Hi everyone,
As I've been completing my collection of CTT issues from 1987-present, I've been coming across issues that came bagged with various bonus items. Since I've been buying back issues through ebay, I want to make sure I get those extras along with the CTT issue. Does anyone have (or knows where there is) a complete list of those special bagged issues w/extras?
I'd appreciate any help. I want my CTT magazine collection to be as complete as possible.
Gotten CTT since day one. I don't remember them ever giving ANYTHING free. What did you find?
"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
These are pickups from the magazine that are inserted only on newstand copies (to boost newsstand sales). I don't believe we have a list of the subjects or what issues they were in – and I don't believe that we even have copies of all what was inserted. I have a hazy memory that we used to do this with the September issues but shifted it to our July issue to boost summer newsstand sales.
Bob Keller
I started collecting CTT back in 1993 while I was still in the USAF. A coworker, Mike Bargerstock, occasionally brought an issue into work to read in 1992. He was a Lionel O gauge guy, but had grown up with a dad who collected American Flyer S gauge trains. His continued enthusiasm got me back into the hobby. I'd set up trains around my Christmas tree every year previously, but that was about it. I actually started buying NEW trains afterwards. I joined the K-Line Collectors Club, Lionel Kids Club, and Mike's Train House Railroaders Club. The CTT issues Mike B. had brought in had impressed me with their articles and pics of TOY layouts. I'd appreciated the work it takes to build a miniature scale railroad. However I liked the operating accessories that were available in O gauge even though many didn't come close to being similar to anything in the real world. The fact that CTT didn't look down upon the toy aspect is what got me to start buying it. I looked forward to every new issue, and I would read it all the way through as soon as possible.
It was a few years before I started subscribing. My subscriptions would end sometimes, and I'd buy the issues at book stores occasionally. Then I'd subscribe again later. I never knew when CTT would include the bonus freebies. I just thought they were added randomly. It makes sense their role was to increase sales during the light summer months.
I never realized my subscription copies had never come with bonus freebies. All I noticed were the extra covers the subscription copies came with sometimes. Many times they advertised the savings a subsciption would give over buying them at stores. Some would pitch special issues also. The nice things about the extra covers would be they protected the REAL cover, plus the mailing label would be on the extra cover rather than the REAL cover. The not-so-good thing was, of course, the cover wasn't seen at a glance. Now that I've bagged and boarded all of my CTTs, the real covers aren't visible until I take them out.
I remember at least two sets of billboards and a set of Standard Gauge shipping crates that I still use all the time.
Trains, trains, wonderful trains. The more you get, the more you toot!
Penny, the billboards and crates were regular inserts inside all copies of the magazine. What he is asking about are booklets inserted in poly bags for newsstand sales.
I remember getting offers to subscribe for a year where we would get like track plans or other pamplets never bought indivual mags so wouldn't know about them.
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
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I also remember seeing booklets poly bagged with the magazine. They make it difficult to read the magazine in the hobby shop.
I was going to insert 3 images of 3 freebies I grabbed at random as an example, but I can't get the rich text editor to come up for me. I get the same regular text editor whether I click on the "Reply" button or the "Quick Reply" button. (There is no other option.) The HELP states one needs to click on the "Use rich formatting" link, but I don't get that option.
Hi,
If your collection of Classic Toy Trains is going to be complete, then you need to add the extra special-interest publications we have done. They have new material not published in the regular magazine, plus loads of great pictures.
All-Star Electric Trains of the 1950s
More All-Star Electric Trains
Lionel Trains: Showroom Layouts (2011)
Lionel Trains: Golden Years, 1950-54 (2012)
Lionel Trains: Golden Years, 1955-59 (2013)
Lionel Trains: Best Accessories (2014)
Lionel Trains: Finest Store Displays (2015)
Good luck,
Roger Carp
Senior Editor
Yes I do remember the crates and billboards, I guess I just didn't think of them as freebies. Just considered them part of the magizine. I still have some assembled crates, not sure about the billboards though.
Roger Carp Hi, If your collection of Classic Toy Trains is going to be complete, then you need to add the extra special-interest publications we have done. They have new material not published in the regular magazine, plus loads of great pictures. All-Star Electric Trains of the 1950s More All-Star Electric Trains Lionel Trains: Showroom Layouts (2011) Lionel Trains: Golden Years, 1950-54 (2012) Lionel Trains: Golden Years, 1955-59 (2013) Lionel Trains: Best Accessories (2014) Lionel Trains: Finest Store Displays (2015) Good luck, Roger Carp Senior Editor
Thanks for that list, Mr Carp. I was puzzled by it at first, because I was under the impression you had listed all the freebies. Upon looking over your list a second time, I now understand you were detailing additional publications available for separate sale. It dawned on me when I remembered having particularly enjoyed the accessories issue from 2014---my personal favorite!
In my previous post, I mentioned I'd had trouble trying to post pics of three of the freebies in my collection I'd grabbed at random. Luckily, the option to insert images into my posts is now enabled for my login.
Here are those three plus an extra special bonus pic:
1) 6 Ways to Improve Your Toy Train Scenery (January 2005)
2) Starting With Toy Trains (2009)
3) 6 Track Plans for Toy Trains (October 2009 & September 2014)
4) Starting With Toy Trains (2013)
You've probably noted the third one was scanned while inside the bag that had originally contained it plus the current issue of CTT. As you probably also noted, all incorporated the same statement on the cover, "A supplement to Classic Toy Trains magazine".
I didn't realize until moments ago the third one was included with 2 different issues. I don't know if any of the other ones have also been included with more than one issue at this time.
I haven't looked through my collection to find all of the freebies, but I will in the next few days. I'll then list what I find in a subsequent post here.
Bob Keller These are pickups from the magazine that are inserted only on newstand copies (to boost newsstand sales).
These are pickups from the magazine that are inserted only on newstand copies (to boost newsstand sales).
I was thinking of subscribing again, but I'm not so sure about it now. I like those freebies (or supplements as CTT likes to call them). I know subscribing offers a substantial discount, but I'd still like to get the freebies. I guess there's always the option of subscribing and also buying the one issue a year with the freebie. If only there was a way subscribers would be able to be notified when future freebies are included with the latest issue. As I mentioned before, I subcribed for quite a few years, but I never knew I'd missed out on the freebies during those times. It's just that I didn't always renew my subscriptions until months after they'd lapsed. It was only luck that they'd lapsed when they did, because then I had to buy them at the newsstand. That resulted in me getting the freebies I did get then.
I look at it this way if you want the freebies that come maybe once a year and pay $53.55 a year 9 months times the cover price of $5.95 so you end up spending a extra $13.60 to go that route I guess thats the best route for you The basic yearly subscription rate here is $39.95 for the same 9 issues. It's what ever you rather.
Actually, if one was to subscribe and also buy the one issue with the supplement, then the total price would be $45.90.
still cheaper than the $53.55 . personally I see you some one thats doing anything to keep this post alive and nit pic every little thing you can about it weather you buy a subscription or newstand or combo I could care less I was just giving you a option to me this thread has gone way to long over this
The reason I posted this topic was to get help in acquiring a list of all the supplements CTT included free with various issues over the years. So far I've learned they were produced to hopefully increase sales during the slower summer months, and that they were NOT included with subscriber issues. Mr. Carp provided me with a list of additional publications CTT produced for their target audience.
You're right. I don't want this thread to end just yet. To date, I've uploaded some pictures for those who weren't sure about what I was referring to as "freebies". My hope is that other members here will dig through their collection of CTTs and provide me with a list of the supplements they've collected. So far, nobody has helped me with that particular subject (which is the reason for this topic). I'm sorry this thread isn't holding your interest. My recommendation and hope is that you not click on it if you don't want to help me.
Bob Keller Penny, the billboards and crates were regular inserts inside all copies of the magazine. What he is asking about are booklets inserted in poly bags for newsstand sales.
I noticed CTT sells back issues through the web-site. Are the poly bagged back issues with free supplements included, or are the back issues sold through the web-site without any extras?
Call our customer service number at 800-533-6644. They may be able to tell you if the issues with supplements are polybagged with the supplments, but I'd bet there is no indicator in their database which issues had them. Again, the content in the supplements is not new. If you subscribed (or bought all the issues on a newsstand) you have seen it. The target is the occasional reader or new reader to illustrate the type of content in the magazine.
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