Major Thanks for the information. I believe that the Gilbert transformers were made by Jefferson Electric on the north side of Chicago. Has anyone even done an inquiry on the manufacturers of the transformers for Coleman's Chicago Flyer or when A.C. Gilbert produced the trains? They may have more information on the dates of manufacture and the purpose of each transformer. Thanks again for the info!
Thanks for the information. I believe that the Gilbert transformers were made by Jefferson Electric on the north side of Chicago. Has anyone even done an inquiry on the manufacturers of the transformers for Coleman's Chicago Flyer or when A.C. Gilbert produced the trains? They may have more information on the dates of manufacture and the purpose of each transformer. Thanks again for the info!
Thanks for all the replies
Through a little more research it was a pre war transformer and they were made by Jefferson Electric out of Chicago. I'm not sure how the whistle control worked but it was externally connected to the transformer. I do believe when I had it apart, the terminals were connected to wires coming off the transformer.
http://www.binnsroad.co.uk/railways/jefferson/trans2a.html
I am fairly certain that Jefferson Transformer also made the Coleman Chicago Flyer era transformers also.
Not sure what you mean by when AC Gilbert produced the trains?
In looking at the 1937-1939 catalogs, the #9 transformer was cataloged in 1938 and 1939 only. The 1937 catalog lists a 150 watt transformer as the #1297 transformer. The 1297 transformer is listed as having a reset button, but not mention of a whistle button, just an extra terminal to power the 2029 whistle (per catalog description).
There is also no mention of the shape of the transformer. However, I know that the 1283 transformer from 1937 is an oval shaped transformer with a reset button (as I have a nice boxed one).
In 1940 and 1941 there is a 9B transformer; however, it is set up as a dual transformer with handles to control 2 trains at once.
It may be that Gilbert added a whistle button in 1938-39 in order to trigger the leftover Chicago production 2029 whistling billboards that they were selling.
The #9 transformer was not a Chicago Flyer production item. They did not make transformers with whistle buttons or overload breakers.
I have the whistling baggage car that Gilbert made and it requires a DC current to operate the solenoid. Does the #9 transformer put out DC current? Since I am in the process of moving I do not have access to my prewar catalogs to check when the #9 transformer was first made or at least showed up in the catalog.
A lot of items in the 1939 catalog were Chicago Flyer that AC Gilbert was selling off. Gilbert was moving to 3/16th scale trains in 1939. The # 9 transformer could have been one of these items. Does anyone know when the #9 transformer was first made? How long was it produced? Thanks.
More likely it was made for Gilbert's prewar whistling 3/16 baggage cars that ran on 3 rail track, as opposed to the earlier Chicago era whistling coaches that were made in 1936 only, 2 years prior to Gilbert purchasing American Flyer. The whistle button could also have been for the whistling billboards and talking stations that Gilbert cataloged during the prewar years.
Nationwidelines Major It looks like this transformer was intended for the pre-WW2 Chicago Flyer O gauge trains that had the whistle in them and used the special four rail track. Note on the top of the transformer it shows where the whistle should be connected! That is not a pre-war transformer for the trains that ran on 4 rail track with the whistle. It is a Gilbert postwar transformer from the mid 1950s. Gilbert did not own American Flyer when the prewar 4 rail track and whistle cars were made.
Major It looks like this transformer was intended for the pre-WW2 Chicago Flyer O gauge trains that had the whistle in them and used the special four rail track. Note on the top of the transformer it shows where the whistle should be connected!
It looks like this transformer was intended for the pre-WW2 Chicago Flyer O gauge trains that had the whistle in them and used the special four rail track. Note on the top of the transformer it shows where the whistle should be connected!
That is not a pre-war transformer for the trains that ran on 4 rail track with the whistle. It is a Gilbert postwar transformer from the mid 1950s. Gilbert did not own American Flyer when the prewar 4 rail track and whistle cars were made.
Given the fact that the number 9 disappeared from American Flyer catalogs after the 1939 edition I'm thinking that it was indeed a prewar transformer and not a postwar one. And in view of the unique "whistle" connection I agree with the Major's evaluation.
Pete
"You can’t study the darkness by flooding it with light." - Edward Abbey -
Best I can do is page 31 from the 1938 AF catalog:
http://myflyertrains.tripod.com/AF_Catalogs/D1259/AF_catalog_page31.htm
#9 transformer is in the chart, but not much info.
TrainLarry Thanks for the picture. You seem to have a transformer that may not be common, inasmuch as there does not seem to be any information or listings of it. Larry
Thanks for the picture. You seem to have a transformer that may not be common, inasmuch as there does not seem to be any information or listings of it.
Larry
The very high voltage is throwing me off. I don't see a reason to produce a transformer that produces that much voltage. Even then it starts at 22 volts and is adjustable to 30 volts. Measured voltage at its highest setting is 35 volts. I was thinking of using it as a accessory transformer.
Possible that this transformer was used for something else and not for trains?
Here's a link to the photo.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gregjp/10640174904/]
Pictures to help identify it would be a help.
Anyone have any info on this transformer. I found it in the garbage about 10 years ago. It is a 150watt single control transformer. Not a 9B. 5 terminals. 6-14 v, 14-22 v, 22-30 v, 7 v, 14 v and whistle control hook up. The transformer works. It has a jewel lens light and a circuit breaker.
I have not found anything on the net about it.
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