American Flyer Hiawatha Tender Whistle

[OhioZephyr]

I recently purchased a the larger prewar AF Hiawtha train set. It's a little rough but restorable.  I have two questions regarding the whistle tender.

Operation:

How is the whistle activated? The is no DC relay like the ones used on Lionel whistles.

Spare Parts:

There is a large (fiber?) gear attached to the armature motor that turns the whisle impeller. It is in poor condition, the gear teeth are worn down. Are spare parts available, or is there a work-a-round?

Here is a link to the pictures. Please let me know if it does not work. This is my first attempt.

Thanks for any help.

Jim

 

https://imgur.com/a/Y31sNIG

[Flintlock76]

https://imgur.com/a/Y31sNIG  

That should help!  Unfortunately I don't know anything about pre-war Flyer engines so that's as far as I can go.

[OhioZephyr]

Thanks for the assist.

Jim

 

[Northwoods Flyer]

I can add a little information.  The tender has a u shaped pickup on the bottom.

This is not a Hiawatha tender but a similar one.

The tender was designed to run on 4 rail track (40" diameter).  One side of the pick up rides on the 4th rail.  The rail is energized by a button connected to the power source.  I'll have to see what other information I can find for you.

This is what the track looks like.

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

Northwoods Flyer

[OhioZephyr]

Thanks. That's one question answered. I appreciate the respons. I suspect I will have to get creative for the fiber gear. 

[Nationwidelines]

To my knowledge the fiber gear has not been reproduced.  

The Flyer whistle tenders/coaches were produced for 1936 only and Lionel sued them over a patent.  In 1937 Flyer started producing the whistling billboard.

[rrlineman]

The lawsuit over the whistle didn't happen until after WW2. the early setups used the 4 track system as noted. the whistle baggege cars  made in the 3/16th O cars used a dc relay WITH a modifed reverse unit in series. The Lionel lawsuit started when AC Gilbert introduced the 314AW pacific in 1948. the ruling was since the reverse unit used prewar was not used in the 314AW, this made it a direct infringement on Lionel's patent. this is well known and documented in the S-gauge world.

[OhioZephyr]

Thanks to all for your assistance. 
I suspect I will have to be on the lookout for another tender.