Pre War American Flyer Pictures - An Invitation

[mersenne6]

The Saga of Set 16

The evolution of a train set

   1914 was a year of major change at American Flyer.  It was the first year they offered the larger and more lithographically detailed #1103, #1106, and #1105 passenger and baggage cars and it was the first year their top of the line clockwork locomotive was offered with a cast iron superstructure. Set identification also changed. Prior to 1914 Flyer train sets were cataloged with multi-digit numerical listings. In 1914 these numerical sequences were dropped in favor of shorter alpha-numeric sequences.  One of these set was M16.

 

 

1914-1916

 

  Page 4 of the 1914 catalog illustrates set #M16. The catalog cut on page 4 and the text of pages 8 and 9 indicates set M16 was comprised of engine #M15 with a #120 type tender, baggage #M1105 and two #M1103 coaches all for $3.50.

 

 

  1914 Catalog Illustration

  

 

 

  Locomotive #M15

 

 

    #M15 was the top of the line engine for 1914 (remember Flyer did not offer electric trains until 1918). As offered in 1914 it came with iridescent red-painted six-spoke soft lead wheels. In 1915 the superstructure casting remained the same, however, the six-spoke wheels were made of cast iron and the wheel centers were painted black. The cars from 1914 remained unchanged.

 

 

Set #M16 from 1915

 

 

   The passenger cars were cream from the letterboard to the belt line and green from the belt line to the car base. The words "Parlor Car" were centered below the windows and the letterboard carried the legend "American Flyer Line".

 

  The baggage car with the #M16 set is unusual. It has the same green litho as the passenger cars and a door that opened from left to rignt. The door itself appears to be an inverted (note two panels on top and three on the bottom as opposed to the reverse for the other cars) and punched leftover from earlier American Flyer doors. The stamped slots on the side of the door were for a separate tabbed car door handle, like that on the baggage car on the top left of the picture (this one from set #M20 in the 1914 catalog - see page 10 of this thread for more details on the M20 set). 

 

 

  Baggage car comparisons #1105 from 1914, 1918, and 1915

 

 

     The catalog illustration of the M1105 baggage car is simplified to say the least and there is no text in the 1914 catalog to provide a hint as to standard or special colors for the car.

 

 

 

1914 Catalog Illustration of 1105, 1106 cars.

 

   

 

  1917-1919

 

  In 1917 locomotive #M15 changed. It was now identified as just #15.  The boiler band was dropped, the side air tanks were eliminated, the boiler casting included a single compressor air pump, and the roof sported a ventilator cast in the open position.  The cast iron wheels now had 10 spokes and dark red painted centers.

 

 

Locomotive M15 - 1915 version on left, 1917 version on right.

  

 

  The cars for Set #16 also changed in 1917.  The two tone Parlor Cars gave way to single colored cars like the pictured Union Pacific herald cars and the baggage litho treatment and direction of door opening changed to that of the baggage car on the top right of the picture of the three baggage cars illustrated previously. The set in this form was cataloged from 1917 to about 1920 (Note: The tender in the picture is a later version from the 1920's).

 

 

 

   Set #16 ca. 1919

 

 

  The catalog for 1918/1919 indicates the set retained the #1105/#1106 UP cars and the set is illustrated that way on the catalog cover.  The cars had a complete change of litho treatment and the lettering about the windows now said "American Flyer".  The text inside the catalog describes the set as above but the catalog cut shows #15 pulling #1202 and #1203 lightning bolt passenger cars.

 

 

  1918/1919 Catalog Front Cover

 

 

1918/1919 Catalog inside illustration of Set #16

 

 

   

  1919-1922

 

 

  The next major change to set #16 occurred around 1920.  The engine superstructure was the same as the casting used on the #1094 electric steam engine and the cars, while still described in the catalog text as being #1105 and #1106, were shown in the crude catalog illustration as being #1203 and #1204 lightning bolt cars and baggage.

 

 

 

 

  Catalog illustration from 1921

  

 

 

  While the set below is #1215, the electric train set from 1918/1919, the engine superstructure and cars are identical to those in set #16 from the 1920-1922 period.

 

 

 

 

  Set #1215 ca. 1918

 

 

 

 

 

  1923-1926 -Major Changes

 

 

  In 1923 set #16 received a complete makeover. The baggage car became the new 3 window litho baggage #1205 and the two passenger cars were #1103's with updated litho treatment.  Engine #15 was replaced with #16 a brand new cast iron clockwork locomotive.

 

 

 

  Set #16 from 1923

 

 

  By 1923 #15 was beginning to look old fashioned and, while I have nothing except my personal opinion for proof, I suspect it could have been for this reason that it was dropped from the lineup and replaced with #16.  Locomotive #16 was a completely new casting and it did a credible job of giving the impression of new-to-the-real-world-of-railroad engines that came to dominate the railroad landscape of the early 1920's.  #16's boiler is much more massive looking and the boiler casting sported cast on detail such as a center mounted front headlight, dual side mounted air pumps, and a boiler top that gave the impression of the appliance clutter common to the steam engines of the 1920's.

  

 

  If we compare the two Flyer engines to O scale models of real engines from the period the difference is apparent. While in real life there was only about a decade of difference in build dates between the NH 4-4-0 on the right and the PRR H10 on the left the old look vs. the new look is apparent and it was locomotives like the H10 that dominated the mainline railroad scene in the 20's.

 

 

  

  Comparison - Top Left to Right #16 #15.  Bottom PRR H10,  NH 4-4-0

 

 

 

    In 1925 a new for that year car - an observation car with a railing - replaced one of the passenger cars.  This passenger consist, baggage, passenger car, observation, would become the near standard for American Flyer passenger train car consists for the rest of the pre-war period.

 

 

  

 

Set #16 Catalog Illustration 1925

  

 

  In 1925 the catalog designation of engine #16 change to #28 however the casting continued to have "A.F. 16" in cast letters under the cab window.

  

 

1929-1930 - The last run for Set #16

 

 

 

  Set #16 disappeared from the clockwork line-up in 1927.  In 1929 the set number returned and was marked on the set box but now the set box legend read "16 Prairie State".  The set was manufactured through 1930.

 

 

 

  Set #16 - Prairie State ca. 1929

 

 

  Engine #16, now identified in the catalog as "Model No. 28 Santa Fe Type Equipped with the De Luxe American Flyer Wind-Up-Motor, stop and start lever and brass piston rods" came finished in bright red enamel with silver highlights and only the raised letters "AF" as identification under the cab windows. The tender and consist had red litho bodies with dark red enamel roofs and black frames.

 

  The Flyer set was obviously aimed at a market familiar with real trains. The Prairie State Express on the Chicago and Alton railroad would have been familiar to anyone in the Chicago area at that time. In addition to The Prairie State Express the C&A also boasted their pride-of-the-fleet name train The Alton Limited whose engine and consist were painted in various shades of red.

 

 

  Catalog Cut 1929

 

 

 

  Engine #16/28 - final bow

 

 

  By 1932 clockwork was on the decline. #16/28, now only identified as the largest of the clockwork engines, made a final curtain call in set #80 - The Empire City.

 

 

Catalog cut 1932

 

 

Afterword...set #15...the also ran

 

 

  Almost every time set #16 was listed in the catalog one could find, just as a footnote, words like the following:

 

 

  "Train #15. Same as #16 except with two cars."

 

 

 

  Well, sort of.  I've only seen one boxed #15 set and that dates from around 1925.  The catalog description for that year states "Train No. 15 - two car train, same as No. 16 without observation car." (Update - 2021 - I've now seen three boxed sets #15 - the other two have the #16 Engine but passenger cars with rounded roofs and orange litho treatment)

 

 

  However, set #16 for 1925 had a consist of 3 window baggage #1205, passenger car #1206, and observation car #1207.  Set #15, on the other hand, has baggage car #1205 and passenger car #1306. The Greenberg book indicates #1306 was made between 1922 and 1926 and I've often wondered if the reason for this number was to give set #15 a character all its own so that it would somehow look like something other that a chopped off set #16.

 

 

  Set #15 ca. 1925

 

 

 

 

 

[Northwoods Flyer]

Mersenne 6,

Great post and information as usual .  Thank you.  I have the cars for the Prairie State set, and the tender. I have been looking for the engine for a while.  For now I have them matched up with a #3014 electric.

During my collecting career I have not always been able to purchase an entire set of cars and the appropriate engine at the same time.  The main reason being that the cost is usually prohibative for my train budget. There have been times that I have managed to find an entire set at a reasonable price.  The thrill of the hunt has always been an exciting part of the hobby for me, and reuniting items that were meant to be together has also been satisfying.  The following set is a case in point.

 1939 - #301 Passenger Train

The 1939 catalog shows a nice passenger set - The #301 Passenger Train

 

 

I think that Mersenne6 has posted some photos of this set somewhere else on the thread, but for some reason I can't find them at the moment.

This set is from the years of transition to Gilbert production in New Haven for American Flyer.  The cars have been renumbered and they are equipped with the Type X "curley cue", sheet metal knuckle coupler.

This is the 234R Baggage

 

 

The 235R  Passenger Car

 

 

And the 236R Observation

 

In this case I was able to purchase all three of the cars together.

 

The engine shown in the catalog is a Type XX and it is listed as the #403 in combination with its tender.  I was able to purchase the tender and the engine in seperate auctions on ebay and reunite the items in a reasonable example of the #301 set.

 

 

There is something unique about this particular engine in the photo. Does anyone know what the unique feature is?

 

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

Northwoods Flyer

[AF53]

Northwoods - I would venture to guess that the unique feature would be the "curley cue" on the front of your engine. Nice set.

Ray

[mersenne6]

Ray,

  I tried to answer the side question you sent concerning reproduction AF catalogs but, for whatever reason, I kept getting a return mail.  To answer your question - I don't think the reproduction 1925 catalogs are any more difficult to find than the others.  I think it is just a matter of luck of the draw with respect to a given time frame on e-bay or other auction venues.  In my case, when I was hunting for reproduction catalogs, the one that took forever to find was 1926.

[Northwoods Flyer]

AF53

Northwoods - I would venture to guess that the unique feature would be the "curley cue" on the front of your engine. Nice set.

Ray

You are spot on Ray.  One of the unique features of this engine is that it has the sheet metal knuckle or  "curley cue" coupler on the front.  Usually the only Type XX engine with this coupler mounted on the front is the dummy engine found in the double header set from 1939. (There are additional postings about the double header set back on pages 15 and 33)  This engine is actually powered.

 

This is the unpowered unit from the Double Header set for comparison.  There are some obvious differences with the brass cab window, brass headlight ferrel, white side wall wheels and the decal on the front of the engine instead of the rubberstamped A.F.

 

 

 

I know that the motor and the engine body are interchangeable parts and that someone could have put the motor into the dummy body but the coupler and the motor both appear to be factory originals. 

  

 I have not found any documentation of this variation of the Type XX before. I admit that I haven't been to a large number of shows nor had the opportunity to examine many examples of the unpowered unit so I would appreciate any comments about the existance of other examples of a powered Type XX engine with the sheet metal coupler mounted on the front.

 

The variations continue.

 

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

Northwoods Flyer

[Northwoods Flyer]

1926

Set #1820 - The Broadway Limited

Quite a few years ago, in the days before eBay, I used to send away for auction catalogs from some of the major houses to see what they had to offer and to get a look at examples of trains that I had only read about.  I was in my S gauge collecting mode at that time, so I had little interest in Pre War items.  But one time I spotted a Pre War American Flyer boxed set in a Lloyd Ralston catalog that caught my fancy.  One of my collecting mentors wanted to bid on some items in that auction so I threw in a ridiculously low bid on the boxed set and sent it in with his list of bids.  Amazingly I actually won it.

I had never seen a Pre War box for American Flyer so it was pretty exciting when it arrived.

 

 

Photo of the lable on the side of the box.  Unfortunately it does not have the set number printed on it.

 

 

It was even more fun to open it and see the contents.

 

 

It looked like everything was there except for the transformer.  The set  languished on a shelf under the train table for many years until I obtained the Pre War Flyer catalogs and Greenberg books that I use to do research.  I believe that what I won in that auction is Set #1820 from 1926: The Broadway Limited.  According to the description in the catalog that empty space in the interior probably held a No 122 Automatic Mail Bag Set.

 

 

 

The contents of the set and the catalog illustration do not match exactly, but given that Flyer is notorious for that I do think it is the original contents of the set.

 

It contains the #3012 electric outline engine.

 

 

 

The #1205 Baggage car, marked for the Milwaukee Road.

 

 

The #1206 Passenger Car, also marked for the Milwaukee Road, and named Seattle.

 

 

And the #1207 Observation, marked for American Flyer Lines, and named Chicago.  There are rumors of an observation numbered 1207 and named Chicago, but lettered for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Ry., but I have never seen it or pictures of it.

 

 

It makes a very handsome set.

 

.

 

After I took the photos of the set I powered up the track and the engine took off like a shot, pulling the cars along at breakneck speed.  It took me off guard and the engine flew off the track at the very first curve that it encountered dragging all 3 cars with it. (No damage done; one of the benefits of using blueboard as a base.)  Pretty amazing for a toy that is 85 years old.

 

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

Northwoods Flyer

[Northwoods Flyer]

Accessories

2206/4206  Highway Flashing Signal

The 2206/4206 below is version B from 1936-1939

 

 

The only real difference between the 2206 and the 4206 is that one was marketed for Narrow Gauge and the other for Wide Gauge.  The lable on the box and the piece of track included with the signal would determine which version it is.

 

Even the instruction sheet included with one of my examples doesn't differentiate between the two models.

 

 

The majority of the signals that I have seen have green cast lamps.

 

 

I have one variation of the Highway Flasher that has blue lamps.

 

 

 

This is the box that it came in with the instruction sheet.

 

 

I have a suspicion that the box and the signal were married at a later  date.  As you can see its labled as being for Narrow Gauge.

 

 

 

There is a version that has the signal standard mounted at a 90 degree angle so that the lamps align along the long axis of the base.

 

I am still looking for version A of this signal that has the diamond shaped base, round pole and a shield shaped sign that says "Cross Crossings Cautiously".

 

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

Northwoods Flyer

[Northwoods Flyer]

3212 Borden's Milk Car  -  Addendum

This car seems to be a fascination for me and others.  There are posts and pictures (including photos of the real car it is based upon) back on pages 36, 38, 39, 40, and 44.

I just recently aquired the third variation of this car from 1938.  Its the one with the curly cue coupler.  This car didn't vary too significantly during its run in the catalog from 1936 to 1940, except for couplers and trucks.

Here are all three versions.

 

 

 

Notice the difference in trucks.

 

 

And two views of the different types of couplers.

 

 

Left to right they are the 1938 Type X Sheet metal knuckle or "Curly Cue" coupler ,  the 1939-1941 Type XI link and pin coupler ((this car is actually numbered 412 and is Gilbert production.  The same coupler was used on S-gauge equipment after the war.), and the 1936-1937 slot and tab, Type VIIc coupler. 

 

 

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

Northwoods Flyer

[Northwoods Flyer]

Accessories

#91 Passenger Station

Back on page 13 Mersenne6 has a great entry on some of the passenger stations available from American Flyer.  I just recently aquired another #91 passenger station and I thought I would take some additional photos of it to post.  It is a simple accessory and one that I think provides some great "atmosphere" as part of a terminal or as a stand alone station.

 

 

It appeared in Flyer catalogs from 1922 to 1925 and it will fit in with either Narrow or Wide Gauge equipment.

 

 

 

You can see that the supports are relatively delicate, so I am sure many of these were damaged by careless feet.

 

 

Mine even looks authentic down to the rust appearing on the column.  I guess its time to send in the painters.

 

 

I like the way it displays with my Terminal Station

 

  

 

I think it looks great with Narrow Gauge equipment passing through.

 

 

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

Northwoods Flyer

[wallyworld]

This is my favorite thread, bar none..a fun, educational and interesting topic. Thanks. I can really appreciate prewar AF, which I did not prior to these posts. It is interesting now to see many AF prewar locomotives improperly tagged as Lionel..which to me just goes to show how little has been written about this..Write a article for CTT....seriously..It would be a fantastic change from Lionel.....not that I dislike Lionel..I have begun collecting original prewar O scale Lionel here and there..Now I am looking at AF as well.

I really appreciate the time and effort you put into this. Thanks.

[mersenne6]

  Wallyworld, I suppose it might be worth trying, however, the last time I checked (admittedly it was a few years ago) there wasn't any interest.  While this thread (not counting the chat room thread - the coffee pot) has the highest number of views on the CTT forum the fact remains that prewar Flyer is still a minority interest. Because it is I suspect interest in this thread would not translate into increased sales/interest in the magazine.

  In case you were wondering - The Saga of Set Sixteen was one of several articles I had originally planned to offer when I last made inquiries about interest in Flyer.  I would have had to re-photograph the sets and I had made arrangements to do so. However I dropped the idea when I was told there was no interest.

[kaycee]

Wallyworld I vote with you on the CTT article. I would love to see such quality information about prewar AF and other manfuacturers of the era.  I believe it would spark interest to those that are uninformed on the subject now.

 I started out collecting prewar Lionel exclusively. I have discovered  AF prewar along the way. My collection is now a mixture of many  prewar trains. They are all interesting and all enjoyable to run on our layout. The layout we have is a wonderful blend of prewar trains and accessories...a nice cross-section of the times.

[mersenne6]

Set 6 - A Short Story

  While there are many sets like Set #16 (see above)  that lived a long and full life in the pre-war American Flyer catalogs there were other set numbers whose life in the pages of those catalogs was brief - one such set is Set #6.

  My collection of Flyer catalogs isn't complete so the story of Set #6 might be slightly longer than described here, but it could only be by a difference of a few years.  There is no mention of Set #6 in the 1914 catalog.  There is a gap in my record so it is possible it could have been offered as early as 1915. What I do know is that Set #6 does show up in the 1918/1919 catalog.  It was offered with a simple loop of track and two manual semaphores. 

  The set is illustrated as consisting of the type VII cast iron clockwork engine #13, a No.120 Type II tender,  a 4 wheel #1202 baggage, and a 4 wheel #1203 lightning bolt passenger car.  Engine #13 was first offered in 1917.  The earliest version of this engine had a red stripe under the cab windows whereas later versions had raised cast "A.F. 12" under the windows.  The picture in the  1918/1919 catalog shows Set #6 with the earlier version of #13. If #13 was the only head end power for this set then 1917 would be the earliest this set could have been offered

 

 

 

   Catalog cut 1918

 

  According to the Greenberg book the red stripe version of #13 was offered from 1917 to ca.1920 and the version with the raised cast letters and numbers is listed as ca. 1921 - 22.  I don't have a copy of the 1920 Flyer catalog but I do have a copy of the 1921 and Set #6 is not listed.

  Set #6 below is a boxed set and engine #13 is the version with the lettering under the windows. In light of the 1921 catalog this would suggest that the cast letter version of #13 was offered at least by 1920.  Allowing for the gaps my references Set #6 could have had a run as short as 4 years and as long as 6.

 

 

  Set #6 ca. 1919

 

   As mentioned above, Set #6 is not listed in the 1921 catalog.  The set number does not appear again until 1930.  Set #6 was now identified as "The Pennsylvanian" and it had all new components.  Head end power was Type XIV clockwork #14 with "brass finished piston rods and brake"  with an orange and green lithographed #120 Type II tender.  The cars were Pullman #1103 and observation #1157 both lithographed in brown with orange enamel roofs.  The car numbers are those assigned in the catalog - the car side lithography does not have numbers.

 

   Catalog cut 1930

 

  Set #6 was offered again in 1931 but was reduced to just a footnote below the clockwork Viking set.

 

 

    The maximum catalog run for Set #6 was between 6 and 8 years - quite a contrast from its older brother Set #16.

[Northwoods Flyer]

wallyworld,

Thanks for your kind words about the thread.  I'm glad that you enjoy it.  It has been a lot of fun for me to do the research and post photos about Flyer items.  As its title says it has always intended to be an invitation to others to post photos of their prewar Flyer items.  Many people have done so, and apparently many people enjoy browsing through its pages.  I want to thank you for your contributions to the threads here on the CTT forum.  I appreciate your contributions on Marx.  I have only one or two pieces, but I enjoy seeing the variety of items that they produced.  There are several others who post regularly about Marx as well, and I have learned a lot from all of you, not the least of which is to appreciate Marx equipment and creativity.  I might take a stab at writing an article on prewar Flyer for CTT one of these days if given the opportunity.  To be honest, I enjoy writing the entries for the thread here.  I know that they are read and appreciated.  I think it gives greater accessability to the information to a lot of folks who are very interested and also to those who are just discovering that there were trains produced by Flyer before they produced S gauge trains.

Wide Gauge

 

 

Narrow Gauge

 

 

Kaycee,

Let me repeat my thanks to you for your interest and encouragement.  This is my favorite thread on the forum as well.  .  I'm glad that it has picqued your interest about Prewar Flyer.  I hope it has done the same for others.  I enjoy other brands of trains as well and I appreciate the information that folks can provide about the history, variations, marketing, etc about them.  I have some Lionel in my collection and if you go back through the pages of the thread you will see them listed as well. 

Here is a Flyer 43226 on the left and a  Lionel 226 on the right.

  

I made a conscious decision long ago to limit myself to collecting American Flyer, otherwise my house would be more full of trains than it already is.  "Limit" is relative I guess when I think of the number of posts on prewar Flyer that I have already done.

 

Mersenne6,

I think that one of the greatest joys of working on this thread has been to discover other folks who are as passionate about this hobby as I am.  Mersenne6 has been one of those folks.  He has always presented wonderful photos and information.  Your article just above is another example of your great research and insight.  I learn more  each time you post.  Thanks again.  I'll be running the Mersenne6 Special tonight.

 

 

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

Northwoods Flyer

[Petpa]

Hello-

I was searching through American Flyer illustrations on Goggle images when I came across the illustration of the American Flyer boy you posted in 2008.  This illustration, signed with a "P", is a work of my late father's, Louis A. Paeth, who was an artist/illustrator of 1920's and 1930's Chicago.  Recently, I saw a listing on Ebay of an old 1933 American Flyer catalog that featured a cover illustration that looked like it could have been painted by my father.  When I learned that American Flyer had once been a Chicago-based company, I started searching the internet and came across your posted image.

I'm curious to know of the year of this illustration, what year catalog did it appear in? Also, if you have any other information about any other illustrative works from this era's catalogs, I would be most interested.  I'm trying to piece together my father's early art career in Chicago; I'm amazed to find a signed illustration, thank you so much for putting it on the internet!

Any help you could provide would be most appreciated...thank you

Peter Paeth  [e-mail]

 

[mersenne6]

  The 1933 Flyer catalog cover is a copy of the 1930 Pennsylvania Railroad Calender.  The painting is titled "Servant to the Nation's Industry" and it was painted by Grif Teller.  When you say "American Flyer Boy"  and reference 2008 it looks like you mean the picture of the boy holding American Flyer trains as also shown in Northwood Flyers post on page 45 of this thread.  That illustration was used by Flyer on the covers of its catalogs from 1920-1924.  A check of the references I have does not give credit to the artist.

[kaycee]

Interesting note about the Grif Teller artwork. I looked through my PRR references, and voila...there it was. Back in the day, the PRR was considered the 'Standard RR of the World', I don't think they would have minded the extra publicity. Although, it would be an intrigue to find out if there was any type of agreement to use the art.

Too bad those days of big RR are gone and so many tracks removed....we could use them today to 'de-congest' the highways. Funny how that goes....they called it 'progress' to build highways while 'demolishing' RR and trolley lines. Now they talk about putting 'railed' travel back for mass transit, with high expense of course.

I appreciate your and Northwood Flyer's detailed information, your articles are very informative and enjoyable.

[mersenne6]

Flyer Catalogs

   There's nothing like an interesting question to make a person go back and take a closer look at reference material...so let's take a look at the catalog art.

  The Greenberg Guide to American Flyer Wide Gauge indicated their listing may not be complete but it is the best list I have access to.

1907 - The catalog was an 8 page catalog.  The cover art has a clockwork 0-4-0 with a #328  tender and three 4 window Chicago passenger cars running on an oval of track. 

1910 - An 8 page catalog. Cover art has a steam locomotive #226 on a double track mainline blasting past a dual semaphore mast.

1914  The catalog cover art for 1914 was also used as set box cover art for the train sets of the period.  I don't have a picture of one of these boxes but I have seen them

 

 

  1914 Catalog Cover

 

 

 1915 -  A 16 page catalog. Cover art has a young boy jumping excitedly as a train emerges from a tunnel.  The same artwork was used on the set box covers for the Hummer Line of trains.

 

   Hummer set box cover

 

1917 and 1918/19 - Same cover art for all years

 

 

   1918/19 catalog cover

 

   1921 - 1924  - Several versions of catalogs for these years exist.  All have a boy cradling either a single steeple cab locomotive or, probably in 1922 and later, a boy cradling a #3020 in his right hand and an "Illini" passenger car in his left.   The artwork for the two boys is by two different individuals.  My reproduction copy of the 1921 catalog doesn't have quite the resolution needed to clearly make out the name but I've included a close up for your viewing pleasure.   In a recent post to this thread Mr. Paeth has identified the artist of the second boy as his father Mr. Louis A. Paeth.  The image of the 1922 Flyer catalog cover in the Greenberg reference is definitely the boy holding both #3020 and the passenger car.  The image is such that there isn't enough detail to see anything else.  On the other hand, the Greenberg image of the 1924 front cover is clear and the "P" signature is easily visible.  I don't have a copy of either the 1922 or the 1924 catalogs but I do have the 1925 catalog and the boy is on the back cover of the 1925 catalog as shown below.  Also shown is an enlargement of the signature region of the illustration.

 

 

  1921 Catalog

 

 

 

   1921 Artist Signature Enlargement

 

 

 

 

 1925 back cover

 

 

 

 1925 Artist Signature

 

   1925 - A 24 page catalog.  I can't find a signature on the cover art but the legend below the picture states, "The Twentieth Century on Electric Division-Courtesy of General Electric Co."

  According to an old issue of "The Collector" this painting was donated to the TCA museum.  It is watercolor and tempera and it was painted by Walter L. Greene who was the chief illustrator for General Electric from 1903-1940 (the same Walter L. Greene who did the NYC paintings).

 

 

 

 Catalog cover 1925

 

 

1926 has the same catalog cover art as 1925.

 

1927 - The train pictured and the setting are the same as the cover art for 1925/26 but the artwork has been simplified/modified.  For example, the engine numbers have been moved, the clouds have been redone and the semaphore signal in the backgroud has gone from dual blades pointing left to a single blade pointing right.

 

  Catalog cover 1927

 

 

Catalogs 1928-1930

 1928 and 1929 feature the top of the line President Special.  The 1930 catalog has a steam engine sharing the limelight with the President Special  probably as a way to announce the re-introduction of electrified steam engines to the line up.

 

 

 

  

     1928 Catalog

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   1929 Catalog

 

 

  

  

  

 

 

 

  Catalog 1930

 

   

 

Catalogs 1931-35

  Flyer went to some of the major railroads and received permission to use official railroad artwork for the catalogs in this period.

1931 - The cover art for the 1931 catalog is the same art that graced the New York Central 1931 calendar.  The painting is titled "Morning on the Mohawk" it is the 20th Century Limited and the artist is Walter L. Greene.  On the bottom right hand side is a small note "Courtesy of the New York Central Railroad."

 

 

 

   Catalog 1931

 

    1932 - The cover art is the painting from the 1929 New York Central calendar. The painting is titled "Westward Bound in the Mohawk Valley Twentieth Century Limited" and the artist is Walter L. Greene. Again the NYC is credited.

 

 

 

   Catalog 1932

   

    

  1933 - The cover art is the painting from the 1930 Pennsylvania Railroad Calendar. The title of the painting is "Servant to the Nation's Industry" and the artist is Grif Teller.  The credit at the bottom right states, "Courtesy of the Pennsylvania Railroad."

 

 

   1933 Catalog

 

 

   1934 - The cover art is the calendar art for the 1928 Pennsylvania Railroad calendar.  The title of the painting is "When the Broadway Meets the Dawn". The artist is Grif Teller and the railroad is given credit in the lower right hand side of the cover.

 

 

 

 

  1934 Catalog

 

 

  

1935 - The cover art is "Courtesy of the Burlington Railroad"  The title of the painting is "Renascence" and the artist is Otto Hake.  The painting was commissioned by the CB&Q  in 1934 and was the picture for their 1935 calendar. 

 

  

   1935 Catalog

 

  

 

 

 1935 artist signature detail

 

 

 Catalogs 1936 - 1941

  In 1936 Flyer went with an illustration of the top of the line power in the catalog.   In 1937 they used the NYC picture they used on their 1931 cover.  The 1938 and 1940 covers were photographs of real trains while 1939 and 1941 were illustrations of trains/sets offered for those years.  The 1941 catalog sported the patriotic colors - red, white, and blue.

 

  

 

 Catalog 1936

 

 

   

  

 

 Catalog 1937

 

 

 

  

   

 

   Catalog 1938

 

 

 

  

   

 

  Catalog 1939

 

 

  

  

  

 

 Catalog 1940

 

 

 

  

   

 

 

     Catalog 1941

   

   

[wallyworld]

Wow..what wonderful illustrations and Griff Teller thrown in the mix to boot...Who needs stupid photography? ..I bet these romantic portrayals  really got a kid's imagination going.. Get behind the throttle of these awesome machines. Way cool..Reminds me of Christmas Story....that Red Ryder BB gun..With me it was the Xmas train layout at Fields in Chicago..Thanks for recalling those memories..

[kaycee]

Thank you very much for the time and effort to share this excellent information.

The artwork really is fantastic. To me, the digitally produced artwork of today, pales in comparison to the 'analog' hand painted artwork of days gone by.

 I agree with all of you, it really does spark the imagination.....something that is missing in todays advertising.

[Northwoods Flyer]

Peter,

Let me add my to you to the thread.  Thanks for posting the information about your father Louis Paeth and his creation of this iconic advertisement and logo for American Flyer Trains.

 

 Mersenne6 has done a great job with his information about catalog art.  He posted some photos of the American Flyer Boy a few entries back.  This is the photo that I posted a page earler or so.

 

 

You have added a wonderful bit of information to the knowledge about the history of American Flyer Trains.

 

After your post I did a Google search on your father and came across two sites where you posted some information about him and examples of his work.  I hope you won't mind if I post those links here so that folks can see other examples of his work.

 

http://fishinghistory.blogspot.com/2011/01/louis-paeth-man-behind-fish-and-feel.html

 

http://fishinghistory.blogspot.com/2011/05/louis-paeth-update-by-peter-paeth.html

I particularly like the second article that you wrote that links your father to the Milwaukee Road.  My home in Wausau is not too far from the route taken by the Fisherman's Special that you mention and my forum name Northwoods Flyer is derived from one of the other passenger trains that ran north to Star Lake - The North Woods Hiawatha.

 

Back in July of 2009 I posted some photos on Sunday Photo Fun of an imagined run of both the Fisherman's Special and the North Woods Hiawatha using period American Flyer trains.

 

 

 

It sounds as if you have had a wonderful time doing the research on your father's career.  I am wondering if you have anything else in your collection of your father's papers and work that links him to American Flyer?

Again thanks for participating in the thread.

 

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

Northwoods Flyer

[Northwoods Flyer]

Several entries back Mersenne6 posted the covers of the American Flyer Pre War Catalogs.  With this entry I am going to play his backup man, or perhaps I should say his back cover man.  I went through my catalogs and took photos of the back covers.  I'm sure that those back pages fostered as many dreams as the front covers and the inside pages.  So this is an homage to the unsung back cover.  I am going to edit them into the post that he created.

 

mersenne6

Now all you need is all the goodies between the covers.

 

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

Northwoods Flyer

Flyer Catalogs

 

   There's nothing like an interesting question to make a person go back and take a closer look at reference material...so let's take a look at the catalog art.

  The Greenberg Guide to American Flyer Wide Gauge indicated their listing may not be complete but it is the best list I have access to.

1907 - The catalog was an 8 page catalog.  The cover art has a clockwork 0-4-0 with a #328  tender and three 4 window Chicago passenger cars running on an oval of track. 

1910 - An 8 page catalog. Cover art has a steam locomotive #226 on a double track mainline blasting past a dual semaphore mast.

1914  The catalog cover art for 1914 was also used as set box cover art for the train sets of the period.  I don't have a picture of one of these boxes but I have seen them

 

  1914 Catalog Cover

 

Back Cover

 

 

 

 1915 -  A 16 page catalog. Cover art has a young boy jumping excitedly as a train emerges from a tunnel.  The same artwork was used on the set box covers for the Hummer Line of trains.

   Hummer set box cover

 

1917 and 1918/19 - Same cover art for all years

   1918/19 catalog cover

   1921 - 1924  - Several versions of catalogs for these years exist.  All have a boy cradling either a single steeple cab locomotive or, probably in 1922 and later, a boy cradling a #3020 in his right hand and an "Illini" passenger car in his left.   The artwork for the two boys is by two different individuals.  My reproduction copy of the 1921 catalog doesn't have quite the resolution needed to clearly make out the name but I've included a close up for your viewing pleasure.   In a recent post to this thread Mr. Paeth has identified the artist of the second boy as his father Mr. Louis A. Paeth.  The image of the 1922 Flyer catalog cover in the Greenberg reference is definitely the boy holding both #3020 and the passenger car.  The image is such that there isn't enough detail to see anything else.  On the other hand, the Greenberg image of the 1924 front cover is clear and the "P" signature is easily visible.  I don't have a copy of either the 1922 or the 1924 catalogs but I do have the 1925 catalog and the boy is on the back cover of the 1925 catalog as shown below.  Also shown is an enlargement of the signature region of the illustration.

 

 

   1921 Catalog

 

 

   1921 Artist Signature Enlargement

 

 

  1925 back cover

 

    1925 Artist Signature

 

 

   1925 - A 24 page catalog.  I can't find a signature on the cover art but the legend below the picture states, "The Twentieth Century on Electric Division-Courtesy of General Electric Co."

 

 

  Catalog cover 1925

 

1926 has the same catalog cover art as 1925.

 1926 Cover

 

 

 

Back Cover

 

 

 

1927 - The train pictured and the setting are the same as the cover art for 1925/26 but the artwork has been simplified/modified.  For example, the engine numbers have been moved, the clouds have been redone and the semaphore signal in the backgroud has gone from dual blades pointing left to a single blade pointing right.

  Catalog cover 1927

 

Back Cover

 

 

 

 

Catalogs 1928-1930

 1928 and 1929 feature the top of the line President Special.  The 1930 catalog has a steam engine sharing the limelight with the President Special  probably as a way to announce the re-introduction of electrified steam engines to the line up.

 

  

     1928 Catalog

 

 Back Cover

 

 

Catalogs 1931-35

  Flyer went to some of the major railroads and received permission to use official railroad artwork for the catalogs in this period.

1931 - The cover art for the 1931 catalog is the same art that graced the New York Central 1931 calendar.  The painting is titled "Morning on the Mohawk" it is the 20th Century Limited and the artist is Walter L. Greene.  On the bottom right hand side is a small note "Courtesy of the New York Central Railroad."

 

 

   Catalog 1931

 

 Back Cover

 

    1932 - The cover art is the painting from the 1929 New York Central calendar. The painting is titled "Westward Bound in the Mohawk Valley Twentieth Century Limited" and the artist is Walter L. Greene. Again the NYC is credited.

 

  

   Catalog 1932

 

 Back Cover

   

 

    

  1933 - The cover art is the painting from the 1930 Pennsylvania Railroad Calendar. The title of the painting is "Servant to the Nation's Industry" and the artist is Grif Teller.  The credit at the bottom right states, "Courtesy of the Pennsylvania Railroad."

   1933 Catalog

 

 Back Cover

 

 

 

 

   1934 - The cover art is the calendar art for the 1928 Pennsylvania Railroad calendar.  The title of the painting is "When the Broadway Meets the Dawn". The artist is Grif Teller and the railroad is given credit in the lower right hand side of the cover.

 

  

  1934 Catalog

 

 Back Cover

 

 

 

  

1935 - The cover art is "Courtesy of the Burlington Railroad"  The title of the painting is "Renascence" and the artist is Otto Hake.  The painting was commissioned by the CB&Q  in 1934 and was the picture for their 1935 calendar. 

  

  

    1935 Catalog

 

 Back Cover

 

 

  

 

 

 

      1935 artist signature detail

 

 

 

 

Catalogs 1936 - 1941

  In 1936 Flyer went with an illustration of the top of the line power in the catalog.   In 1937 they used the NYC picture they used on their 1931 cover.  The 1938 and 1940 covers were photographs of real trains while 1939 and 1941 were illustrations of trains/sets offered for those years.  The 1941 catalog sported the patriotic colors - red, white, and blue.

  

   

   Catalog 1936

 

 Back Cover

 

N

 

 

   

  

  

   Catalog 1937

 

 Back Cover

 

 

 

  

   

  

   Catalog 1938

 

 Back Cover

 

 

 

  

   

  

   Catalog 1939

 

 Back Cover

 

 

  

  

  

  

  

    Catalog 1940

 

  Back Cover

 

  

 

  

   

     

    Catalog 1941

 

 Back Cover

 

 

 

   

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   1929 Catalog

 

 Back Cover

 

   

  

  

 

 

  Catalog 1930

 

 Back Cover

 

 

 

  

   

[Northwoods Flyer]

Back Covers

My apologies for the above entry.  I have run into this problem before. For some reason the software does not like it when I try to edit in photos or text to my own post or someone elses post.  The above entry is almost correct, but I can't seem to fix it.  I will try again by posting only the back covers of the Catalogs.

1914

 

 

1926

 

 

1927

 

 

 

 1928

 

 

 

 1929

 

 

 

 1930

 

 

 

 1931

 

 

 

 1932

 

 

 

 1933

 

 

 

 1934

 

 

 

 1935

 

 

 

 1936

 

 

 

 1937

 

 

 

 1938

 

 

 

 1939

 

 

 

 1940

 

 

 

 1941

 

 

 

Let's see if it works this time.

 

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

Northwoods Flyer

[balidas]

Very nice! Thanx for all that.

[wallyworld]

Wow. The fourth and fifth ( in order) are, in my book, the best looking catalog art.. ever.

Superlatives aside, the care that was taken to create that work of art is incomparable to a photograph, which, when I thought about it has a lot in common with vintage trains and the high quality of sturdiness that is evident nearly a hundred years later.  Once again, my thanks.

[kaycee]

Fantastic!

The work you do to send all this information is very well appreciated by all.

What a golden time it was for all these faboulous catalogs to have been created with all the great artwork front to back. A definite compliment to the toy trains of the day.

Thank you for sharing!

[O-GaugeOscar]

I'd like to echo the sentiments of the posts above. (Unfortunately, I've been away from the forum too long due to work and other events.)

I recently purchased the 1936 AF catalog as my father's "Pennsylvania" set is one of four featured on the cover. (I'd like to purchase the other three sets someday.)  What a treat it must have been to get one of those catalogs and an AF set for Christmas during the Great Depression!  Sadly, my father passed away in April before I could show him the 1936 catalog.

As others have said, thanks for sharing your wonderful AF knowledge with those interested in this most classic American hobby!

 

 

[Northwoods Flyer]

It does my heart good to know that folks are enjoying the information in this thread.  Its a lot of fun for me to take the photos, do the research, and then post the information.  Thanks for all of the kind words folks.

 

Collecting the paper associated with American Flyer trains is another aspect of the hobby.  One of the best places to enter is by looking for catalogs.  They also provide great resources for research, of course as has been mentioned before the catalogs can be very inaccurate.  I too think that the art work from this era is some of the best.  It still provides the raw materials for dreams.

 

O-GaugeOscar its nice to see you back.  Here is a little incentive to find those other 1936 sets.

 

 

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

Northwoods Flyer

[Northwoods Flyer]

#3014 Midsized Boxcab

In 1926 American Flyer introduced the New Haven Style boxcab electric locomotive.  The #3014 was used in the top of the line O gauge sets.

The Greenberg guide lists 3 different variations for the #3014.  The 2 examples that I have in my collection do not fit the descriptions, but they are close.

 

I believe that this 3014 is Greenberg's version (a).

 

 

The pilots are cast iron and the frame is sheet metal, giving the engine a little more length than the other electric outline engines that year.

 

 

The other version that I have is Greenberg's variation (c)

 

 

From my observations this version is a bit less common than the black version.  It also has brass journals and a red painted pilot.

 

 

The black version has two brass tags that are usually associated with earlier production.

 

 

The green version also has 2 brass tags, but the one with the black background is usually associated with later production.

 

 

I can only find the 3014 listed in the 1926 catalog.  Its interesting to think that American Flyer could have had at least 3 variations in a single year.

 

 

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

Northwoods Flyer

 

[Northwoods Flyer]

3105 Midsized BoxCab

I thought I would stick with a theme here for a while and introduce another of American Flyer's Midsized BoxCabs.  I aquired this example a while ago and haven't gotten around to posting the photos of it.

 

 

It was cataloged in 1930 and 1931.

 

It uses the same sheet metal frame as the 3107 and the 3109 and it has the same die cast journal boxes.  Below is the 3107 that I have in my collection.  With its three matching passenger cars it was cataloged as The Frontenac.

 

 

Besides the 3105 brass tag it may have the number 3105 rubber stamped on the bottom of the frame.

 

 

The 3105 came with matching blue cars in the 3150 series and was called The Dixie Queen.  I am still looking for a nice set of cars to complete the set.  The 3105 was also offered for seperate sale both years.

 

 

 

 Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

 Northwoods Flyer