Japanese train

[lionelsoni]

I was inspired by Sask's mention of Japanese tinplate to post this.

As a kid in 1952, I lived in Japan.  I was given a dark-blue O-gauge, O-scale Japanese tinplate train.  It comprised (I think) three MU cars, with a pantograph and one motor in one car.  The one-piece wheelsets were turned from brass.  The track was a large circle, something like O34 or O42, no straights.  The railheads were triangular, not circular, in cross section.  The ties were unpainted, as I recall; and I think the center-rail insulators were red.  All I have left is the pantograph and a couple of trucks.

Can Sask or anyone else identify the train for me?

[cnw1995]

Bob, you know who might also know something about this?

Ray Ellen at http://trainmarket.com -he also maintains a website something like http://toysofthepast.com - there's a real dearth of information 'out there' about Japanese 'tin-plate' toys from the 1950s.

[Anonymous]

I'd be willing to bet that you had a set made by Katsumi or KTM.  I would have guessed KTM regardless, but your description of the track makes me almost positive.  I'm not sure when they got started, but it was certainly in the postwar period and probably not that long before you got your set.  They made trains in both O and HO scales.  KTM was a true model railroad manufacturer, as opposed to a toy company that made train sets (of which there were many in the postwar period).  Their postwar trains were made of tinplate (painted-never lithographed) and brass.  Although their lower-end models would make rivet counters of today cringe, they were still realistic and well-proportioned.  When I say "lower-end", this is only within the context of KTM's product line.  Even KTM's cheapest models were of better quality than many others.  Their highest quality products of the postwar period, on the other hand, were very good models even by current standards.  Back in the 50's and 60's, many KTM models were imported into the US by Ken Kidder.  KTM is still in business today and have a website at www.ktm-models.co.jp .  Unfortunately, the site is mainly in Japanese, but if you click around there are some good pictures.  Their models are simply stunning!

You might be able to find a picture of the train you had at www.hagurumaya.jp/omake2.html .  The links on this page (also in Japanese, I'm afraid) bring up pictures of a variety of vintage Japanese trains, including different kinds EMU's made by KTM.

[lionelsoni]

Thanks!  I'll keep trying to break into that site.  I didn't see much with my first attempt, what with the language and the slowness of the site.

A few years ago, I came across an Ebay auction of a pantograph which turned out to be identical to the one from that train, even to some Romanji initials stamped on it.  I have installed mine on my 253, which lacked its original miniature overhead-rail pantograph.

I found a copy of that 1999 auction, with this description:  "Five O scale pantographs and 20 plastic insulators for their support are included here.  Three are KTM PS100 pantographs, one has 'MAC' on the release handle [like mine] and the last has 'OCCUPIED JAPAN' on the bottom.  One KTM PS100 (center open one) and the open MAC (on left) and open OJ are used while the remaining 2 KTM PS100's are new and unopened.  The 3 KTM pantographs are by far the best quality and more delicate in appearence [sic] even though the latching mechanism is simpler.  With some modifications such as lighter springs on the MAC and a better pivot connection to the wire 'wiper' on the OJ, these two could be made quite usable.  The used KTM is in excellent working condition.  Buyer pays $1.50 shipping."