| Hi ALL! I just got ahold of some Vintage Tenshodo Brass stuff, and not brass. I even have a Vintage Transformer, never used, cord still colied! I was told that this collection was bought while a Soldier was in Korea. It’s about 50 years old! Does anyone here know of a site that specailizes in Vintage Tenshodo? Did they also make wooden kits? I have kits that are wood, with some metal. All in plain white boxes. ANY info would be great! Many thanks,Ted |
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maybe some pics… Tenshodo was pretty much brass, wood kits would be some other maker.
Don’t know about Japanese non-brass, but Tenshodo was a train store that sold to GI’s stationed in Japan. They had some custom engines made up, and may have started the imprting of brass engines from post war Japan.
An ex GI started Pacific Fast Mail and was a major player in imported brass engines.
A ‘Transformer’ per se is an AC device to ‘transform’ household voltage to a lower (or higher) voltage - say 16 volts for Lionel trains - however they are stictly an AC device. They are rated by Underwriters Lab in 'Watt’s so as not to exceed their output.
A ‘Power Pack’ may contain a transformer, but also 'rectify’s the AC to DC for 2 RAIL Model Train applications. Their UL rating is in 'VA’s (Volt Amperes).
They may well be Tenshodo kits, as they produced some wooden models of Japanese prototype freight cars in the post-war period.
Cheers,
Mark.
Over the years Tenshodo have produced brass, and wood & diecast models , for the Japanese and export market. they’re still in business today, and still making brass models.
Cheers,
Mark.
The Tenshodo power pack was approximately comparable to contemporary MRC packs, and had enough power to handle the power-hungry open frame motors of the day. I used one (long since deceased) to power my first Japanese prototype layout.
At the same time, I acquired a Tenshodo die-cast Baldwin 0-6-0T. That loco is still going strong, with its original motor.
More recently, I was gifted with a Tenshodo JNR C11 class 2-6-4T, class of 1963 (thanks again, rklein!.) After tuning it up and replacing the pilot axle, I put it into service. So far, that service has been trouble-free.
My most recent Tenshodo is a 1976 edition EF65, a Bo-Bo-Bo catenary motor. Cosmetically, it’s very nicely built and looks good. It hasn’t been a smooth operator, however - even taking a back seat to my TMS ED16s (and TMS was not considered a top-of-the-line builder 40-odd years ago.) I don’t consider it to be one of my smarter purchases.
Tenshodo’s primary business is fine jewelry, and their main store is located in one of the most expensive retail business areas in Tokyo. Unfortunately, their present-day prices tend to reflect that.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
OK…I have many Pix!
What I do know that the Great Norther A & B are Brass. The NY Central is not. Can you tell by all the Orange boxes their age? Same goes for the unassembled Passenger cars, all are Brass, all in orange boxes.
I have that cool Transformer, never used.
The TRACK! Who make it? It is wonderful stuff! Brass on Wood? No markings, except the hand markings on back. Wonderful quality…but who made it?
I also have several unassembled kits. They are in plain white boxes. Only one has instructions. It’s in english with Japanese (?) Chop on the bottom, Tenshodo?
any help would be great!!!
Forgive any errors, as I am going from memory:
About 20-23 years ago, I helped some friends dispose of items from their father’s estate, which included a Tenshodo F series diesel and passenger train similar to what you show in the photos.
It may even have been the same Great Northern prototype you show, but I can’t remember now. The car kits had been completed, but the engine had not been run in a number of years, so I had to do some disassembly, cleaning, and re-lubrication to get them running. As I recall, they ran fairly well.
From somewhere I got the information that they dated to the 1950’s, contemporaries of Varney and Globe. I felt that the detail level was similar Varney of that era. Hopefully, there are some people out there with 1950’s HO experience who can verify my recollections (or correct them) as need be.
I am curious if you have run the engines yet, and how well they operate. Good luck with your find.
Chuck