I wonder if anyone here might have a copy of T&M book "Collectors Guide to Lionel Prewar, Vol. one" in their arsenal of books. I would like to ask a few questions if anyone has that version of the book.
Thanks
Just ask the question - or is it about the book and not the trains?
Rob
OK - I checked, and I do have the book. It's 40 years old now, and there is a lot of missing information and several readily noticeable errors(without looking too hard!).
I already have Doyles Prewar book, plus Greenberg's guide to prewar volume II, and curious if there is anything that would be of benefit from getting the T&M book. I am interested in info on the 1688/1688E Torpedo, and all of the variations. Doyle's book isn't very specific to details. More info is found in the Greenberg guide. Is the T&M book worth getting, or is it repeated info from the other two books.
From your last post, while I was typing, I would guess that it wouldn't be worth getting a copy, as the Greenberg book I have is from 2001 edition, and has some detailed info. I am trying to create a timeline of all the versions, with body castings, and the different motors, as I am finding them.
It's not repeated... being first... but it is very sparse. There is no mention(or image) of the 1688 at all except in an "inventory list" appendix.
Have you checked the TCA "Standard of the World" book?
Rob, I appreciate your response, and I kind of figured as much, considering the publish dates between T&M and Greenberg. Collecting & operating both Pre and Postwar, it pays to have some source of information to rely on when seeing all the variations of certain locos. Some locos have versions that are in fact RARE, by comparison of other issues. Case in point is the article that CTT ran in the "Collecting Classics" & "Timeless Classics" about the 1688E that was different from all the rest. The earliest version was produced in 1936 and had the distinguishing characteristics of 'open forward cab windows', raised square roof hatch on top of cab, and what many refer to as a "winged keystone" cast into the nose under the smoke plate and above the headlight. John A Grams wrote the original article in Sept. 2005 of CTT, and was also highlighted here back in Feb. 2015. I checked the only book I had at the time, (Doyle Cat. of Prewar), and saw nothing mentioned. That piqued my interest, and I decided to search eBay to see if by chance if someone had for sale. About a month later, I spotted one, and have since purchased it. I think it is so unique, that I now have 3 of these open window versions.
I have since obtained the Greenberg book, which spells out more detail on this version, plus the others of the 1688/1688E. What many might not know, but the 1688/E shares the same casting as the 1588 0-4-0 clockwork loco, plus the 1668/E 2-6-2 casting. If you look through the different locos, and minor little things that look different, you can see where Lionel simply altered the castings. Typical alterations are the slot for the E unit location, some castings that have no slot for the side number boards, and on some of the 1688/E bodies that have a screw hole just forward of the cab. I have looked at probably over 100 different photos, both on eBay and just a plain Google search, and noticed all these subtle variations. I think that I can explain WHEN, and WHY they were made, just by my observations.
It is surprising how many things that Lionel did, by just subtle changes, and how different locos were made, and just renumbered. The 675/2025; 665/685/2055, 2065; 671/681/682/2020. They are virtually the same original casting, with minor mods to make the next model. I have three 2020's and a 681, but all the shells are marked 671-3 under the shell. The 682 uses the same shell with 671-3 shell, but they added the bosses for the oiler linkage.
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