simpson married the former King Edward VIII. The Golden Gate bridge opens to pedestrian traffic one day and to automobile traffic the next. George Gershwin dies in Los Angeles. Orsen Wells stars in a new radio program called The Shadow. Walt Disney releases the first feature length animated cartoon with music called Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
The best thing about the year is the arrival of the American Flyer Trains catalog down at the hardware store. The cover looks great, but it also looks familiar. Maybe the people at American Flyer decided to reuse the cover from another year.
WOW lots o AF stuff. 19 and cold here we are to get 4-8 inches of SNO HI O tomorrow. Great for me! I gotta clear all the neighbor ladies driveways with the SNOW BLOWER. I might have to do it like JIM DUDA does?
It sounds like winter has descended on you. Its a cool 21 degrees here today. We only have predictions of snow showers and flurries for the next few days. The 10 inches we got a week ago is still here. Its looking a lot like the Christmas cards. I’d say that your weather sounds perfect for running trains inside, and it would be a great way to reward yourself for all that neighborliness.
Enjoying the World’s Greatest Hobby and staying frosty,
If I remember correctly you got a Polar Express last year for Christmas. You already have the track, now all you need is to visit ebay and pick up an engine and some cars. I think I have also tried to lure you into the land of O gauge Flyer in the past too. I think its about time you rewarded yourself with a sample of Chicago Flyer.
This has been a tumultuous year. Listening to the old Philco radio in the parlor during the evening brings news of scary and painful happenings in the world; and a few pleasant things. The Niagara Bridge in New York collapses because of an ice jam. Adolph Hitler has been creating all kinds of havoc in Europe. He is pressuring the government of Austria for power in that countrhy, he has his sights set on places as far away as Africa and for most of the year he has been threatening Czechoslovakia. Italy beats Hungary in the World Cup competition. Heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis knocks out Max Schmeling in the first round of their rematch at Yankee Stadium. A new character named Superman appears in a new comic book called Detective Comics. Howard Hughes sets a new record by completing a 91 hour airplane flight around the world. Wrong Way Corrigan takes off from New York headed for Califonia, he ends up in Ireland instead. The chemical company DuPont announces the development of a synthetic yarn called “nylon”. Orson Wells broadcasts a story on the Mercury Theater on the Air called “The War of the Worlds” about an invasion from Mars. It causes a panic all across the country. In Germany Kristallnacht “the night of broken glass” takes place as Nazi activists loot and burn Jewish business.
Its a disappointing and frightening time. Even kids discover that things they thought would always be there have changed. When the American Flyer Trains catalog comes out it is very dif
The Philco radio in the living room has been filled with nothing but disturbing news this year. The world is at war, countries are invading countries and it sounds as if the world is changing forever. One county after another seems to be disappearing as the Nazi’s are on the move. Mom and Dad talk in hushed tones after the kids are in bed. So far the U.S. isn’t involved. There are other things going on in the world too:
Students at Havard University have established a new tradition - swallowing goldfish. The 1939 World’s Fair opens in New York. A new comic book character appears at the news stands - Batman is born. Major League Baseball’s Lou Gehrig ends an unbroken streak of 2,131 games played after announcing that he has contracted ALS. There are two really good movies at theaters across the country; The Wizard of OZ and Gone with the Wind. Kids like the first one and adults like the second one.
The American Flyer Trains catalog is now called Gilbert American Flyer Electric Trains.
The cover sure looks interesting with the logo of the World’s Fair on it, and there is a powerful looking double headed train on the cover too. Things have changed in the world and in the catalog too. There are HO trai
The only thing on the radio these days is news about the war in Europe. It almost makes a kid feel like they don’t want to listen to the radio anymore. But mom and dad, and even the neighbors who stop by, are glued to it. Its hard to find other events going on in the world - but there are some things that will divert your attention.
RKO releases Walt Disney’s second feature length animated movie, Pinnochio. Its hard not to like a boy who’s nose grows when he fibs. Mom and Dad keep warning the same thing will happen to you. There are two new cartoon characters showing up at the movies too - Tom and Jerry make their debut. And a third guy with a weird way of speaking shows up in the cartoons - Elmer Fudd. If you lived in San Bernardino California you could go to a new restaurant that just opened called McDonald’s. Most parents don’t think it will last. There is lots of news about the rescue of British forces at Dunkirk France by anybody who had a boat to bring them back across the British Channel- over 850 boats were involved for 9 days. The Republican party selects Wendell Wilkie as its candidate for President to run against incumbent president Franklin D. Roosevelt. President Roosevelt wins a third term in office, something no other president has ever done. President Roosevelt signs the Selective Training and Service Act which establishes the first peace time draft in U.S. History. Walt Disney releases a second film this year called Fantasia. The Chicago Bears beat the Washington Redskins by a score of 73 to 0 i
To paraphrase President Roosevelt, “This is a year that will live in Infamy”. The United States is at war. After the US fleet is all but destroyed in a surprise attack in December, the US declares war on Japan and enters World War II. Events in the news have shown the clouds of war spreading over more and more of Europe and spreading now even to our own back yard. Its hard to find news that isn’t about the war: President Roosevelt is sworn in for a third term. A new cartoon character named Captain America gets his own comic book. The United Service Organization (USO) is created to entertain American troops, and Bob Hope signs on as one of its primary entertainers. The Grand Coulee Dam in Washington begins to generate electricity. There is a new cereal at the general store called CheeriOats (the name is later changed to Cheerios). Orsen Welles’ new film Citizen Kane premiers in New York. Joe DiMaggio has a 56 game hitting streak. The Great Gildersleeve debuts on the radio. Walt Disney has another great feature length cartoon called Dumbo in theaters. The carving of the four heads of important presidents in completed at Mt Rushmore.
With all of the frightening news on the radio and in the newspaper its a real comfort to look at the American Flyer Trains by Gilbert catalog. You have spent several nights looking through its pages under the covers by flashlight. Mr. Gilbert opened a whole building in New York called The
Your Christmas Lists crack me up…very cool. I have been lurking for a while, but still haven’t found the information I am interested in. I figured I better ask the geniuses here. I have what I believe is a fairly rare American Flyer set, in I would say very good condition. I say I believe it is very rare because in several days of searching online, I cannot find it…cannot find it in online price guides…etc. I WAS however, able to find what I believe it is in a picture from the 1938 AF catalog. I searched this catalog based on the known history of ownership of this set. I believe I have the No. 10 Northern Pacific Freight Train set with #7 75W Transformer. The only thing visibly wrong with it is that the pilot trucks are a little chewed up, and I see from various sources that the prewar AFs had this problem commonly. I took them off to prevent them getting worse, but still of course have the original parts. Also, the cord on the transformer is very brittle plastic, and is a mess. I have two questions…
In order to keep the highest value possible…do I leave everything original, albeit slightly worn? That is…do I try to find replacement trucks for a weirdly rare 2-6-4 set, and replace the power cord on the transformer, or do I leave them original and know that the set cannot run in this condition? Thanks in advance…and I can add photos if anyone wishes.
Oh yeah…in addition to those questions…can anyone give a ballpark value for this set? It is complete, and also comes with a lot of O-gauge track…switches, lights, etc. and a few original (flattened) boxes. Thanks again!!
[#welcome] to the forum. Lurkers are always welcome, and so are participants. [:)] If you have the capability to post pictures of your set please do so. Photos are always welcome.
The casting itself is known as the Type XVI. The casting was used for 4 different engines (423, 425, 4615-4, and 4615-6. The 425 and the 4615-6 both have 6 drive wheels.) during the years 1938-1940. The tender is the 3301 diecast semi-Vanderbilt tender. The freight cars should have the sheet metal coupler, sometimes known as the curley Q coupler, which was only used in 1938.
Because the engine casting was only marketed for a 3 year period it is likely that there are fewer numbers of them around than some of the other engines. The 4615-6 was only marketed for one year, 1938, so the number of those engines are relatively small.
I checked EricTrickel’s Cast Parts Catalog and he has both the wheels and the complete front truck available for this engine.
Your questions about whether to replace parts or leave them as original will get very different answers from different people. In my opinion it is a very subjective decision that can take a lot factors into account. When I look at adding a piece to my collection I prefer all original parts, but if the original whee
All I can say is WOW. Lots of information there…thank you! Yes exactly accurate with the details you provided. I had done an internet search on Eric Trickel a few days ago for this catalog everyone talks about…and came up empty. I emailed him, but haven’t heard back yet. Is there a link for this, or mail, or email? Very interested in buying some new hardware…I gotta see this train run once at least!
Looks like I will be ordering the Standard Catalog in the near future. Is there another source you think I should purchase where you found valuable information?
Thanks again!! I’ll post pictures shortly… if I can figure out how to upload them on the site.
All too cool! I am contemplating a new larger layout, and I am seriously considering a loop of three rail tubular track to employ some O AF. You tempt me!
Sorry for the tardiness of my reply, but I’ve been away from home for a few days during the New Year holiday. The contact information that I have for Eric Trickel is probably the same information that you have already found:
He seems to have the largest assortment of replacement parts for prewar American Flyer.
Good Luck in your restoration. Keep us posted on your progress, and lets see some pictures when you can.
Sturgeon-Phish:
Jim,
I’m glad that your resistance is weakening. [swg] I think you will really enjoy having some O gauge Flyer in your collection. If my information is correct - gathered from lurking - you have some Flyer track coming from lionelsoni. That is a great start. I have gone to using all Fastrack.
Here are a couple of older photos or the Blueboard Central Division of American Flyer Lines that show my use of Fastrack.
Way back before starting the Christmas Wish Lists I had posted some pictures of the Hiawatha and the streamlined cars to match. I think its time to pick up on that theme for a while.
In 1936 American Flyer introduced its version of the Union Pacific’s streamlined City of Denver. It appeared in the catalog until 1939, and in some uncataloged sets after that. In 1936 it was cataloged with a coach with a whistle in it. By 1937 the whistle was gone. Here are some photos of what I believe is the 1937 version.
The engine, called a power car was numbered 1684.
The coach with the built in whistle (which I don’t have) was numbered 1636Y.
Here is another interesting variation of the 2218 block signal that I thought I would share on this topic. I recently acquired the red block signal on the right of the photo. Notice that it is a “left-hand” version of the green “standard” signal (in relation of the signal to the post), as shown to the left. Here is what I can tell about the signal. It is definitely manufactured that way, and not one modified later on. While most of the parts could be used either way, the signal housing itself cannot just be turned upside down, as the “eyebrows” are part of the metal housing, not added on, and they are above the bulb. As I see it, unless the bulb holes/eyebrows were stamped in a separate step, then there must have been two dies? Other than this, the rest of the parts are identical. Ironmaster
[#welcome] to the forum Ironmaster, and to this thread.
Great catch on the variation of the 2218. [bow] I have never noticed that variation. I have several 2218s in both green and red but none that is “left handed”. I agree with you that there must have been two different stampings to have the variation. I wonder if there are green examples as well. Now I have a new variation to be on the lookout for.
Here is a photo of the two right handed examples that I posted earlier on the thread:
Thanks, great to be here. I have visited for some time, as one of my trains is my mother’s green 3110 steeplecab Oriental Limited passenger set from 1928! I also have mom’s original platform, but it needs some repair. She had no accessories to go with it, except for some wooden houses (manufacturer unknown), I found this forum and its great information as I have been acquiring some accessories to go with it. Anyway, I can answer the question on a green “left handed” signal. While looking on the web, I found a picture of a green left handed one. It is from an auction site from about a year ago. One thing of note: when i got my red one, it had a Lionel-like brass cap on it. I assumed that it was a later replacement for the missing finial, so I put one on a finial from another piece I have for the photo. The picture of the left handed green signal shows the same Lionel-like cap. So now I am wondering if this variation did not have the finial. I do have the original cap if I need to replace it. Here is a photo of the signal with the cap it came with. It is definitely small, as it is split from being forced on the post. Ironmaster
Thanks for the additional photo of your 2218 block signal. This is one of the things that I like about collecting Pre War American Flyer - there is always some new variation to find, or some research to conduct. My search at train shows and auctions will now have me looking for the “left hand” version of this accessory. The Lionel cap on the top of the standard is an interesting addition. All of my examples have the cast finial, but from the looks of them I suspect that some of them are actually reproductions.
How nice that you have your mother’s train; First of all because it has stayed within the family and you know its history, and secondly because it was your Mother’s train. I love hearing stories of girls receiving and keeping their trains. You have to wonder if that is one of the reasons their husbands were attracted to them in the first place. Who can resist a beautiful girl with a train? [swg]
Anyway, your comments about your set made me wonder if you actually might have The Explorer set from 1928. It was cataloged with the green 3110 and passenger cars. I don’t have the cars to that set, but I wonder if they have Oriental Limited lithographed in the name board above the window. Please post some photos of the set if you can.
