Brass Buttons under American Flyer Locos

[Sturgeon-Phish]

I've got a couple early post war, (46-47) locos and have worked on several others that have two inline brass buttons in the center of the chassis between the drive wheels. Later casting have the marks where the space was filled in. The buttons do not appear to serve any function. Are these a carry over from when the American Flyer was three rail and was a pickup?
Thanks
Jim

[ben10ben]

They have something to do with these contacts



Beyond that, though, I can't tell you too much.

[hugoroundhouse]

Interesting! I haven't seen those buttons. By in-line do you mean in-line down the length of the loco or cross-wise? Have you had them apart to see if the buttons have a wire attached to them? Are they insulated from each other in some way? What are the numbers of the locos? [?]

Jim E.

[Sturgeon-Phish]

The buttons go down the center, lengthwise. There are no wires attached and sometimes they are spring loaded. I've seen them on 300's, 350's, 310's 312's.
Jim S

[Anonymous]

Those Buttons are from chassies that were designated for O gauge before 1946 and refited to accomadate S gauge engines and were found on 300, 312, some diecast 302's and 301's the hole is present on some 322's and few had buttons. and a few other model engines had them. Most royal blues had them. Due to a ru***o get S scale introduced in 46 it was cheaper and quicker to just leave the collector buttons already there left in. There very easy to remove and will cause a problem if you run them on low rail track.

[herbw2]

My understanding is that they were to be used for a new type of track trip that was never actually produced.
Herb Wasserman

[Sturgeon-Phish]

I've heard both explaination before, and both have merit. I've only seen the buttons on early 46 & 47 steamers as you said, and holes on '48's, and the filled castings on the early '49's. Gilbert was not one to throw away money, or already manufactured parts. I think they're a neat variation. I'm finishing up a refurb on a 310 and it has the buttons and the earlier slotted brushes. Thanks for reply
Jim