SUNDAY PUZZLE FUN 4-19-20 AMERICAN FLYER

Classic Toy Trains Forum
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AMERICAN FLYER
48 WORDS

  1. William F. (_ _ _ _ _ ) and William O. ( _ _ _ _ _ ) started manufacturing toy ( _ _ _ - _ _ ) trains in (_ _ _ _ _ _ _) in 1907.
  2. (_ _ _ _ _ _ _ ) Flyer became ( _ _ _ _ _ _ ) Flyer in 1914 manufacturing ( _ _ - _ _ _ ) mechanical locomotives with ( _ _ ) ( _ _ _) shells.
  3. Refusing to use a competitor’s terminology, A.F. referred to trains running on 2 ¼ inch gauge track as (_ _ _ ) and as ( _ _ _ _ _) for equipment operating on rails 1 3/8 inches apart.
  4. When A. C. (_ _ _ _ _ _ ) purchased American Flyer in 1938 the company relocated from Chicago to ( _ ) ( _ _ _ ) and started making ( _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ) ( _ _ _ _) trains.
  5. Flyer’s (_ _ _ _ ), as the 4693 loco is nick-named, pulled set No. 1493, which in 1932 had ( _ _ _ ) of the same ( _ _ _ ) ( _ _ _ ) blue cars as the No. 1489 ( _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _) Special set.
  6. A Chromium plated No. 4689 locomotive pulled the magnificent (_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _) set.
  7. It’s hard to say how many Flyer fans could afford the top-of-the-line No. 1499 set, which was priced at one (_ _ _ _ _ _ ) dollars in 1932. But for ( _ ) dollars and fifty cents the No. 172 ( _ _ _ _ _ _ - _ _ _ ) wind-up set could teach a boy ( _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _) according to Mr. Coleman.
  8. The 314AW pacific of 1949 violated Lionel’s patent, so Flyer’s (_ _ _ _ _ _ ) had to be moved from the locomotive to a ( _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _).
  9. Flyer made the transition to (_ - _ _ _ _ _) in 1946 wi
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Penny,

Just one correction/answer

Clue 1 William F. Hafner and William O. Coleman started manufacturing toy (wind-up) trains in Chicago in 1907 (not 1900 as your clue indicates).

I am still not sure what Clue 2 refers to? It appears to be a jumble of American Flyer history.

Could Clue 2 possibly be referring to Edmonds-Metzel MFG becoming American Flyer Manufacturing in 1910? Or is it referring to when William F. Coleman left American Flyer in 1914 to form Hafner (Overland Flyer) trains?

NWL

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My resources suggested these variables:

  1. O’Brien’s Collecting Toy Trains 5th Edition, 1999 Krause Publications: "American Flyer began in 1900 when William Hafner of Chicago, Illinois went into business as a toy manufacturer. When wind-up trains were added to the line-up, William Coleman was brought in as a financial partner. By 1910, trains were the firm’s strongest line, and the company’s name was changed to American Flyer"
  2. Toy Trains of Yesteryear c. 1972, 1987 Carstens Publications, Inc. Collection of articles written by Case Kowal for Toy Trains Magazine during 1953 and 1954: “Although the American Flyer M<anufacturing Company was founded in 1907…” Article is primarily about the AF O gauge No. 3020 locomotive.
  3. The American Toy Train by Gerry & Janet Souter,MBI Publishing Company1999: Under the heading “Hafner Company Enters The Toy Train Market” in chapter 3: (Hafner) “put his mechanical energies into developing a wind-up motor that was both simple and reliable. In 1901, the young mechanic formed the Hafner Company and put his motor into toy trucks, tiny doll swings, and a sheet metal automobile…” And later in the entry: “Finally, in 1905, after seeing interest rising for toy trains, he put his wind-up motor into a cast-iron locomotive shell and never looked back.”

So, I have 3 sources all giving different dates.

Clue 2 is about a UP train name and a country, if that clears it up. It’s really all abo

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[quote user=“Penny Trains”]

Nationwidelines
Clue 1 William F. Hafner and William O. Coleman started manufacturing toy (wind-up) trains in Chicago in 1907 (not 1900 as your clue indicates).

My resources suggested these variables:

  1. O’Brien’s Collecting Toy Trains 5th Edition, 1999 Krause Publications: "American Flyer began in 1900 when William Hafner of Chicago, Illinois went into business as a toy manufacturer. When wind-up trains were added to the line-up, William Coleman was brought in as a financial partner. By 1910, trains were the firm’s strongest line, and the company’s name was changed to American Flyer"
  2. Toy Trains of Yesteryear c. 1972, 1987 Carstens Publications, Inc. Collection of articles written by Case Kowal for Toy Trains Magazine during 1953 and 1954: “Although the American Flyer M<anufacturing Company was founded in 1907…” Article is primarily about the AF O gauge No. 3020 locomotive.
  3. The American Toy Train by Gerry & Janet Souter,MBI Publishing Company1999: Under the heading “Hafner Company Enters The Toy Train Market” in chapter 3: (Hafner) “put his mechanical energies into developing a wind-up motor that was both simple and reliable. In 1901, the young mechanic formed the Hafner Company and put his motor into toy trucks, tiny doll swings, and a sheet metal automobile…” And later in the entry: “Finally, in 1905, after seeing interest rising for toy trains, he put his wind-up motor into a cast-iron locomotive shell and never looked back.”

So, I have 3 sources all giving different dates.

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All of this just proves how much we’ve learned in the last 20 years. Probably due to #1 CTT, #2 the internet and #3 better auction reporting in general whether web based or not.

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Here are the answers:

  1. William F. (HAFNER) and William O. (COLEMAN) started manufacturing toy (WIND-UP) trains in (CHICAGO) in 1907.
  2. (OVERLAND) Flyer became (AMERICAN) Flyer in 1914 manufacturing (TWO-RAIL) mechanical locomotives with (CAST) (IRON) shells.
  3. Refusing to use a competitor’s terminology, A.F. referred to trains running on 2 ¼ inch gauge track as (WIDE) and as (NARROW) for equipment operating on rails 1 3/8 inches apart.
  4. When A. C. (GILBERT) purchased American Flyer in 1938 the company relocated from Chicago to (NEW) (HAVEN) and started making (THREESIXTEENTHS) (SCALE) trains.
  5. Flyer’s (PIPER), as it’s 4693 is nick-named, pulled set No. 1493, which in 1932 had (THREE) of the same (ROLLS) (ROYCE) blue cars as the No. 1489 (PRESIDENTS) Special set.
  6. A Chromium plated No. 4689 locomotive pulled the magnificent (MAYFLOWER) set.
  7. It’s hard to say how many Flyer fans could afford the top-of-the-line No. 1499 set, which was priced at one (HUNDRED) dollars in 1932. But for (TWO) dollars and fifty cents the No. 172 (LIBERTY-BELL) wind-up set could teach a boy (RESOURCEFULNESS) according to Mr. Coleman.
  8. The 314AW pacific of 1949 violated Lionel’s patent, so Flyer’s (WHISTLE) had to be moved from the locomotive to a (BILLBOARD).
  9. Flyer made the transition to (S-GAUGE) in 1946 with (LINK) couplers, smoke in (TENDER) and their (CHOO-CHOO) sound which was made by a bellows
  10. The No. 336 4-8-4 (NORTHERN), often called the (CHALLENGER), came with a (PULLMOR) motor and sold for $47.50 in 1953.
  11. (ALCO) diesels headed up the 5645TRH (SILVER-FLASH) set. The P.A. locos were decorated in brown, orange an
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As expected Clue number 2 is incorrect. Actually, Hafner’s Overland Flyer brand started in 1914 after he left American Flyer.

NWL