Pre War American Flyer Pictures - An Invitation

[jefelectric]

 I got one reply to my previous post, how about a few more.  Direct email is [e-mail].

[Northwoods Flyer]

Lionel 656 Cattle Car And American Flyer ???

Here is an example of Lionel producing a car for which American Flyer had no competion .  As Mersenne6 has illustrated earlier on the thread, Flyer did not produce many examples of cattle cars or stock cars in their Pre War Narrow Gauge line and only one example in the Wide Gauge Line.

Lionel had several variations of a 6 inch cattle car.  Here is one.

 

And a detail shot.

 

 

Lionel produced the 656 from 1935 through 1940.

 

I wish that Flyer had produced a car like this in their Narrow (O Gauge) Gauge line.  They did produce one example in the Wide Gauge Line, the 4020.

 

 

Another manufacturer did produce a nice lithographed version of a live stock car.  Ives has a nice 6 inch version.  The one in my collection does not have any trucks.  I have been considering taking a spare set of American Flyer trucks and mounting them to the Ives body to produce a "what might have been" car for my Flyer Line.

 

This is the Ives #65 Live Stock Transportation car.

 

It has some great lithography - sorry for the out of focus picture

 

 

 

I think it would make a nice addition and good companion to the Lionel 6 inch car.

 

 

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

 

Northwoods Flyer

 

[Northwoods Flyer]

Lionel 657 Caboose and American Flyer 3017 Caboose

Every train must come to an end.  And in the prewar era no self respecting freight train would have been seen without a caboose.  The similar offerings by Lionel and American Flyer were the 657 and the 3017.

 

 

 

This Lionel version ran from about 1935 to 1939. 

 

 

 

The American Flyer 3017 was cataloged in 1930-1932, 1934-1935, and again in 1938.  I would put this version in the 1934-1935 era.

 

 

 

Lionel also had a four wheel version, the 807, that ran from 1927 to 1942.

 

 

 

While the caboose usually marks the end of the train, in this case it doesn't signify the end of the stlyes of car.  I have one more 6 inch car style in my collection to add next time.

 

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

 

Northwoods Flyer

[Northwoods Flyer]

Lionel 659 Dump Car

This version of the 659 Dump Car was available from 1935 thru 1942.

The bin swivels to either side to dump alongside the track and has a unique locking device to keep in it from tipping while moving.

It is well marked on the side of the bin.

 

 

Flyer did not make a car with a tilting bin but it did make the 3019 dump car that I already compared to the Lionel 653 Hopper.  I think that the 3019 could also be a comparable car to the 659.

 

 

 

At least for now this covers the Prewar small freights that were made by Lionel and American Flyer that are in my collection.  There are a few others and I will add pictures of them if I add them to the collection.

 

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

 

Northwoods Flyer

 

 

[Northwoods Flyer]

Type XV  4-6-2 Pacific Locomotive

In 1938 American Flyer introduced an entirely new style of locomotive; the die cast, type XV 4-4-2 Atlantics and 4-6-2 Pacifics.

The catalog number for the Pacific and tender combination was 4622-6

 

The engine was numbered 43226 with a decal under the window. It appears with this number only in 1938.

 

 

It has a very intricate valve gear arrangement.

 

 

 

The tender is a type XIII,  catalog number 1623.  It was paired with the Pacific only in 1938.

 

 

Flyer was certainly moving toward a more realistic appearance for its locomotives.

 

 

 

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

 

Northwoods Flyer

 

 

[Darth Santa Fe]

My Royal Blue train set, now fully repainted!

I know it's not all original pre-war, but I've done the best I can. It's not realistic like my HO stuff, but I don't care, because it's one cool looking set!

[Northwoods Flyer]

Darth,

That Royal Blue freight set looks fantastic.  You did a really great job on your grandfather's set.  I don't have any 3/16" O gauge in my collection yet. 

Your set was cataloged in 1941.  It appears on page 11.

http://www.myflyertrains.org/AF_Catalogs/1941Catalog/AF_1941_catalog_page11.htm       

With a description on page 10.

http://www.myflyertrains.org/AF_Catalogs/1941Catalog/AF_1941_catalog_page10.htm    

I am sure your grandfather would think it is great to see his train just like the day it arrived.  Thanks for posting your pictures and for posting the before and after pictures on the other thread.

 

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

Northwoods Flyer

[Northwoods Flyer]

Accessories - 2005 Triangle Light

Flyer cataloged this accessory from 1935 thru 1939.

It came in two colors: blue and green

 

My observation has been that the green version is more common than the blue version.

 

It looks nice on the layout with Wide Gauge trains, especially in the dark.

 

 

Operation is very simple with a switch that rotates to make contact with the desired bulb.

 

 

 

It would be a great accessory to allow a little brother or sister operate if you didn't want them touching your trains; but mom and dad insisted that you let him or her play with the trains with you.

 

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

 

Northwoods Flyer

 

[Northwoods Flyer]

Accessories - 4122 Mailbag Set  - Wide Gauge

This accessory was offered a number of different times during the era that American Flyer marketed Wide Gauge Trains.  It was also offered for the Narrow Gauge line of trains as Mailbag Set 122.

It comes in a nice compact box with the familiar American Flyer label

 

Inside are the following components: the track side standard, a mail bag catcher for the side of a baggage or combine car, three mailbags and a wire hook that is used to hunt for the mailbag once it has been scooped into the car.

 

 

In my example the original directions were still folded neatly inside the box.

 

 

The directions illustrate how to fasten the trackside standard to a piece of track,

 

and hang the bag on the hook at the top of the standard.

 

 

It also describes how to fasten the mail bag arm to the side of the car to catch the mailbag as the car moves past. This has to be one of best ways to damage the lithography or paint on the side of your car.  When I put the catcher on my car it matched up perfectly with existing scratches on the door frame.

 

 

 

 

 

The action is pretty simple and entertaining.  The postal system employee at the station or pick up point hangs the bag on the trackside standard,

 

 

As the car flashes by the arm draws the mailbag into the car, where it will be sorted by the RPO clerks.

 

 

 

 

I'm sure it provided a lot of fun for the helper assigned to get the mail ready to be sent out, and it also explains a lot of scratches that appear on baggage and combines.

 

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

 

Northwoods Flyer

 

 

 

[Sturgeon-Phish]

Here is the later 718 mailcar and pickup

Jim

[Northwoods Flyer]

Hi Jim,

Thanks for posting the picture of the 718 mail car.  Its always nice to have you contribute.  Your S gauge car had a predecessor in the O gauge 3/16 line that Gilbert marketed before the war.  It was numbered 492 and according to the Greenberg guide it came in red, green, and tuscan.  The cars were marketed in 1940 and 1941.  I think its interesting that Gilbert continued the theme of some cars from the Coleman Chicago era.  I have the S gauge versions packed away somwhere.  I only have a very few examples of the pre war 3/16 O gauge line in my collection at the moment, and unfortunately the 492 is not one of them.  I have been looking for an example of a picture to post but I haven't been able to find one yet.

I also thought of posting a video of the 718 in action, but I have not been able to find one on YouTube.  Its a fun accessory to watch.  I think there are some segments of it spliced into the American Flyer Boy's Railroad Club episodes too. I haven't been able to find any of them posted either.

I did find this copy of the page from the 1941 catalog that featured the 492.  Its not in color, but you can see the similarity to the later S gauge car.

http://www.myflyertrains.org/AF_Catalogs/1941Catalog/AF_1941_catalog_page37.htm

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

Northwoods Flyer

[wallyworld]

 I just wanted to briefly comment that this is one of the most entertaining and educational threads I have ever read here. As a  toy train "Marxist"I had no idea how fabulous the AF line was. Keep those photos coming...fantastic.

[Northwoods Flyer]

I just recently purchased another one of Lionel's Pre war small freight cars. I'm posting it as an addition to the part of the thread that compares Lionel and American Flyer small freight cars from the prewar era.  Unfortunately Flyer had nothing in its 6 inch freight car line to compete with:

Lionel 620 Floodlight Car

 

The 620 was cataloged from 1938 through 1942.

 

My version is well marked on the bottom.

 

 

The floodlight swivels on the base.

 

 

And it looks great lighted as it rolls down the track.

 

 

While American Flyer had nothing to compete with the floodlight car in its 6 inch car line, it did have the 3213 searchlight car in the 9 1/2 inch freight car line.

 

 

The very first "old trains" that I bought when I was 12 years old just happened to be examples of the 2800 cars.  I added several more to the original purchase.  They are packed away somewhere. One of these days I will dig them out and do a comparison of Lionel and American Flyer Large Freight cars.

 

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

 

Northwoods Flyer

 

[Northwoods Flyer]

Type XIII   Hiawatha

In 1936 American Flyer added the diecast Hiawatha locomotive to its line of Narrow Gauge trains.  It is a fairly good representation of the Milwaukee Road engine of the same name.  It only appeared in Flyer catalogs for two years, 1936 and 1937.  In those two years there were two variations.

The 1936 version is numbered in dealers lists as 1682, and when it comes with its matching tender it is numbered 1683.

 

This first version has an interesting leading truck that has two different sizes wheels. 

 

 

The front set has the ability to move, while the second larger set is fixed and will not swivel.

 

 

You will notice in the picture above that the rear truck is intended to look as if it has two axels, when in reality it has only the one. 

 

That second set of fixed wheels in the front presents a real problem in that the engine does not track very well when going around curves.  Many times you will find the 1936 version of the engine without these wheels because a previous owner has removed them.  The Hiawatha was intended to use the new for 1936 40 inch curves manufactured with a fourth rail and fiberboard base.  The fourth rail was used to activate the whistle in the tender.  I can tell you from experience that this engine has difficulty negotiating even a larger radius curve.  I have run it on the 42 inch Fastrack curves and it still has a tendency to bind and derail.

 

The 1936 tender had a whistle in it. Mine is missing, but this tender had it at one time.

 

 

One day I would like to have a Hiawatha tender with a whistle intact as well as the similar tender with a whistle in it that went with the Hudson.

 

Flyer made changes to the Hiawatha in 1937, no doubt after receiving complaints about its tracking ability, and modified the front truck.  It is still nubered 1682 for the engine and 1683 with the tender.

 

 

 

You can see that the two front wheels in the 1937 version are the same size, as compared to the 1936 version.

 

 

Both of the front sets of wheels now swivel and are mounted independently.  The rear truck remains the same with only one axel.

 

 

The 1937 version of the tender also no longer has a whistle.

 

 

The two examples of the Hiawatha that I have are original castings but it is pretty obvious that they are repaints.  The Hiawatha is a sentimental favorite for a lot of folks in the Midwest and its an icon of the Milwaukee Road.  I had eyed original examples of it for a long time in my train hunting.

Then last year I found  these two examples for prices that I couldn't resist.

 

 

Back in 1983 for the 50th anniversary issue of Model Railroader there was a great story that started with the fictional discovery of a Hiawatha engine that had been discovered in northern Wisconsin.  It had been saved from the scrappers torch by Al Kalmbach and hidden away in a trainshed.  The story continued with the Hiawatha being refurbished and it then made a nation wide circuit, running on most of the well known layouts of the day - In all gauges!  If you can find a copy of that issue its great fun to read and to see the Hiawatha in action.

 

In my dreams, and on the Blueboard Central Division of American Flyer Lines the Northwoods Hiawatha still runs daily.

 

 

 

 

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

 

Northwoods Flyer

[Northwoods Flyer]

Streamlined Passenger Cars

Hiawatha

American Flyer introduced their streamlined passenger cars in 1936 and kept them in the catalog through 1940.  During those years there were only two body styles; coaches and observation cars.  Sadly, they never produced a baggage.  The cars were introduced in 1936 with the Union Pacific Set, the Hiawatha, and during their run they were matched up with Hudsons, Pacifics and Atlantics.

The Hiawatha set had a beautiful color scheme for the 12 inch coach -#1641

 

and for the 13 3/4 inch observation - #1642.

 

 

Schuweiler describes the observation this way in the Greenberg Guide to Prewar American Flyer Trains:

"The observation car in the Hiawatha set has a special rear-end contour, the "beaver tail," to simulate the appearance of the real train. Observation cars in all other sets have a more conventional "boat tail" appearance."

 

 

 

The cars have semi vestibules mounted to their ends.  Coupling the two cars together brings the semi-vestibules on each car into contact with each other and provides a good electrical contact between the two cars.  This contact is used to  pass current from car to car and power the interior lights. The passenger coaches do not have track pick ups for electricity.  The observation is the only car with a track pickup.

 

 

Hiawatha passenger sets were cataloged in 1936 and 1937.

 

The 1937 set had the 1683 die cast locomotive/tender combination shown in the post above and two 1641 coaches and one 1642 observation.  The set is identical to the set from 1936 except that the tender does not have a whistle The set is numbered 1742

 

This is the 1937 set:

 

 

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

 

Northwoods Flyer

[Northwoods Flyer]

Christmas Wish List

                     1926

What an exciting year it has been. Some very interesting events have occured; Francisco Franco became the General of Spain,Robert Goddard launches the first liquid fuel rocket, Roald Amundsen flies over the North Pole, Gertrude Ederle becomes the first woman to swim the English Channel from France to England, Harry Houdini dies on Halloween and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the New York Yankees in the World's Series.

But the really important events of the year are yet to come: picking out the Christmas gifts to ask for from Santa.  It may be early November but the American Flyer catalog has arrived.

 

Its filled with an incredible array of wonderful trains and other toys.  Any child would want something from this catalog.  But the really savvy ones want The President's Special.

 

 

Its a beauty, and it has those 19" cars.

 

 

You can be certain that on Christmas morning some lucky children are going to find this beauty circling the tree.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is still plenty of time, but some of us are going to get started on that letter to Santa today!

 

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

 

Northwoods Flyer

[Sturgeon-Phish]

beautiful!

[Northwoods Flyer]

Christmas Wish List

                      1927

The world is moving at an ever faster pace and it seems as if it is shrinking. During this year: the first transatlantic telephone call is made from New York to London, the first armoured car robbery is committed by the Flatheads Gang in Pittsburgh, Bell Telephone Company transmits an image of Commerce Secretary Hoover, which becomes the first successful long distance demonstration of a new fangled thing called television, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is founded (The "Academy" in the Academy Awards), Charles Lindburgh makes the first solo non-stop transatlantic flight from New York to Paris in The Spirit of St. Louis, the movie The Jazz Singer opens in the United States and begins the era of "talkies", and the Holland Tunnel opens linking New York and New Jersey.

Most importantly to the children of America its the 20th Anniversary of American Flyer Trains. The Company is introducing their Rainbow Line of trains with a gorgeous catalog.  Its just the thing to spend some hours looking at and making Christmas wishes.

 

The Wide Gauge line of trains is breath taking, but the Narrow Gauge trains really illustrate the concept of the rainbow, especially when you look at this two page spread:

 

 

There are some exciting trains to look at. Its hard to decide which one to put on the list to ask for from Santa. 

 

Eventually one of the mid-range passenger trains catches your eye:

 

The Broadway Limited

 

 

With any luck and and a lot of good behaviour this set might just show up under the tree on Christmas morning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Its time to start dreaming about all the people that you can carry home for the holidays on a crack passenger train like The Broadway Limited.

 

 

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

 

Northwoods Flyer

 

[Dixie RR]

1926, a little before my time.  However this Christmas I will be able to have a

(newly aquired at York) Presidents Special under the tree, something I've

wanted and waited for a LONG time.  Warren Buffet bought a RR, I'm happy

with the PS.  One minor problem- the 4392 Obs has incorrect #/name plates;

does anyone know of replacements?

DixieRR (happy in sunny Florida)

[Northwoods Flyer]

DixieRR,

to the forum and to this thread.  Your Christmas should indeed be special with the President travelling around your tree.  I don't have the President's Special in the two tone blue yet, but it is on my "Wanted List".  I'm afraid that if I ever do get to York I'm likely to come home with many more goodies than I should.

I am not aware of anyone who has reproduced the name and number plates at this time.  On occasion some of them do appear on eBay when someone is parting out a car.  Someone else may have more information than I do.

If you have the capability to post photos of your beauty,please do so.

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

Northwoods Flyer

[Northwoods Flyer]

Christmas Wish List

                      1928

Its 1928 and the Roaring 20's are in full swing.  Its an era of energy and fast paced events. This year: the Second Winter Olympic Games are held in St. Moritz Switzerland and the Summer Olympics are held in Amsterdam, the first regular schedule of television programming begins in Schenectady New York by General Electric's television station W2XB, Aviatrix Amelia Earhart becomes the first woman to successfully cross the Atlantic Ocean - with her pilot Wilmer Stultz, an iron long respirator is used for the first time at Children's Hospital in Boston, the US congress approves the construction of Boulder Dam, Mickey Mouse appears in Steamboat Willie - his first movie with sound, and Herbert Hoover wins the presidential election.

But of course for most boys one of the major events of the year is the arrival of the American Flyer catalog at the local hardware store.  Flyer is touting the Rainbow Line again this year.

 

The pages of the catalog are filled with a colorful assortment of trains.  The Wide Gauge trains are visions to fill dreams for many an afternoon. Many children will stop on page 10 in the Narrow Gauge section.

 

At the the top of the line "The Ambassador" passenger set is spectacular, but above it on the same page is something completely different - a freight train. This is the first year that Flyer has offered these cars.  "The Merchant" has lots of play options.

 

 

With a little imagination the possibilities for carrying loads of cargo is almost endless.  Think of all the vital commodities that you can move from coast to coast on your railroad.

 

 

The really observant kids will notice that these same cars are listed for seperate sale in the catalog on page 11.  You could build a whole fleet of cars.

 

 

Even more importantly there is a tank car that is listed for seperate sale that isn't included in The Merchant.

 

 

That tank car would look wonderful in the consist of "The Merchant".  It looks like there will be another item on the list in the letter to Santa this year.

 

 

And who knows?  Just perhaps that tank car might appear running on your layout in The Merchant set on Christmas morning. Keen!

 

 

 

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

 

Northwoods Flyer

 

 

 

[mersenne6]

 Are you sure the plates aren't "correct"?  By this I mean do they look like they have been tampered with or do they look like factory installations?  If it is the latter then I'd leave them alone - Flyer often put the wrong plates/number boards on cars and engines.  On an earlier page in this thread I posted pictures of my "Ambassador" set - none of the plates match what was advertised and the cars are completely original.

[Northwoods Flyer]

Christmas Wish List

                      1929

This year is a study in contrasts.  For adults the events of the year sound as if they could have come from a novel by Charles Dickens - "It was the best of times,it was the worst of times.":  The Saint Valentine's Day Massacre occures in Chicago when seven gansters of Al Capone's rival are murdered, Congress establishes Grand Teton National Park, the first Academy Awards were presented in Hollywood with Wings winning best picture, the Dow Jones Industrial Average peaks at 381.17 (a mark it will not reach again until 1954), and then the Wall Street Stock Market Crash wipes out $30 billion from the New York Stock exchange, but there is nothing really to worry about - President Herbert Hoover announces to Congress in December that the worst effects of the Stock Market crash were over and that the American people had regained faith in the economy, and the Philadelphia Athletics beat the Chicago Cubs in five games to take the World's Series.

In the world of adults things may look a bit cloudy and overcast with storm clouds on the horizon, but for kids who love American Flyer trains the catalog is still filled with a rainbow of trains and dreams.  The catalog cover shows The President's Special racing down the line.

 

Inside there is almost an unlimited number of trains and options to choose from.  Last year the kid down the block got a great Narrow Gauge freight set. Its a pretty neat set and it might be fun to have a freight train to haul stuff around the Christmas tree.  Mom and Dad are saying that you might have to limit your Christmas list to Santa this year.  So instead of looking at the top of the line sets maybe its ok to focus on something more in the middle. 

 

In the Wide Gauge section of the catalog there are wonderful trains and engines, including some new steam engines, but on page 15 there is a perfect option.

 

 

The Pathfinder.  Its got a huge engine and two sturdy cars for hauling freight and a caboose.

 

 

Mom and Dad, and Santa, are sure to approve of this set.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And the great thing is that you could add some other cars for a birthday and even next Christmas.

 

 

The Pathfinder is ready to highball from coast to coast.

 

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

 

Northwoods Flyer

[Northwoods Flyer]

Christmas Wish List

                       1930

Its a brand new decade, and most folks are glad to see the old one go, particularly with the way it ended. The new one isn't starting out so wonderfully either.  But there are lots of interesting things in the news:

Mickey Mouse is now starting to appear in the daily paper; with some of the new technology in photography and high powered telescopes a new planet is confirmed in the solar system- Pluto; John Dillinger escaped from prison using a carved wooden gun; a new type of taste treat is invented called the "Twinkie" (I think some of them from the first batch are still around); the radio drama The Shadow airs for the first time; two men from Missouri drive from Los Angeles to their home town in reverse gear - the trip takes 42 days; and President Herbert Hoover goes before Congress to ask for a 150 million dollar public works program to help generate jobs and stimulate the economy.  Maybe better days are ahead.

For kids making out their Christmas lists and letters to Santa its a great year.  The American Flyer catalog is filled with wonderful trains and toys.

 

There may be lots of other toys in the catalog, but the trains are still the biggest favorites.  Its hard to decide what to ask for.  If you like the Narrow Gauge line there are many choices including some new steam locomotives.  If you have looked at the catalog for a few years there are two gorgeous passenger trains on page 8: The Jeffersonian (with 9 1/2 inch cars) and The Ambassador (with 11inch cars).

 

 

Its hard to make a choice, but if you are going to go for it, its got to be The Ambassador. Afterall, you have been watching that one for several years in the catalog.

 

 

It looks so powerful and fast.

 

 

 

 

For some kids sugarplums might dance in their heads as they dream at night during these weeks before Christmas, but for me the dreams are all about that Ambassador set showing up on my layout on Christmas morning.

 

 

 

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

 

Northwoods Flyer

[Northwoods Flyer]

Christmas Wish List

                       1931

Its been a tough year for the folks around town.  Lots of people have lost their jobs and even mom and dad have been talking about having to cut back. Its a good thing that there are newspapers and the sunday funnies, books, and the old Philco radio in the parlor to take your mind off of the world situation.

Many interesting things are going on in the world though:  Charlie Chaplin is packing them in at the movie theaters, and there is some new scary movie about vampires called Dracula starring Bela Lugosi.  Its supposed to be at the Majestic theater sometime soon.  All the kids hope that they can get to see it.  The Star-Spangled Banner was adopted as the National Anthem of the United States and kids in every grade have learned it and sung it at school assemblies and programs most of the year; one of the guys swears he broke his vocal cords trying to hit the high notes.  The Empire State building was completed in New York - its the tallest building in the world.  Wiley Post and Harold Gatty take off from Roosevelt Field on Long Island in an attempt to accomplish the first round-the-world flight in a single-engine plane. Al Capone is sentenced to 11 years in prison for tax evasion.

It may be a bad time for the economy but nothing can stop you from dreaming about the trains you want to ask for from Santa in the new American Flyer catalog.

Its the stuff that dreams are made of. After all, dreams don't cost very much.

If you are going to dream you might as well dream big.  The Wide Gauge trains really look swell, and you could probably run them on your buddy's layout in his basement. But its probably not a good idea to ask for those top of the line passenger and freight sets. Something more affordable is a pretty good idea.  There are two sets in particular that might catch your eye.

The Trail Blazer

 

and the Brigadier.

 

Its unlikely that you would get both of them, and it seems kind of greedy to think that you would ask for both of them.  Decisions, decisons, which one will it be?  I'm betting it will be ---

 

 

The Brigadier!

 

It will look great traveling around the tree, and it will be a useful addition to the roster of trains among the kids in the neighborhood.

 

 

The letter needs to be mailed by Thanksgiving to make sure that it gets to the North Pole in time.  Then the dreaming can really begin. I sure hope that fast passenger train shows up on Christmas morning.

 

 

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

 

Northwoods Flyer

 

[Northwoods Flyer]

Christmas Wish List

                      1932

Its another year of ups and downs.  The economy isn't getting any better, but the winds of change are blowing.  Events in the news certainly show this.  Hattie W. Caraway becomes the first woman elected to the United States Senate. The Winter Olympics are held in Lake Placid, New York and the Summer Olympics are held in Los Angeles.  The infant son of aviator Charles Lindbergh and Anne Morrow Linberg is kidnapped.  Tarzan the Ape Man opens, staring olympic gold medal winner Johnny Weissmuller.  Amelia Earhart flies from the United States to Derry Northern Ireland in 14 hours and 54 minutes.  There are some new and interesting programs on the radio: Jack Benny has his own show, there are several dramas on weekly that are sponsored by the big soap companies, Fred Allen's comedy show debuts this year, there is a comedy serial called Vic and Sade, and Buck Rogers in the 25th Century airs for the first time.  If real life isn't very pleasant at least the radio can bring some humor.   Franklin D. Rooselvelt defeats President Herbert Hoover in a landslide election for the presidency.  "Happy Days are Here Again"

One of the most pleasant diversions for kids is going to the local merchant and picking up a new American Flyer catalog.

 

There are always so many great trains and accessories and other toys shown. But this year its going to be tough to get past page 3.  There are new steam locomotives to gaze at and dream about.

 

 

The new engines are sold in several sets.

 

 

But its that beauty at the top of the page that really holds your interest.  Mom and Dad said that it might be a good idea to limit your dreams for gifts from Santa this year, so maybe just asking for an engine would be better than asking for a whole set.

 

 

It would be a great addition, and think of all the cars it could pull.  It would look terrific running on your empire.

 

 

 

 

 

And Oh Santa, please be sure you bring the one with the glowing light in the fire box.

 

 

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

 

Northwoods Flyer

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Northwoods Flyer]

Christmas Wish List

                      1933

Holy Mackerel!  What a year.  The world events are happening so quickly you can hardly keep up with them.  Here are just a few things that happened this year: Construction of the Golden Gate Bridge is started in San Francisco Bay. The Twentieth Amendment to the Constitution is ratified and goes into effect; it changes inauguration day from March 4th to January 20th. Nazi leader Adolph Hitler is appointed Chancellor of Germany by German President Paul von Hindenburg (and to say that all hell breaks loose in Germany during the year is an understatement).  A great new radio program called The Lone Ranger starts.  Someone tries to assassinate President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt in Miami but ends up killing the mayor of Chicago instead.  Fay Wray stars with a huge ape in the movie King Kong.  Mount Rushmore National Memorial is dedicated.

 

Frances Perkins becomes Secretary of Labor and the first female member of the Cabinet.  President Roosevelt talks to the nation by radio in the first of his "Fireside Chats".  Beer is legalized in the United States again and eventually Prohibition is ended completely with the Twenty first Amendment to the Constitution. Someone sees the Loch Ness Monster again for the first time in modern times.  The Century of Progress World's Fair opens in Chicago.  The first Major League All Star Game is played in Chicago at Chomisky Park.  Strong storms in South Dakota rip top soil from the dry land creating dust storms, kicking off the Dust Bowl era.  Whew! And those are just a few of the big events.

The really big event occured at your birthday this year however. One of your dad's co-workers fell on hard times financially and had to sell some things that they no longer needed or used. One of those things was an American Flyer Wide Gauge freight train. His son had outgrown it and didn't mind giving it up.  Your mom and dad bought it for you and gave it to you for your birthday.  It was the best birthday ever!

Now the new American Flyer catalog is out.

The back cover is as interesting as the front.  American Flyer has their own building at the Century of Progress World's Fair in Chicago. Wouldn't you love to see that layout!

 

Of course the catalog is filled with really beautiful Narrow Gauge and Wide Gauge trains.  But mom and dad spent a lot for your birthday present, so maybe this year it would be a good idea to just choose one car to add to the freight set you got. You can still ask Santa to bring it.  There are plenty to choose from:

 

 

They all look fantastic

 

 

 

 

 

 

Even with another caboose you could have two freight trains, one for the main line and one to sit on the siding.

 

 

Its going to be hard to wait until Christmas morning to see which one Santa might bring, but at least you have your Trail Blazer set to run around the Christmas tree until then.

 

 Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

Northwoods Flyer

[Northwoods Flyer]

Christmas Wish List

                      1934

It looks as if everyone is interested in all things modern and fast.  The Century of Progress World's Fair that was due to close last year has been held over for another year. It showcases lots of new and modern inventions. In the news there are lots of stories of change and new things happening.

There are some new comic strips in the newspaper;  one is called Flash Gordon and the other is L'il Abner.  A new theater opens in New York that everyone is excited about called The Apollo.  Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert star in a movie called "It Happened One Night" - it wins all 5 of the major Academy Awards.  More than 20 severe dust storms tear through the Dust bowl in one day.  Down at the Majestic theater they have been showing some new shorts that feature three very funny men.  They are called The Three Stooges.  Its a bad year for bad guys and criminals:  The police shoot and kill Bonnie and Clyde in Black Lake Louisiana, the FBI shoots and kills John Dillinger outside the Biograph theater in Chicago, the FBI shoots and kills Pretty Boy Floyd near East Liverpool Ohio.  Donald Duck debuts in his first movie "The Wise Little Hen".  The Dionne Quintuplets are born in Callendar Ontario - they are the first quintuplets to survive infancy.  The world famous Brookfield Zoo opens outside of Chicago.  Adolph Hitler becomes the Fuhrer of Germany.  A gust of wind on the top of Mt. Washington in NH is measured at 231 miles per hour.  The first run of the Pioneer Zephyr on the CB&Q takes place on May 14th. It makes the run from Denver to Chicago in 13 hours and 5 minutes at an average speed of 77 miles per hour.  For a brief period of time it travels at 112.5 miles per hour.

The Zephyr may be fast but I bet it couldn't measure up to the trains in this year's American Flyer catalog.  The cover looks great and kids can hardly wait to see what is inside.

 

The back cover shows the Flyer pavillion at  The Century of Progress

 

 

All of the Wide Gauge and Narrow Gauge sets and cars look wonderful, and the accessories look like they would fit right in with your growing empire under the tree.  Its going to be hard to decide what to put on your list to Santa.  And then you get to the last two pages; your heart skips a beat, and you gasp. Its the Zephyr!

 

 

Flyer has captured the Zephyr just for you.  From its streamlined cowling

 

 

to its stainless steel fluted sides and observation, this is the greatest train ever built. 

  

 

There is no longer any doubt what you will be asking Santa to bring this year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Won't the other guys' eyes pop out when they see this Silver Streak come out from behind the tree for the first time and speed around your layout!

 

 

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

 

Northwoods Flyer

[Northwoods Flyer]

Christmas Wish List

                      1935

Its the middle of the decade and things just seem to be grinding along. Lots of folks are tired of scrimping and saving and cutting back. There are a few bright spots in the news.  Most of it kind of looks grey and dusty like the Dust Bowl storms that are sweeping through the mid west and devastating the farmland.

Here are a few of the interesting events.  The darling of the air Amelia Earhardt continues to dazzel the world with her feats of adventure.  She becomes the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to California.  Its still a bad time to be a crook: The FBI shoots and kills the Barker Gang including Ma Barker in a shootout.  Porky Pig is everybody's favorite as he makes his debut in a Looney Tunes feature.  Adolph Hitler announces that Germany will start building up a store of weapons.  A few folks are concerned because this breaks the Treaty of Versailles that was signed after the Great War.  There is a really funny radio show that comes on the radio for the first time called "Fibber McGee and Molly"  It really is funny McGee!  The first nighttime Major League Baseball game is played between the Cincinnati Reds and the Philadelphia Philles at Crosley Field.  The Bambino - Babe Ruth appears in his last career game, playing for the Boston Braves. (Say it isn't so!)  James J Braddock defeats Max Baer at Madison Square Garden to win the heavyweight boxing championship of the World.  President Roosevelt signs the Social Security Act into Law. Humorist Will Rogers and aviator Wiley Post are killed when Post's plane crashes in Alaska.  Howard Huges sets the airspeed record at 325 mph.  President Roosevelt dedicates Hoover Dam.  There is a new game that just came out from Parker Brothers that everybody is playing called Monopoly - even adults are going crazy for it. 

Even if there aren't a lot of bright spots in the news there is a bright and shining spot in your living room when you bring home the new American Flyer Trains catalog.

 

There is a gorgeous picture of the Zephyr on the cover.  It makes up for the fact that the catalog seems a little thinner than usual this year. Its even a little surprising that this year there are only two sets shown in the Wide Gauge section.  But that is OK, all of the individual cars are still being shown for seperate sale.  The Narrow Gauge trains still have enough to look at. 

 

 

After pouring over the catalog for days and hours its time to make a decision.  What set do you put on your wish list this time?  One of those Narrow Gauge engines has a fun feature...a ringing bell.  And it comes in a freight set.  You keep coming back to that page.  So finally you decide. 

 

 

Its the Brigadier.  Its funny though, that used to be the name of one of the Wide Gauge sets.

 

It will be fun to watch those shiney freight cars whizzing around the tree.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And just imagine laying your head down on the carpet and watching that train at track level.

 

 

Listen to that bell as the engine pulls into the station delivering all those important goods.

 

 

 

 

 

Once the letter gets dropped off at the Post Office its going to be hard to wait until Christmas morning to see if Santa makes your wish come true.

 

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

 

Northwoods Flyer

 

[Northwoods Flyer]

Christmas Wish List

                       1936

Events in the world seem to be pretty tumultuous. Things are changing almost faster than you can tune them in on the Philco radio in the parlor. Day by day there seems to be something happening in Europe, but it seems a long ways away.  King George V of England dies. His eldest son succeeds to the throne and becomes Edward VIII.  Later in the year King Edward abdicates and his brother Albert ascends to the throne and takes the name King George VI.  It seems that Edward had taken a fancy to a divorced American woman and had fallen in love with her and wanted to marry her.  What a love story - Yuck! and they call that news?.  The radio show "The Green Hornet" debuts on radio and a comic strip hero in tights called "The Phantom" makes his first appearance in American newspapers.  The Winter Olympic Games are held in Germany and the Summer Olympics are held in Berlin, and there is even a live television broadcast. Now if you only knew someone who had one of those televisions. An African-American athele named Jessee Owens wins a gold medal in the 100 meter dash at the Olympics.  The furher is not happy.  Hitler is up to some tricks in Germany when he violates the treaty of Versailles and reoccupies the Rhineland.  Italian forces take over Ethiopia.  Max Schmeling knocks out Joe Louis in the 12th round of their heavy weight boxing match in New York.  And here is some really exciting news, the Santa Fe Railroad starts an all Pullman train called theSuper Chief passenger train between Chicago and Los Angeles. 

If the Santa Fe can run a new passenger train, you ought to be able to add a new passenger train to your railroad empire.  Its time to consult the new American Flyer Trains catalog for 1936.  Just look at that lineup of iron horses.

 Wouldn't it be great to have all of them in your stable.  The catalog looks great.  Too bad they don't have any of these streamliners in their Wide Gauge line.  If fact its kind of disappointing to see that they still only have two sets for sale in the Wide Gauge line, and they are the same ones as last year.  Oh well, the Narrow Gauge line sure makes up for it.  That streamlined Pennsylvania engine and passenger set looks great.

 

The engine hardly looks like a steamer, but she sure looks fast.

 

 

 

 

 

You close your eyes and imagine what that set would look like racing across the country from Chicago to Los Angeles, trying to beat the Super Chief.

 

 

And when the train pulls into the station you can feel the power.

 

 

 

 

The only thing better would be to be one of the passengers in one of those Pullman cars enjoying some ice cream on a piece of fresh apple pie.

 

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

 

Northwoods Flyer