A friend from work who knows my interest in toy trains put me in contact with a relative who has an American Flyer 4615 set for sale.This set contains the 4-8-4 Northern and an assortment of freight cars.It really has been sitting for 20 some odd years but all cars are in good shape but no set box or individual boxes.It also comes with 3-4 extra cars from that era.First off what would be a reasonable offer or fair price to pay.He knows it is not an entry level set but doesn't have a price in mind.I dont want to insult him with a low offer and I am willing to pay a fair market price.Also this is a dumb question but were all Northerns DC powereed or can I test it with a standard Flyer AC transformer........
Try the guys on this site.
-AmericanFlyerTrains@yahoogroups.com
Tks,
Kev
Joined 1-21-2011 TCA 13-68614
Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL.
They can't help with prices without having numbers. I am not a AF expert but I believe all DC engines had DC on the cab next to the engine number.
"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks
Charter Member- Tardis Train Crew (TTC) - Detroit3railers- Detroit Historical society Glancy Modular trains- Charter member BTTS
According to the 2007 AF price guide published by David Doyle: The set in "Excellent" condition can go from $2,200 to $5,000 depending upon year of manufacture. The set from 1947 being the most valuable. Why 1947? You got me on that one...
If you really want to pay a fair price, be advised that on ebay the locomotive alone can go for four figures. So $1,000 would be your minumum starting point, I would think.
Also according to Doyle this is a DC set, all three years of production. As for testing it with an AC transformer, I would not do that. I have heard it said that some Flyer motors will run both, but I do not know if that rule applies to this particular locomotive. I do know that applying AC power to a true DC motor will burn it out quite quickly. At which point I would assume the "you break it, you buy it" rule applies.
I have figured out what is wrong with my brain! On the left side nothing works right, and on the right side there is nothing left!
Sorry Russ I misread your thread and thought you were looking for an each item price. I have the same Doyle book but would not buy at that price without some expert collector advice.
One item to note from the Doyle book that with sets, part of the value stated is having the boxes and set boxes. Without the set boxes it is just a collection of individual items and should be valued as such.
The best way to determine wether a Northern has an AC or DC motor is to examine it. DC Northerns (most but not all 332s) have no remote control (reversing) unit in the tender and the rear of the cab has a two hole jack panel. The bottom of the motor will be covered with a blackened brass plate.
AC Northerns (some late 332s, all 332AC, all 336, all 21139 and all 21140) have a remote control unit (21139&21140 have a two position inside the cab), four hole jack panel (21139&21140 are hardwired with two wires), and uncovered motor with the armature visible.
Form the later 336s onward, all AC Northerns have a larger motor that is 3/4" long compared to the regular 1/2". This motor can be also be swapped very easily into all earlier Northerns or other Gilbert steamers. The 3/4" motor runs faster and generates more torque than the 1/2" motor, and gives an night and day difference in performance.
Based on eBay completed sales, I would say $400. would be fair.
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