Pre War American Flyer Pictures - An Invitation

[ivesboy]

Neat idea on the stock car! 

   Ives continued to make O gauge through 1930 in Bridgeport. Their were some Lionel and Flyer pieces in the o gauge line up. Ill explain those later. 

[ivesboy]

Neat idea on the stock car! 

   Ives continued to make O gauge through 1930 in Bridgeport. Their were some Lionel and Flyer pieces in the o gauge line up. Ill explain those later. 

   As far as books go, most are outdated. We considered writing a book but there just arnt enough collectors anymore who would buy it. Most new people wouid rather have a new MTH standard loco with smoke and all those horrifying and gaudy IMHO electronics. (Not trying to offend anyone, the new ones just make my tummy sour!)

  Try the website at www.ivestrains.org. I would rec. wholeheartedly joining The Ives Society as the guys are truly a scholarly group and much more "collecting" oriented than what the TCA has become. Most are diehard Ives and Flyer guys and you could def. find enough guys willing to talk your ear off about Flyer to last a lifetime. 

   The website has better and more up to date information on Ives products than any book! It is also vastly superior in scope and completeness. 

[Northwoods Flyer]

1927 Catalog 

 

 There are some very interesting Narrow Gauge sets in the 1927 Catalog as well as the Commander Wide Gauge set that I posted on the previous page. Some of the sets appeared only in this catalog.  I would not have minded having any one of the sets to play with after Christmas.

The Oriental Limited  appeared in this catalog with orange lithography.  It looks a bit like its bigger cousin The Commander.

 

 

 

Like the Commander, the Oriental Limited had red windows - in 1927 only. In later catalogs the window trim color is a blue green.

 

 

The 3012 box cab has brass tags with black lettering, a clue that it was manufactured in 1927.

 

 

 

 

 

This is the baggage car, with red accents.

 

 

The pullman is named Paul Revere.

 

 

 

The observation is the Lexington.

 

 

 

The observation platform with the original Flyer Limited tag.

 

 

The number of Narrow Gauge sets in this catalog is impressive, and it makes me wonder why some of these sets only appear for one year.  I'm sure that it has to do with the number of sets sold, but it certainly indicates the willingness of American Flyer to provide a wide variety of products for the consumer.

 

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

Northwoods Flyer

 

[AF53]

Hi guys! Last I chimed in was about some clockwork cars and I've done pretty well in aquireing most of them....patience, patience! However maybe you can help me with a different issue.

I'm trying to identify my mid 1920's set I purchased a year ago. I have the 1926 catalog but my problem I believe is my 1927 repro catalog. It was reprinted in 1967 by A Roth and I don't believe it was printed with all the pages I'm seeing here.The back cover is page 12. However, here's what my set consists of. A 3011 engine, mail car 1205, passenger car 1306 and a lighted observation car 1206. All are red in color and the only words are American Flyer Lines above the windows. 8 curve and 4 straight track with a 50 watt transformer model number 1289. Also an ac circuit breaker model number 1275 and track terminal No 450. The set box is approx 17 x 14 and 4 inches high and without any identifying numbers. So the set wouldn't have had a tunnel, station or semaphore.

The cars look identical in every way to the 1205, 1206 and 1207 in the 1926 catalog I have but the observation car reads 1206 (notince the passenger car reads 1306 in the catalog as my car does) I believe Flyer often mixed numbers back then? But the transformer is a plug-in type and doesn't appear in the 1926 catalog (my 1927 doesn't even show any).

Please help,

Thanks

Ray  

[Northwoods Flyer]

Hi Ray,

I've been looking at my catalogs and here is the information that I have gathered.  I'm not sure that it will shed any light on your set.

I also have a reprint of the 1927 Catalog.  It was produced by Iron Horse Productions in 1977.  It has 32 pages, so I think that your reproduction may be short by a few pages.

 

As you may know, American Flyer catalogs are notoriously inaccurate, so its possible that the catalog does not accurately describe your set, or your set may actually be one produced for a department store.  Does the original set box have a number printed anywhere on the label? If so, that may give a clue as to its age and origin.

 

The 1927 catalog does not have the 3011 listed nor does it have the passenger cars in your set listed.  The car numbers that you mention: 1205, 1206, and 1207 are listed as part of a mechanical wind up set in the 1925 catalog and the 1926 catalog. Is that the illustration that you are refering to?

 

Here are some photos of page 11 of the 1926 catalog.

 

 

 

You can see that the cars are red, and the engine leading the two sets in red is the 3011.  While the pictured sets have more accessories than your set does, take a look at the description of set 1227.

 

I think that you have a variation of this set.  The Greenberg guide to American Flyer Prewar O Gauge  lists a lighted 1206 Observation car and a lighted 1306 Pullman.  I think we can at least narrow the production of your set to 1926 or 1927 based on the 3011 being produced in those years.

 

As far as the transformer that you have; I can't find any reference to it.

 

It sounds like you have a very nice set.   

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

Northwoods Flyer

[AF53]

Hi Northwoods Flyer!

I believe you've confirmed what I suspected. I also have the 1926 catalog. It was reprinted in 1976 by House of Heeg. Great one with color and 33 pages.

This thread has many amazing pictures and you guys have written what amounts to be the BEST historical documentation on Pre War American Flyer. (My opinion for what it's worth)

Here are some pics of the set I was talking about.

 

Engine 3011

 

American Railway Express. Catalog Car Number 1205

Catalog Car Number 1206  (Pic in catalog shows 1306)

Lighted Observation Car. Catalog Car Number ? 

 

This set looks similar to The Washington Special and The Sensational Limited sets in the 1926 catalog without the extras. As I have mentioned earlier the set box would not have been able to fit the extras.

Again, I want to thank you for your help and I look forward to additional pics and information that this thread provides.

Ray

[Northwoods Flyer]

Thanks for the kind words Ray.  And thanks for the photos of your set.  It looks like it is in very nice condition.  It makes you wonder where it spent most of its life.  Please keep posting more photos of your Pre War Flyer.

1927 Catalog Offerings

Pages Ten and Eleven have some wonderful Narrow Gauge sets which appeared only in this catalog.  I find the 6 1/2 inch lithographed passenger cars to be charming.

 

Let me introduce the Broadway Limited to you.

 

 

The consist contains the 3011 electric outline engine

 

 

None of the cars have a number on the side, but the catalog does give the numbers of the individual cars.

 

This is the 1205 mail car.

 

 

Passenger car 1206

 

 

 

And the 1207 Observation Car

 

 

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

Northwoods Flyer

 

[KRM]

I have a question and this is my first post so I hope I am doing it right. I have what I think is a 1934 set with these parts.

My question is I don’t see the fire box light on the engine. SO is the set 1934 or did they make them without the fire box light?

I have a question and this is my first post so I hope I am doing it right. I have what I think is a 1934 set with these parts.

My question is I don’t see the fire box light on the engine. SO is the set 1934 or did they make them without the fire box light?

Item	Number
Engine Year	3323
Tender	3199
Tank Car	3018
Dump Car	3019
Sand Car	3016
Log car	3046
Box Car / Orange	3015
Lighted Caboose	3017
Glendale Depot with lights and gate
Station house with light	104
Transformer 75 watts # 1269	1269
Transformer 150 watts # 9	9
Lamp pole Red
Lamp pole Green
Crossing with bell
switches and track

[Northwoods Flyer]

Hi KRM,

to the forum and to this thread.  As you can see you did just fine in getting your entry to post.

I'll try to address your question about the date of your engine.  Greenberg classifies all of the 3300 series of engines as type VIII; which appeared in the Flyer catalogs from 1931 to 1937. You have come across one of the engines that can be very difficult to identify by number and by year.  The majority of this series of engines does not have the number on it anywhere, so identifying the different versions can be a real task.  Without a photo or some additional details it would be difficult to do a better job of identifying the engine than you have done.  How did you identifying the engine as a 3323? 

In regards to the firebox light not being present; I have 4 examples of the Type VIII engine in my collection and only one of them has the firebox light in it.

 

When the light is present it gives a really neat look to the engine, especially when you run it on the Carpet Central with all the room lights turned off.

 

 

 

According to Greenberg the 3199 tender was paired with the 3323 in 1934 and with the 3324 in 1935.

The cars that you have are all 6 1/2 inch enameled versions.  They were all available at some point during the 1932 to 1938 time frame.  However as I looked through the catalogs they do not all appear together in a set.  All six of the cars that you list are available for seperate sale in the 1934 and 1935 catalog, with the 3019 dump car not appearing until 1934. 

 

Is this what your cars look like?

 

3018 Tank Car

 

 

3019 Dump Car

 

 

3016 Sand Car

 

 

3046 Log Car

 

 

3015 Box Car

 

 

3017 Caboose

 

 

I think that there is a good chance that all of the train equipment is from 1934.  Please post some photos if you have the capability to do so.

 

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

Northwoods Flyer

[Northwoods Flyer]

Happy 3rd Anniversary

I am actually a few days late.

 

Greetings folks. I thought I would take a few minutes and greet all of you from my desk here in the #101 Station on the Blueboard Central.

  

As I have said before, when I started this thread I had no idea how long it would last or what kind of contributions there would be.  It has been gratifying to see the interest that folks have shown and the fantastic equipment that has been photographed and shared.  I look forward to checking the thread each day to see if there are new posts or new questions.  Thanks to each and every person who has read or contributed to the thread.

 

I'm looking forward to what will appear here on the thread in the coming year, and to meeting new American Flyer enthusiasts and those who are just plain curious and discovering Pre War trains for the first time.

 

So let me invite you to come on board and lets begin another trip down the track.  There is bound to be more Pre War American Flyer to be found and make its appearance.   All Aboard!   

 

 

 

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

Northwoods Flyer

Greg

[KRM]

Thanks for the reply and sorry I have been away from the post for awhile. I just got a 1934 catalog and I agree that I see no set with the combination I have. The closest I see is the 1367 Ranger – Freight as far as cars go but is still missing 3 of mine 3016, 3046, and 3018. The pictures you have posted are the cars I have but my tank car has the blue deck. The engine in that set is not the same as mine.            Looking at the catalog the only sets with an engine like mine all have the longer cars. So I am clueless as what set mine may be or year. My dad told me when he got this set it was 1934 and I identified the engine by looking at your posts because the 3323 looks like mine. I just set up a test station in my shed so I could go over all of the engines I have and test them and lube them. It took a wile for me to get my old A.F.model 9 transformer working because I had to replace the power cord and two wires inside of it.

  I am wanting to build a layout in the basement now that I am retired. Most of the trains have not been run since 1983. I will to post pictures but not sure I know how,

Can you explain how I can post pictures to this thread?

Thanks again,

 Kevin

[Northwoods Flyer]

Hi Kevin,

I think that there is a good possibility that the equipment that you have is not from a cataloged set.  There are all kinds of possibilities as to how your set came together including that it is a department store set or just equipment that a child might have gotten as gifts during the years of 1934-1935.  Did your dad say if the set came to him all at one time; if he got it new; or if it came in its original boxes?  The interesting thing is that it is all from the same year of production.  Do you have additional American Flyer Pre War items?

In terms of posting photos to threads, there are a number of ways to do it.  It is a relatively simple process, and if I can do it, you will be able to as well. 

Here is the method that I use:

The first step is to establish an account with an online photo hosting site.  There were several that were suggested to me but I tried Shutterfly and I have stuck with it.  http://www.shutterfly.com/

 

I take the digital pictures of my items, store them on my computer and then upload them and store them at my shutterfly account.  You can set up a number of "albums" and organize your pictures any way you like on the site.

When I want to add them to my post on the thread I keep the message box open and open a second window with shutterfly.  I  have the picture I want in the viewing window on shutterfly (this will make sense once you see how the site is set up).  I right click and copy the picture from shutterfly and then paste it into the message as I am writing it, (or after I have written it).

I hope this works for you.  It would be great to see pictures of your collection.

 

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

Northwoods Flyer

 1934 Catalog Cover

[KRM]

Greg,

Well I will try to put the pictures on this post. As far as how my dad got it I only remember him coming home one day with 2 big boxes of stuff and saying it was a set from 1934. he got it all at one time and never got any more A.F. stuff. It did not mean much to me at the time I was only about 10 or 11 years old and all I wanted to do was run them. At the time, yes they had the boxes.

 As a child we had a large layout in the attic of my grandparents house. When they passed my dad and uncle took everything down and packed it away. After dad passed in 1991 my sister brother Uncle and I split everything up. Most everything is postwar Lionel and some Marx equipment. I have around 100 pieces of rolling stock not including track or other accessories. 

  When we split it all up there was a lot of stuff.   I do have a lot of American Flyer track and some switches as well as buildings and other accessories.

Most everything is postwar Lionel and some Marx equipment. I have a Marx Wells Fargo set with an extra baggage car too. Dad was always coming home with apiece now and then all the way up till he got sick. In 1991 I took my favorites and made a display which is in the pictures. All the rest was boxed and stored. Since I have retired and spend most of my time home in the winter I decided it was time to pull it all out and run everything. So I set up a small layout in the shed and started to check everything out. I hope to build a layout in the basement yet this year so my grandkids can enjoy the trains that I have.

Here is the engine

Here are the cars. I have not been able to figure out what kind of bridge this is but think it is lionell. It has a light in the center of the top.

Here is the display.

Top is Lionell 218 ABBA unit

Second row is the Marx Wells Fargo set

Third row is the American Flyer set

Forth row is a General Models Corp 1000 hp Diesel switcher with Lionell cars and Carerpiller equipment.

 

[friscosteam]

Lets see how this works...  Here is a AFWG 4000 for the first post.  Discovered that I need to uprate ALL the Flyer photos of the heavy iron... (Wide Gauge)  To post here for clarity's sake...

4000

[friscosteam]

Having posting issues here... lil help?

[Northwoods Flyer]

friscosteam,

It looks like you found a way to link to the photo.  Now if we can just figure out how to get the photo to post in the body directly.

Let me take this opportunity to say to the thread, and thanks for the photo of the 4000.  I will have to post a photo of mine soon. Mine is the dark green version.

Northwoods Flyer

 

[friscosteam]

You mean like this one?

 

Dark green 4000

 

Here is the 4040 and the 4041 do make the TOUGH dark green set.  There are rumors of dark green 4042's but I have yet to see one. It is hard to see the difference, but i posted here the lighter green much more common 4042.  Note the major differences besides the color being the roof has ventilator bumps and the doors are lithoed.

4040

4041

4042

[Northwoods Flyer]

Northwoods Flyer

Index 

This Index was posted on page 44 on 02/05/2011

 

Enjoy!

Freight Cars 

Box Cars O gauge:

6 1/2 inch litho - pp. 8, Enamel - pp. 17

6 ½ inch #3015 Box car compared to Lionel #655 & # 605 Box car – pp. 30

9 1/2 inch Litho - pp. 10, Enamel - pp. 16

5 1/2 Morris Reefer - litho - pp. 12

Early box car - pp. 22

Boxcars - general comparison of different manufacturers - pp. 7

Boxcar - Standard Gauge - pp. 17

Caboose - pp. 24  long post - Cars: M1111/1111 Center and offset cupola,  #1114/1117, 1127

3004/3014/3017/232, 3201/3211/411, 536

6 ½ inch # 3017 Caboose compared to Lionel #657 & # 807 – pp. 31

Caboose - additional pictures and discussion #3017 - paint and truck variations, #232, #1127 - pp. 26 

Caboose - #3211, #411 – pp. 29

Caboose - #3201 pp. 30

Dump Car

6 ½ inch  #3009, #3019, #230 – pp. 29

6 ½ inch # 3019  Dump car compared to Lionel #653 & #803 – pp.30

6 ½ inch Lionel #659 Dump car – pp. 31

9 ½ inch  #3219, #409 – pp. 29 

Floodlight/Searchlight

6 ½ inch Lionel # 620 Floodlight car – pp. 31

9 ½ inch #3213, #415

Gondola

6 1/2 inch lithoed for - American Flyer, NYC, PRR - orange, PRR - green, CB&Q - pp. 6,  Enamel - #3016 - green and orange pp. 6, 16, 19

9 1/2 inch litho - pp. 10,

9 1/2 Enamel - pp. 10,

     #3207 pp. 38   

5 1/2 inch litho - pp. 7

6 ½ inch #3016 sand car compared to Lionel # 652 gondola pp. 30

Cattle Car O gauge and Standard - pp. 14

6 ½ inch Lionel # 656 cattle car – pp. 31

Tank Car

6 1/2 inch litho - pp. 8, Enamel - pp. 8

6 ½ inch   #3018 tank car compared to Lionel #654 tank car -  pp. 30

9 1/2 inch litho - pp. 10,

9 ½ inch Enamel - pp. 10,

      #3210 – pp. 30,

     #3212, #412 – Bordens Milk Tank Car pp. 38 & 39

Standard Gauge tank  - pp. 10

Crane Cars - two posts - pp. 21

Hopper cars - pp. 22

Log/Machinery/Flat Cars - pp. 24 - Four different posts:  Cars - #241/M241, #1106/1146, #3006/3046, #3206/3216, #406

6 ½ inch #3046  compared to Lionel #651 – pp. 30

Operating Cars - 3/16 inch - Hopper, Baggage, Armored Car - pp.21

 

 

Wide Gauge Freight Cars

Christmas Wish List 1933 – pp. 32

     #4010 Tank Car

     #4018 Automobile/Box Car

     #4020 Stock Car

     #4021 Caboose

     #4022 Machinery Car

    

 

Passenger Cars

Ambassador Cars - pp.22

O gauge passenger cars - series of posts I, II, III - pp.17, 18

O gauge passenger cars - series of posts IV, V pp.20

O gauge passenger cars - last of post series VI - pp.21

Pullman #1206  Lightening Bolt – pp.30

Pullman #1306 - pp.19

#1200 passenger car series - pp. 18

#1621 Delux streamlined passenger cars - pp. 20

#1641, #1642 Hiawatha streamline passenger cars – pp. 31

Enamel passenger cars

     #3171 Pullman, # 3172 Observation  pp. 41

Wide Gauge Passenger cars Post I, II pp. 15

 

Steam Engines

S Gauge

#21004/21005 - pp.26

O Gauge

Series of posts on Cast Iron Superstructure Steam Engines part I -  Engines #1219, #1094- pp. 10

Continuation of the Series parts II, III IV, V - Engines #3195, #3197, #3195X, #3198, #3190, #3180, #1084 - pp. 11,  part VI - Engine #915 and a summary of the end of cast iron steam - pp. 12

Clockwork engine Greenberg type XVII - pp.12

     #10 Steamer  pp.39 & 40

Hiawatha - pp. 15, # 1683 Type XIII – pp. 31

Royal Blue – repaint – pp. 31

Sheet Metal Steam Engines - pp. 13

Sheet Metal Type XX (2-4-4 and 2-4-0) versions from 1934-40 - pp.7, 14

     Type XXIV – Hiawatha pp.41

#614 Sheet Metal Steam engine details - pp. 13

#429 Scale 0-6-0 - pp. 15

#420 Die Cast Nickel Trim - 4 posts including pictures of engine, engine in set, and engine as part of delux Erector Set pp. 27

#425 - pp. 20, 1938 - # 425 pp. 35

#1681 Hudson pp.38

#3180 pp.28

#3190 pp. 28

#3195X - pp.18  # 3185 and tender pp.29

#3196 and tender pp. 29

#3315 -  detailed pictures of consist and locomotive electric motor - pp. 1, pp. 28

#3326  -  Christmas Wish List 1932 - pp. 32

#4615 - pp. 19

#4622-6 – Type XV Pacific – pp. 31

General information about O gauge steam engines - pp. 16

 

Electric Outline Engines O Gauge

Steeple Cabs two long posts - Engines #1201, #1217, #1218, #1218 - Yellow, #1270, #3103, #3110 - pp. 12

Steeple Cab #1270 - pp.13,  #1218 - Yellow - pp.22, 1218 – pp.28, #1310 - pp. 22, 3110 – pp. 28

Steeple Cab #1211 - pp. 39

Box Cab #3107 detal photos - pp. 26, 27

#3015 – Large Box Cab -  pp. 35

# 3020 – Large Box Cab – pp. 35

 

Electric Outline Engines Standard (Wide) Gauge

First set from 1925 - pp. 5

Eagle I, II - pp.12

New Haven style I, II - pp. 12

NYC style - pp. 12

St. Paul style - pp. 13

Presidential Special - pp. 19

4000 - pp. 43

4692 Wide Gauge – Ives Casting – pp. 42

 

Sets O Gauge

No. 2 Freight Set – Christmas Wish List 1938 – pp. 33

No. 10 Northern Pacific Freight Set – pp. 33, 36

Ambassador - pp.17

The Ambassador Set (passenger – Victory Red)  – Christmas Wish List 1930 – pp.32

B&O Passenger Train (streamline) 4322-6 Steam engine and green streamlined cars – Christmas Wish List – 1940 – pp. 33

Bluebird litho - pp. 5, enameled - pp. 7

Bluebird set from 1929 - pictures and catalog cuts - pp. 25

Boxcab lithoed passenger set (brown) - pp. 5

The Brigadier Freight Set – Christmas Wish List 1935 – pp. 32

Broadway Limited (passenger) – Christmas Wish List 1927 – pp. 32, 43

Burlington Zephyr – 9900 (streamlined passenger) Christmas Wish List -1934                  – pp. 32, 35

City of Denver set from 1936 - pp.20

Clipper set from 1930: Consist - Engine #3103 red enameled steeple cab, #3103 litho gondola, #3012 litho Box car, litho caboose #3014 - pp. 25

Clockwork Sets: Hummer, Empire Express - pp.14

Clockwork Sets - pp. 15

Clockwork set #16 from1925 - pp.6

Comet from 1935 - pp. 4

Comet (picture of real train set) - pp. 9

Doubleheader - pp. 15, 33

Dual Clockwork train set M20 from 1914  - pp. 10

Explorer Set – pp. 34

Frontenac - enameled boxcab and cars - pp.2

Green Diamond from 1935 - pp. 4

Hiawatha Streamlined Passenger Set – Christmas Wish List 1937 – pp. 33

Highlander set from 1933: Consist - Die cast steam engine #3301, green enameled baggage, pullman, and observation brass trim and decal - pp.25

Iron Horse Set 1931-1932  - pp. 29

Jeffersonian Set of 1927: Consist - all green enamel and litho: Engine #3015, Illini Cars baggage, pullman, observation - pp.24

M1X Clockwork set from 1915: Engine M1, passenger car #1107 wood sheathed litho pullman - Pennsylvania - pp. 25

Man-O-War passenger set - #3280 passenger cars - pp. 21, 27 Ambassador Cars)

The Merchant Set (freight) – Christmas Wish List 1928 – pp. 32

Mountain Red Ball Set (Double Header Set) – Christmas Wish List 1939 – pp. 33

New Jeffersonian Set from 1928-1931: Consist - two tone blue enamel: Engine #3115, #3280 club car (baggage), #3281 pullman, #3282 observation - pp.24

Oriental Limited - orange litho box cab electric and cars - pp. 3,5

Oriental Limited set from 1927: Consist - orange litho with red window litho trim - Engine #3012 - pp.26

The Pennsylvania Passenger Set (Low Wide cars) Christmas Wish List 1936 – pp. 32, 34

The Potomac - #3180 passenger car series - pp. 21

The Potomac set of 1928 - tan and green enamel: Consist- Engine #3146, #3180 passenger car series - pp. 25

Prairie State set of 1929 - clockwork - red passenger set - pp. 6

Royal Blue Freight and Passenger sets – Christmas Wish List 1941 – pp. 33, 38

#1301T Sheet metal steam - Consist #617 sheet metal steam engine and freight cars-pp. 7

Steel Mogul - pp. 11

Streamlined Steam sets - pp. 8

Zephyr cast aluminum set of 1934 - pp. 3, 14, 15

Zephyr - tinplate of 1935 - pp. 3, 11

Union Pacific streamlined passenger set  1684 power car, 1631 coach, 1632 observation – pp. 34

#1 Passenger Set of 1938 - Consist #4603 2-4-4 sheet metal steam engine - gunmetal gray with copper trim.  Passenger cars - red enamel #1214 baggage, #1213 pullman (two) and #1217 observation - pp. 25

#2 Freight Set of 1938 - Consist #4603 2-4-4 sheet metal steam engine - gunmetal gray with copper trim, #3019 dump, #3015 box car, #3018 oil car, #3017 caboose - pp. 24

#15 Freight Set of 1918

#1201 Passenger set of 1925: Consist #1218 black enamel steeple cab, #1104 baggage and #1103 passenger cars dark litho green - baggage has GN goat logo and passenger car has "Oriental Limited" above the windows - pp. 25

#1220 set from 1926 - Consist all red enamel and litho: Engine #1218, #1205 baggage, #1306 pullman, #1207 observation - pp. 24

#4002 set from 1940

Uncataloged passenger set - Consist #617 sheet metal steam - unmarked green litho passenger cars with orange enameled roof and gray trucks.  Car numbers are #1226, 1227, 1228 - baggage, pullman, observation respectively - pp. 26

 

Sets – Standard (Wide) Gauge

All-American Limited set from 1926 - Consist - maroon enamel and litho: Engine #4019, #4040 baggage, pullman - American, Observation - Pleasant View - pp. 25

The Brigadier (passenger set) – Christmas Wish List 1931 – pp. 32

The Commander (passenger set) – 1927, Orange 4653, 2 x 4141, 4142

The Hamiltonian set from 1928 - Consist - red enamel: Engine #4687, baggage pullman, observation - pp. 25

The Pathfinder Set – Christmas Wish List 1929 – pp. 32

Presidents Special (Rookie Tan version) – Christmas Wish List 1926  -   pp. 32

The Trail Blazer Set ( freight) – Christmas Wish List 1931- pp. 32

 

 

Accessories

S Gauge

#594 Track Gang,  #23780 Gabe,  #785 Coal Tower,  #770 Loader & #734 Op Box car,  #583A Magnetic Crane,  #23796 Saw Mill,  #752 Seaboard Coaler,  #718 Mail Car,  #772 Bubbling Tower,  #23568 Whistling Billboard,  #23791 Cow on Track,  #759 and  #760 Flashers,  #758A Sam the Semaphore Man,  #774 Rotating Beacon,  #766 Animated Station,  #779 Drum Loader,  #755 Talking Station,  #789 Baggage Smasher,  #596 Water Tower,  #771 Stockyard,  #767 Bradford Diner  - pp.1

Hand cars  - pp. 8, 10 

#579 Single die cast street lamp – pp. 36

#580 Double die cast street lamp – pp. 36

#593 Signal Tower,  #748 Footbridge,  #594 Track Gang,  #793 Union Station,  #769A Water Tower,  #750 Trestle,  #768 Oil Supply Depot - pp. 25

#718 Mail pick-up car - pp. 31

 #755 Talking Station – pp.37  with link to video and audio of the station in action

O Gauge 

Block Signal - pp. 15

Block Signal #2218 – pp. 34

Crossing Gate #2042/4042 – pp. 30

Crossing Gate # 2222a, #2222b – pp. 30

Manual Reverse - track clip accessory - pp. 26

Street Lights #2109/2110/2209/2210  - pp.12, 16

Switches - #405/408 - pp.27

Triangle Light #2005 - 31

Tunnels - pp. 6

Water Tank - pp. 8

Wide Gauge

Mail Bag set #4122 – pp. 31

 

 

Stations

Freight Stations - general comparison with other manufacturers- AF, Bing, Fandor, Hornby - pp. 6

97 Long Base - pictures and variation descriptions - pp. 4

Suburban station #93, #234 - pp. 10  , #93 - pp. 25,  additional #234 - pp. 25

#234 station variations - pp. 25

#235 Large accessory - pp.10

#236 - pp. 11

Watchman Tower - pp. 11,  #92 - pp. 25

American Flyer Prewar Stations - multiple posts I, II, III, IV - pp. 13, 14  Stations described/pictured - #96, #104,  Passenger Platforms - #91, #586,  Freight Sheds - #M93,  #93,  #95,  #97,  #97/98 Long Base, Medium Sized Stations  #97,  #98,  #99,  #101,  #102,  #105,  #107,  #110 

#214 station variations - pp. 14

#90 passenger station - pp.14, 25

#96, #105 additonal pictures - pp. 2

Articles

Backyard Railroad Contest   - pp. 29

2^nd Anniversary – 1936 Catalog Cover – Streamliners – pp. 34

 

3/16 O gauge

3/16 O passenger cars  #496, #497, #521, #524

Several entries regarding history and items available – pp. 34

Page 37 contains several excellent entries by Mersenne6 describing the Gilbert 3/16  O gauge line, with pictures and catalog illustrations

  Passenger cars – pp.38

      521 Club

      524 Pullman

      495 New Haven Pullman

      490 Whistling Baggage

      492 Mail Pick up

      492B  pp.39     

Lionel Flyer Comparison 

9 ½ “ freight cars  - pp. 39-41

American Flyer/Lionel/Ives Transition Cars  -  pp. 42

     20-192 Tank, 191$1****$2Car, 20-192 Merchandise, 20-193 Livestock Transportation, 20-194/20-193  sand or gravel, 20-195 Caboose, 194 Hopper, 196 Flatcar 

          

[mersenne6]

Unfinished Business from 1927 - The Rest of Page 10

  Some time ago Northwoods Flyer brought up the subject of the 1927 catalog, rushed right over to the bottom of page 10, and began discussing The Broadway Limited.

 Now there's nothing wrong with this and I, of course, share his enthusiasm.  However, there are two train sets on the page that precede the Broadway Limited and it only seems fair to mention them as well, particularly since they have such an interesting catalog history.

 

 

 

   In 1925 The Suburban was simply identified as Set #1102.  It was headed by the first variation of #1096 - all black paint with a diecast pantograph on one end and a top mounted operating headlight on the other.  The cars were #1120 but were lithographed dark green and had roofs with rounded edges.  In 1926 Set #1102 got its name "The Suburban" and the cars and engine were now of a darker shade of red and all had lithographed bodies.  #1096 now sported two diecast pantographs and had a headlight mounted in the center front of the cab.

 

 

The Suburban

 

  In 1927 the construction of the set changed yet again with the car roofs now a squared off stamping and the litho treatment of both engine and cars a much brighter shade of red.  The diecast pantographs gave way to stamped brass.

 

  

The Suburban Set #1102 for 1927

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Interstate Limited

 

 

 The second set on the page is the #1202 The Interstate Limited.  Like set #1102 above it was listed in the 1925 catalog as just Set #1202. In 1925 it was listed as headed by #1218 and it was shown with baggage car #1205 and passenger car #1103; presumably in dark green litho.  In 1926, in addition to the set number 1202, it was given the name "The Capitol Limited".  As in 1925 it was listed as headed by #1218 and the catalog cut shows a passenger car and a baggage in dark green with black roofs.  The passenger car is illustrated as #1103 and the baggage, while un-numbered in the catalog illustration, looks like the 3 window #1104.

 

 

   In 1927 the set number was still #1202 but the name was now "The Interstate Limited".  The catalog cut above indicates the locomotive heading the consist is #1270.  This engine was introduced in 1927 and it was essentially a #1218 without the handrails.  As you can see the catalog illustration does not show a #1270; it shows a #1218....Which brings us to the set #1202 shown below.

 

 

   It is a boxed set and it has an original 1927 catalog.  The cars are #1103 and #1104 but instead of "American Flyer Lines" the car is marked "Oriental Limited" and "Great Northern" at either end.  The baggage car does say "American Flyer Lines" on the left side but it also sports the GN logo on the right.  In Schuweiler's book on American Flyer both of these cars are listed with a production "Ca 1920's" ..and, of course, the engine is a #1218. 

 

 

  There are a couple of possibilities here - the 1927 catalog could be a later addition to an earlier set and the actual manufacture date is earlier.  On the other hand, the fact of the choice of the names on the car - the Oriental Limited - is certainly in keeping with the idea of an Interstate Limited so perhaps this is a 1927 set and the existence of #1218 is just a case of using up old inventory...or it could be something else entirely.  Whatever the case, it's an interesting set today and I'm sure it was an interesting set to its first owner as well.

 

 

Set #1202 - maybe The Interstate Limited...and maybe not

 

 

 

[Northwoods Flyer]

Thanks for posting the photos friscosteam.  I thought the folks might like to see the photos that you posted here on the thread, so I am going to edit them in.

friscosteam

You mean like this one?

 

Dark green 4000

 

 

And here is the red 4000 that he posted from the previous page.

 

 

Here is the 4040 and the 4041 do make the TOUGH dark green set.  There are rumors of dark green 4042's but I have yet to see one. It is hard to see the difference, but i posted here the lighter green much more common 4042.  Note the major differences besides the color being the roof has ventilator bumps and the doors are lithoed.

4040

 

 

4041

 

 4042

 

Wide Gauge 4000

 

The 4000 is one of the first Wide Gauge electric outline engines that American Flyer produced.  They called it their New York Central style engine.  Greenberg says that it was cataloged from 1925 to 1927.  It pulled the 4040 and the 4041 that friscosteam shows above in 1925 and 1926.  There is an illustration in the 1927 catalog that shows an orange NYC style engine with a " 4000" tag on it pulling the Bunker Hill and Yorktown passenger cars.  However, the description of the set says that it was pulled by the 4653.

I have one in my collection that is a repaint in black. 

 

 

Some of the earliest 4000s were painted a very dark green that almost looks black.  There are reports of factory painted black 4000s.  It really is a great looking engine in black livery.

 

 

  

 

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

Northwoods Flyer

[friscosteam]

Anytime NW Flyer!  Here are some lone scout cars to add to the mix here.  The loco has already 

4250

 

4251

 

4252

 

 

[mersenne6]

A Bit More About Bordens

  A few pages ago we had a discussion about the Bordens Milk Car that Flyer made in the 1930's.  I provided some comments as well as pictures of one of the real cars that is part of the IRM collection.  I wondered about other survivors and this question was echoed by another post.  As luck would have it, someone over on the Trains Forum asked a similar question and, the information supplied by Carl of CShaveRR would seem to suggest that the IRM car is the lone survivor.  In addition, Wanswheel provided links to two pictures of the cars when they were in revenue service.  The links are below:

http://www.canadasouthern.com/caso/non-nyc/images/bfix-516.jpg

http://www.canadasouthern.com/caso/non-nyc/images/bfix-522.jpg

 

  Carl said:

 "Reporting marks BFIX, as seen on those milk tank cars, were assigned to Borden until 1957.  The fleet included 51 different cars, all of which had glass-lined tanks--most (501-543) were of 6000 gallons capacity, such as those illustrated; the last few (544-551) had a capacity of 7,640 gallons.  The first eight cars were built in 1926 or 1927; the fleet had expanded to 35 cars by 1931.  By 1941, all but five of the larger-sized cars had been built, and a couple of the 6000-gallon tanks had been retired.  In early 1949 the fleet still stood at 49 cars (as many as the company ever operated at once), but there were only 19 cars left as of 1954, and most of those lasted into 1957."

 

[Northwoods Flyer]

1927 Offerings

Mersenne 6,

Thank You for providing the rest of the story for page 10 of the 1927 catalog.  I would never have been able to provide the information that you did since - I don't own either one of the sets that you described and I have no photos to share. 

 

 I will pick up on another of the sets offered on page 11:  The Bluebird.

 

 

This name has a relatively long run in the catalogs, appearing for the last time in 1932.  The set changes components throughout its history.

 

There are already several pictures of this set back on pages 7 and 25.

 

The Bluebird set first appears in the catalog in 1927 containing a lithographed engine and cars.  It consists of the 3013 boxcab

 

 

 

A lithographed 1205 Baggage, 1286 lighted Pullman and a 1287 lighted Observation.  These cars are illustrated as being without journals and the numbers do not appear anywhere on the car.

 

This is an idea of what the set would have looked like, however the passenger cars are not the 1927 version.

 

 

The set also includes  the #96 Flossmore Staion, 2011 Semaphore, and the 263 Hoosac Tunnel.  It was priced at $13.75 ($15.25 in the Western States).

 

In 1928 the Bluebird changes engines to the 3113.

 

 

The set contains the same passenger cars (1205 Baggage, 1286 lighted Pullman, and the 1287 lighted Observation), but this year they have brass journals.

 

 

The accessories included in the set are the same and the price is now $14.75 ($16.00 in the West)

 

 

The 1929 Bluebird is identical to the 1928 set however the price has risen to $15.50 ($17.00 in the West).

 

In 1930 the New Bluebird appears in the catalog and contains an enameled engine and enameled cars.  The set is called Blue Bird in 1931 and 1932. and the components of the accessories included in the set vary with each year.  I don't have enough photos to illustrate these sets yet, and besides this is really illustrating the 1927 offerings anyway.  This will give me an excuse to go hunting. 

 

The Bluebird must have been a fairly popular set because it shows up fairly frequently.

 

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

Northwoods Flyer

[mersenne6]

Nation Wide Lines

  American Flyer was well known for putting together "custom" versions of their catalog offerings for various large retailers.  Most of these sets were just modifications of existing catalog sets. The modifications were usually a matter of substitution of set components - fewer cars, different cars, different engine, or, in the case of train sets with additional accessories, elimination or reduction of the number of accessories included.

 

  In the case of J.C. Penney there was a distinct difference.  Using existing tooling, Flyer made entirely new sets for J.C. Penney under the name Nation Wide.  The train sets ran the gamut from the most basic clockwork like the set above to a top of the line blue lithographed passenger set with large Illini style cars and a special blue litho #3113 electric outline engine.  The litho passenger cars had "Nation Wide Lines" in place of "American Flyer" as did the litho freight cars.

Flyer also made one steam engine specifically for Nation Wide.  Schuweilers guide to Prewar American Flyer O Gauge gives these die cast engines the designation of Type XVII.  The engine came with a Type II tender lettered for Nation Wide Lines

Type XVII Engine and Tender

 

 

 

#1109 EJ& E - Regular American Flyer Production

 

 

 

Nation Wide Version of #1109

 

  Flyer also made a 4 wheel reefer with the same color scheme as the Morris reefers.  Unlike the Morris reefers there was only one type of side lithography.

 

 

Nation Wide Reefer 

 

  Both passenger and freight cars came in 4 and 8 wheel versions.  The cars and sets were offered from approximately 1929-1934.  Schuweilers guide to Prewar American Flyer O Gauge does have some information on these sets, however, the best article on these trains is an extensive article by Leon Sweet and Henry Kosholleck in the online TCA e-train journal.  If you are interested in learning more about these trains you should read the TCA article.  The link to the article is below.

http://www.tcaetrain.org/articles/collecting/Nationwidelines/index.html

 

 

 

 

 

[Northwoods Flyer]

Mersenne6,

Thanks for the posting on the Nationwide Lines equipment and article. Its another part of the fascinating history of American Flyer.  One of these days I hope to have a representative piece in my collection. Obviously, the collector gene never gives up.

1927 Offerings

There is just one more set on page 11 that hasn't been covered:  The Jeffersonian.

 

The two page spread in the 1927 catalog has some of the most colorful sets in the history of Flyer production.

 

 

The "Jeffersonian" name appeared in several catalogs but only in 1927 did it contain the 3015 box cab and the Illini cars. My set comes with journals, even though the catalog illustration does not show journals on the cars.

 

 

It is set #1306 in the catalog.

 

 

 

Box cab electric #3015

 

 

Baggage #3000

 

 

Pullman #3001

 

 

Observation #3002 (even though the lithography shows #3001 on the end).

 

 

 

There are some additional photos of this set back on page #24 of this thread, sitting on the Blueboard Central.

 

Flyer marketed their lithographed 9 1/2 inch passenger cars from 1922 to 1934. They are known as the Columbia and Illini cars.  Flyer is known for having a large range of variations in their equipment and these two lines of cars hold true to form. The Columbia series of cars were lithographed in varying shades of brown and reddish-brown.  The Illini cars were lithographed in varying shades of green.  There are other variations in the the cars too.  Once again, collecting the variations in these two lines of cars are a subset of collecting American Flyer all unto themselves.

 

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

Northwoods Flyer.

 

[mersenne6]

1927 Jeffersonian - The Rest of the Story

  A closer look at that catalog

    The catalog cut that Northwoods Flyer posted has more to it than first meets the eye. 

 

   It is true that the cars in the illustration do not have journal boxes but there is more. Notice that the car frames are black and not green.  Also take a closer look at the frame of #3015.  You have to squint just a bit but if you do you can see that it is not as elaborate nor as long as the frame on Northwoods Flyer's engine.  The other thing to note is that the engine is illustrated as having a single brass plate with rubber stamped markings on either end.  As far as I know, this version was never made - all #3015's appear to have two brass plates at either end and no rubber stampings.  Other than this,  the set illustrated is, in fact, the set below.

 

 

   1927 Jeffersonian

 

    While all of the toy train manufacturers made changes to their offerings as the years passed, Flyer on several occasions made one or more intra-year changes and the 1927 Jeffersonian is an excellent example of this. 

 

 

#3015 - First Version - short frame

 

 

#3081  Illini Pullman 4

 

 

 

   The car above is often referred to as #3001, however, the Greenberg guide notes it is actually #3081 as does the catalog text 

 

 

...and the ends of the car boxes 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...but not the car itself.  Like the #95 freight station and the #96 and #97 stations, as Flyer made changes and upgrades to existing items they identified the changes with new catalog numbers but the litho stones, and hence the lithography, retained their original numbers.  This change in production status impacted the number identification of  the baggage car as well: #3000 became #3080.

 

 

  In addition to the intra-year changes already noted there were changes in the doors of the baggage car.  In the set picture above you can see that the doors have cast handles whereas the doors on the baggage in Northwoods Flyer's set have small metal buttons.  It would be interesting to know if these changes occurred all at once (black frames to green, short locomotive frame to long locomotive frame, no journals to journals, and cast handles to button handles) or if they were sequential/random.  Probably the only way to tell at this late date would be to find an intact boxed set with some kind of mix of changes. 

 

 

 

 

  There are numerous differences between #3001 on the left and #3081 on the right.  #3001 has much darker litho, air tanks, a hinged roof with a pull release, and a white painted interior.  The light inside #3001 gets its power not from roller pickups on the trucks but from wires threaded through the roof of car which connects to a power plug on the roof of the #3020 engine (see page 20 of this thread for a close up picture of this arrangement for car lighting).  The cab of #3015 is the same as the #3020 cab and the early #3015 cab roof retains the hole for the plug (you can see it on the top front of the first  picture of the set above).  What is interesting is that on #3020 the electrical plug was on the rear facing part of the cab whereas the leftover hole is on the front of the #3015 cab.

 

 

  All of the changes in the 1927 Jeffersonian were a prelude to the big changes in the 1928 catalog when, like several of the other top-of-the-line sets, the Jeffersonian received a complete makeover - brass and two tone blue enamel and became the New Jeffersonian. 

 

 

  More details on this set can be found in earlier posts to this thread.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Northwoods Flyer]

Mersenne6

What a great analysis of the 1927 Jeffersonian.  I did not know about the intra year changes that Flyer made to that set.  I actually thought that this was one of those instances where the catalog illustration did not match what was actually produced. So as you look at the set that I have do you think that it is production from later in 1927?

 

#3001 Illini Pullman

I have a lone #3001 Illini Pullman in my collection that I will post here because I don't have any other pieces of equipment that it goes with. It looks very much like the #3001 in the photo comparison that you posted.

mersenne6

 

  There are numerous differences between #3001 on the left and #3081 on the right.  #3001 has much darker litho, air tanks, a hinged roof with a pull release, and a white painted interior.  The light inside #3001 gets its power not from roller pickups on the trucks but from wires threaded through the roof of car which connects to a power plug on the roof of the #3020 engine 

 

My example of the 3001 illustrates most of the details that you mention above.

 

 

Note the cam locking device and the hole in the body for the lighting kit.  You can also see that the interior of the car is painted white.

 

 

 

The one major difference is that this car gets its power for the interior light from a roller pick up instead of the lighting kit that strings from car to car.

 

 

 

So now I have the short framed #3015 and the appropriate cars to look for to add to the collection.

 

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

Northwoods Flyer

 

[mersenne6]

  Given that the trend in trains at that time was from less elaborate to more elaborate my guess is that your set is the later version.

  Based on just what I've seen over the years your #3001 is the next iteration of that car.  The roller pickup makes it later than the non-roller pickup. The stamping for the body still has the notch for the overhead wire and the roof still has the cam lock feature.  Now all you have to do is get the rest of that set and then you can start looking for the earliest version with no roller pickups....so the shopping list is

1.  Early #3020 with early #3000 and #3001

2.  Second #3020 with the rest of the cars to match what you have

3.  Earlier version of the Jeffersonian.

  ...and I'm sure there's at least one other version of the run in there somewhere that I've overlooked.

[balidas]

 

WOW!

mersenne6

A Bit More About Bordens

  A few pages ago we had a discussion about the Bordens Milk Car that Flyer made in the 1930's.  I provided some comments as well as pictures of one of the real cars that is part of the IRM collection.  I wondered about other survivors and this question was echoed by another post.  As luck would have it, someone over on the Trains Forum asked a similar question and, the information supplied by Carl of CShaveRR would seem to suggest that the IRM car is the lone survivor.  In addition, Wanswheel provided links to two pictures of the cars when they were in revenue service.  The links are below:

http://www.canadasouthern.com/caso/non-nyc/images/bfix-516.jpg

http://www.canadasouthern.com/caso/non-nyc/images/bfix-522.jpg

 

  Carl said:

 "Reporting marks BFIX, as seen on those milk tank cars, were assigned to Borden until 1957.  The fleet included 51 different cars, all of which had glass-lined tanks--most (501-543) were of 6000 gallons capacity, such as those illustrated; the last few (544-551) had a capacity of 7,640 gallons.  The first eight cars were built in 1926 or 1927; the fleet had expanded to 35 cars by 1931.  By 1941, all but five of the larger-sized cars had been built, and a couple of the 6000-gallon tanks had been retired.  In early 1949 the fleet still stood at 49 cars (as many as the company ever operated at once), but there were only 19 cars left as of 1954, and most of those lasted into 1957."

 

[mersenne6]

Tank Car Trivia

  Odd renditions of two common cars

  #1118

   

      The 6 1/2 inch litho tank car was manufactured from 1921 to 1929.  The litho color varied over the years between a dark and a light gray.  The trucks and couplers changed during the production run in conjunction with other cars of the period.  There are small variations in dome and end color but, for the most part a litho #1118 is a litho #1118 and that is about all one can say.

 

#1118 ca. 1919

 

 

 

  Given the vagaries of production some errors were bound to occur on the production line.  Most, if they were serious enough, were caught and never got past the end of the production line.  There were, however, exceptions and the #1118 below is one of them.  It appears that during the production process there was some kind of a glitch with respect to the installation of the metal bands that secure the tank body to the frame.  An examination of the underside of this car shows it has an excessive amount of band folded in and around the car ends.  Whatever the cause of the malfunction the effect on the tank itself is obvious - a real squashed out firecracker look.

 

 

#1118 production error

 

 

 

  When the two cars are side by side the difference is very apparent.

 

 

Comparison of height differences

 

 

 

 #3010

 

 

  The 9 1/2 inch litho tank car was made between 1925 and 1927.  It was replaced by the all enamel tank care #3210 in 1928.  In addition to the shift from litho to enamel there was an increase in the amount of detail on the car - brass number and name plates and a side ladder and platform to simulate access to the tank car top.

 

  #3010 like its 6 1/2 inch counterpart came in gray litho with a brass or nickel plated tank dome.  The car was lithoed "American Flyer Tank Line" in white script letters with black highlighting and black lithoed reporting marks on the lower part of the tank.

 

 

 

#3010 ca. 1925

 

 

 

   The tank car below is an interesting attempt to correct a factory error.  The litho treatment for the top part of the car has a solid black over lithoed layer.  You can tell it is litho and not just some kind of overpaint because the black continues under the end caps and out onto the end tabs which hold the end caps to the car.  If you view the car in reflected light you can see the "American Flyer Tank Line" script and you can see numerous "picks" of the litho coat which have been over lithoed with the solid black.  The pattern of the picks would suggest that something went wrong with the litho printing of the white script and, rather than scrap the metal sheets they were overprinted and shipped.

 

 

 

 

 

#3010 black over litho treatment

 

 

 

    

  As noted above, #3010 in litho was made for only 2 years.  Its replacement #3210, on the other hand, was in production with various enamel and brass and nickel finishes from 1928-1938....which brings us to the #3010 below.

 

 

  At first glance it looks just like any other lithoed #3010, however, if you look closely (see the second picture for a closeup)  you can see punched tab holes in the side of the car bracketing the reporting marks on either end and up near the tank dome.  These holes match the holes used for mounting the brass plates and brass ladder and platform that appeared on #3210.  However, it is obvious that this car never had these things attached.  In addition, the frame has paint filled punched tab holes that are used to secure the bottom of the ladder on #3210 to the frame.

 

  In additon to this, if you look at the finish you will note the brown banding of the gray litho which gives the impression of stretch marks and does not look like the smooth uniform gray of the two cars above. 

 

 

 

 

#3010 with extra tab holes in tank side.

 

 

 

Closeup of tank car side

 

    

  So what can we make of this?  My guess - a test tool car that someone decided was good enough to ship.  It was and is a common practice to run test pieces through tooling to make sure everything is functioning the way it is supposed to before actually starting new production.  In this case it would have made sense to check for things like punch registry and sheet metal rolling using either scrap or leftover material from discontinued production. 

 

   

  An example of a known test tool car is the New Marx tank car below.  In this case unfinished litho sheet was used to better allow for an inspection of tool performance.

 

 

 

 

New Marx test tool car

 

 Addendum - July 2021: At the time I posted this the AF tank car with extra holes was the only one I had ever seen. In addition to this no one I knew or corresponded with had ever seen anything like it.  A few years ago Nation Wide Lines purchased a boxed set with a tank car like this one and about 6 months ago I found another boxed set with the same car.  While 3 complete cars isn't a lot it is more than one would expect from a simple tool test car run and the fact that two of these are in confirmed boxed sets would suggest what we have here is another case of Flyer deciding to do something and then changing their mind. 

 

   Given the car count I think what Flyer was planning to do with the 9 1/2" tank car was the same thing they did with the 6 1/2" litho gondolas and boxcars - add brass details over the litho.  I also think, given the change from 9 1/2" litho tank car to enameled tank car 1928, Flyer decided not to add the brass details to the litho tank cars and just shipped what they had.  Why? At this stage who knows. One possibility - they really didn't have that much 9 1/2" litho tank car inventory and it wasn't considered cost effective to add the brass plates and ladders to what was essentially left over product.

 

 

  Cadmium Plated #3210

 

    I'd never seen one of these cars until June 2011 when one was offered for sale on e-bay.  A reading of the offering and the updates to the offering strongly suggested a number of individuals had questioned the car authenticity.  The offering also indicated that while the seller had not purchased the car from the Louis Hertz auction he had purchased it from someone who had.  The seller also offered, by way of providing provenance, to put whomever purchased the car in contact with the original buyer. 

  The car is authentic. According to Hertz's book "Collecting Toy Trains" (pp.214) "Another interesting and rare group of equipment consists of locomotives and cars which certain individuals have been able to have the tinplate manufacturers especially finish or letter for them.  Among the models known to have been authentically produced in this manner are...five American Flyer O gauge cadmium-plated No.3210 tank cars of around 1935..."  

  As obscure as this car is one can only hope that whomever purchased the car took the time to make the calls and, more importantly, procured some form of written documentation from the original buyer as well as the seller in order to give the car the provenance it will almost certainly need the next time it changes hands.

(image used with seller permission)