Help me to identify this engine please.

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I bought this engine some days ago but I can't find information
about it. It doesn't have any visible brand or something that
could give a clue of its origin.
Here there's a picture, please take a look at:

http://www.laguacamaya.co.cr/train.jpg

Thanks in advance for any info.

Jalm

[Anonymous]

jalm [:)]

There is a young man named Mitchell (Sask_Tinplater) who is very good at this stuff. He knows his "stuff". I just emailed him for you and bet you will read a reply here by tomorrow (today now). He might need some more info from you but I bet he can help in some way.

[Anonymous]

jalm [8D]

Welcome to the forums. [:)]

[Anonymous]

This engine was made by the company American Flyer in the 1930's and is O gauge. Unfortunately it does have quite a few parts missing from it, but it is still something that could be restored back to original condition. There are reproduction parts available for prewar toy trains such as yours.

American Flyer was formed in 1907 when William Coleman and John Hafner started a company in Chicago that made wind up toy trains. Soon after that, Hafner left the company to make his own trains under the Hafner name. After World War I, American Flyer started making electric trains as well. In 1938 American Flyer was purchased by the A.C. Gilbert company (famous for making Erector sets). After WWII Gilbert switched making American Flyer trains to S gauge instead of O gauge. In the late 1960's Gilbert was in financial trouble and American Flyer was purchased by the famous train manufacturer Lionel, which today produces S gauge American Flyer trains.

I hope this information was helpful to you.

[Anonymous]

Hi Jim

Thank you very much for your concern.

Jalm

[Anonymous]

Mitchel,

Wow, that's fast ! Thank you very much for such lot
of info. Yes unfortunately there are missing parts, but now I'll try to find some pictures to see what is missing.

Thank you again.

Jalm

[Anonymous]

Thanks, Mitchell [:)]

Great job. [:)]

Now if it is not too much to ask, can you help him with a pic or link to one.

Thanks, again [^]

[Anonymous]

You're very welcome, I always love helping out people with identifying their trains. If you want a picture, the best place to look would be on ebay. Go to Toys and Hobbies: Model RR Trains: O Scale: American Flyer. There should be a few engines like yours listed. Perhaps you could even find a junker on ebay and combine the two into one good engine.