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Pre War American Flyer Pictures - An Invitation

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Posted by JonEddy on Friday, August 28, 2020 8:25 AM

24" long O-gauge bridge, I'm not sure if this is a Flyer bridge or not. Anyone?

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Posted by Northwoods Flyer on Friday, August 28, 2020 10:29 AM

It looks more like a Marx Trestle Bridge.

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Northwoods Flyer

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Posted by Rene Schweitzer on Thursday, September 17, 2020 7:50 AM

Hello all. I received a voice mail stating that some of the older photos here aren't appearing. Please note that this thread was started in 2008. We don't host photos on this forum, so any photo that's not appearing is because its host location isn't working/displaying the photos anymore.

Rene Schweitzer

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Posted by Northwoods Flyer on Thursday, September 17, 2020 9:02 AM

Thanks for the response Rene. I believe that the voicemail that you received was from me. I thought I would start with the website to see if there was anything that could be done here. All of my photos are hosted by Shutterfly. I will make contact with them to see what the issue might be on their end.

Stay tuned......

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Northwoods Flyer

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Posted by Rene Schweitzer on Thursday, September 17, 2020 10:20 AM

Northwoods Flyer

Thanks for the response Rene. I believe that the voicemail that you received was from me. I thought I would start with the website to see if there was anything that could be done here. All of my photos are hosted by Shutterfly. I will make contact with them to see what the issue might be on their end.

Stay tuned......

Enjoying the Word's Greatest Hobby

Northwoods Flyer

 

Yes, check with Shutterfly and see if your account status has changed?

A couple of years ago Photobucket changed their policies and a bunch of photos wouldn't appear if you didn't pay for the service, whereas before it was free for X amount of space.

Rene Schweitzer

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Posted by AF53 on Sunday, September 20, 2020 11:20 AM

Hello all! It's been a long time. I sure hope the pictures return, it makes a huge difference.

 

Ray

Ray

Bayville, NJ

 

Life is what happens to you
While you're busy making other plans - John Lennon

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Posted by Northwoods Flyer on Monday, September 21, 2020 9:34 AM

Update:

I received an email from Shutterfly.  They are working on the issue.  Hopefully the missing photos will return soon.

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Northwoods Flyer

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Posted by JonEddy on Monday, September 28, 2020 5:55 AM

Has anyone ever heard of an uncataloged St. Paul Red Eagle set with a 4633 engine? I saw this video by Dave Clark on youtube and it made me wonder if the Eagle set I got this summer was this version since it didn't have the correct engine with it but I did get a nice 4633 with no cars in the same bulk buy. Below are pics of my Eagle set and also the video I found on youtube.

Engine that was supposedly the correct engine for my set:

My 4633.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzMPS-ucR78

 

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Posted by Northwoods Flyer on Tuesday, September 29, 2020 2:48 PM

Hi Jon,

These are the only "Eagle" marked cars that I have in my collection - both of them Observation Cars.

I have been on the lookout for an Eagle set for a while, however most of the ones that I have seen are pretty worn; or I should say well played with.  Yours look in great shape.

Given who the owner of the set in the video is I think you can trust the information that he provides about the set. 

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Northwoods Flyer

The Northwoods Flyer Collection

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American Flyer Trains

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Posted by JonEddy on Tuesday, September 29, 2020 8:36 PM

Northwoods Flyer
I have been on the lookout for an Eagle set for a while, however most of the ones that I have seen are pretty worn; or I shoud say well played with.  Yours look in great shape. Given who the owner of the set in the video is I think you can trust the information that he provides about the set. 

Thanks! I have been watching his videos when I find the time because he has so many beautiful Flyer sets. He has an Empire Express video and you know how hard it is to find any info or pics of one let alone a video of the set running on a layout. Wink

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Posted by RHicks309 on Friday, October 2, 2020 4:57 PM

Speaking of the Eagle set, is the 4644 supposed to have one headlight or two?  You see examples of both for sale.  The 1927 catalog picture of an Eagle set shows a 4644 with only one.  Mine has one headlight with holes at the other end for another, but I suppose that could be because the same part was used on other versions, such as the 4684 pictured below.  Just wondering!

Randall

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Posted by JonEddy on Thursday, November 19, 2020 10:43 PM

RHicks309

Speaking of the Eagle set, is the 4644 supposed to have one headlight or two?  You see examples of both for sale.  The 1927 catalog picture of an Eagle set shows a 4644 with only one.  Mine has one headlight with holes at the other end for another, but I suppose that could be because the same part was used on other versions, such as the 4684 pictured below.  Just wondering!

Randall

 

Anything is possible, I've seen 4644's with the hooded lamp on one end and I believe they were just using up the old roof stock from the previous year when the 4643 came out in green with the hooded lamp.

    Jon

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Posted by JonEddy on Thursday, November 19, 2020 11:08 PM

Nationwidelines
One unusual thing I noted about the above boxcar is that it only has a single brake wheel (and associated bracket). This must be some sort of factory error as all of the other early boxcars I have seen from the 1928-1930 era have two brake wheels, which makes it impossible to remove the roof, once the brake wheels and posts are installed.

Nationwide, I saw this old post and unfortunately the pictures are no longer showing up. I just picked up a Merchant set and it has one brake wheel and bracket but it does have a second bracket. Did your set have a second bracket without the brake wheel or was it missing?

    Thanks,

        Jon

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Posted by Northwoods Flyer on Friday, November 20, 2020 10:21 AM

Hi Jon

I have both versions of the Merchant Set. One headed by the #3115 and one headed by the #3185.

Neither one of them came to me as boxed sets so I can't vouch for their authenticity.  One set has a box car with only one brake wheel and the other has a box car with two brake wheels. You can always count on American Flyer for variations.  Nice find.

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Northwoods Flyer

 

The Northwoods Flyer Collection

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Posted by Northwoods Flyer on Friday, November 20, 2020 10:26 AM

Update on Missing Photos

As many of you have probably noticed most of the photos from the early days of the thread are no longer visible.  I have been in contact with Shutterfly, who is my photo host, and so far they  have not been able to correct the issue.  If you have a specific photo that you would like to see and if it is one of mine I can try to post it again.  I hope that we have not lost all of those early photos from so many of our contributors.

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Northwoods Flyer

The Northwoods Flyer Collection

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Posted by JonEddy on Friday, November 20, 2020 10:31 AM

Northwoods Flyer

Hi Jon

I have both versions of the Merchant Set. One headed by the #3115 and one headed by the #3185.

Neither one of them came to me as boxed sets so I can't vouch for their authenticity.  One set has a box car with only one brake wheel and the other has a box car with two brake wheels. You can always count on American Flyer for variations.  Nice find.

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Northwoods Flyer

 

 

Those are some beautiful examples of the Merchant you've got there!

    Jon

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Posted by Northwoods Flyer on Tuesday, December 29, 2020 3:07 PM

I recently acquired another variation of the #4152 Wide Gauge Observation with EAGLE decals.

 

Here are the other two variations:

This makes 3 EAGLE Observations.  I had better start looking for some Pullmans to match them.

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Northwoods Flyer

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Posted by Northwoods Flyer on Friday, January 22, 2021 3:00 PM
Happy Anniversary
 

January 22, 2008  -  January 22, 2021

 

Celebrating

13

 years

of

Pre War American Flyer Pictures

 

Another year has sped by. This one will be remembered for more than collecting toy trains. And then again perhaps it will be remembered for the diversion that our hobby provided for us during a time of upheaval and social isolation. I expected to spend far more time in my train room and organizing my collection than I did. I know from reading online on a number of sites many folks did accomplish projects.

It has been on odd first year of retirement. I hope that this coming year provides more of what I had hoped retirement would be like.  I have some plans for a layout and displays in the train room, and I hope that this year they become more than just plans and drawings.

The thread has experienced somewhat of a setback.  As many of you know for some reason the links between my hosting site and photos in the first 65 pages or so have been broken.  I have been in contact with the site and there has been no progress in getting the links restored. I notice that the same thing has happened to photos from a number of other contributors.  Still there has been a steady flow of readers to the thread even if contributions of photos and questions has decreased.

I did start another thread on the CTT site that expanded to other makers of tinplate called "Tinplate Heritage Photos".  I invite you to check out that thread and contribute photos of your tinplate from any manufacturer.  I hope that you will continue to patronize and contribute to both threads.

Once again I offer my thanks to Kalmbach Media for hosting this site and making this thread possible.

In honor of Anniversary 13 here are some photos of American Flyer cast iron windup engine #13 from 1923-1924.

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Northwoods Flyer

Greg

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Posted by Northwoods Flyer on Thursday, February 11, 2021 10:35 AM

I recently added another Frontenac set to the collection.  Set #1322   was cataloged from 1930 to 1932. 

The cars came with their original boxes.

The engine came in an original American Flyer box but it was not the right one.

They all came in an original box.  The set number is not legible on the box so I am not sure that it is the original box for a Frontenac set.  You have to love the price.


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Posted by Northwoods Flyer on Saturday, February 13, 2021 9:48 AM

Update

The box that I posted above is not from a Frontenac set. 

NationWideLines pointed out that this label was not used until 1935.

"The correct Frontenac label would be one of the blue badge type labels with a set number and the name Frontenac on the label."

Thanks for the identification of the box NWL.

At least I have a box to store the set in.

I wonder what set did come in this box.

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Posted by pennytrains on Saturday, February 13, 2021 6:35 PM

Not trying to be a smartie, but, one that sold for $5.95 would be a good starting point for finding out.  Wink

Big Smile  Same me, different spelling!  Big Smile

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Posted by Northwoods Flyer on Wednesday, February 17, 2021 10:53 AM

This is what an actual box and label for a Frontenac set (model 1322) box looks like, and The Oriental set (model 1337) box too as a bonus.

Penny, that sounds like a good place to start along with checking the dimensions of the box.

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Northwoods Flyer

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Posted by JonEddy on Friday, February 19, 2021 5:08 PM

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. Here is a 1931 Wide gauge #1475 Monroe Set featuring the 4670 type(A) engine and 4671 tender to go with the 4017 Sand Car and 4011 caboose. I got this set in bad shape mechanically last summer and finally got it up and running. The side rods were incorrect when I got it and they promptly broke the first time I tried running it back in July. It took until December to get the replacements made and installed thanks to Dave Corbett of Wisconsin. The motor needed some TLC while I was trying to find the correct parts. I think it was worth the wait. Big Smile

     Jon

 

 

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Posted by Northwoods Flyer on Sunday, February 21, 2021 12:04 PM

Jon,

Your Monroe set looks great. The Wide Gauge steamers all look fantastic.

Here is the listing from the 1931 catalog.

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Northwoods Flyer

The Northwoods Flyer Collection

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Posted by JonEddy on Sunday, February 21, 2021 5:56 PM

Thanks for sharing the catalog info, I will hopefully have my other 4670 up and running soon.

     Jon

Northwoods Flyer

Jon,

Your Monroe set looks great. The Wide Gauge steamers all look fantastic.

Here is the listing from the 1931 catalog.

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Northwoods Flyer

 

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Posted by JonEddy on Sunday, February 21, 2021 10:28 PM

Northwoods Flyer

Jon,

Your Monroe set looks great. The Wide Gauge steamers all look fantastic.

Here is the listing from the 1931 catalog.

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Northwoods Flyer

 

Can you post a closer view of the 1477 Governor set information?

   Thanks!

        Jon

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Posted by Northwoods Flyer on Saturday, February 27, 2021 1:52 PM

Hi Jon,

Sorry for the delay in getting the information to you.  Here is the catalog information from the 1931 Catalog on the #1477 Governor set.

I hope this helps.

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Northwoods Flyer

The Northwoods Flyer Collection

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American Flyer Trains

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Posted by JonEddy on Sunday, February 28, 2021 3:24 PM

Thanks for the info, It helps a lot!

    Jon

Northwoods Flyer

Hi Jon,

Sorry for the delay in getting the information to you.  Here is the catalog information from the 1931 Catalog on the #1477 Governor set.

I hope this helps.

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Northwoods Flyer

 

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Posted by Northwoods Flyer on Friday, March 5, 2021 9:00 PM

Triangular Valve Gear Engine with a #4693 Wide Gauge Tender

That is about the best that I can do in identifying this engine.

I have compared it to the photos in the Greenberg Guide and the descriptions given for each type of the Wide Gauge steamers.  The only thing that I am sure of is the tender because it is stamped 4693 on the bottom.

It has characteristics of the Triangular Valve Gear engines (the running gear obviously) and it also has characteristics of the Brass Piper Locomotives.

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Northwoods Flyer

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Posted by Major on Saturday, March 6, 2021 6:46 AM

My son has one exactly like the locomotive pictured.

 

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