104 Station Variations
Ok another 104 station variation. Specifically, late 104 stations.
This is the most common variation
Note it has a gray base, which is very common.
The 1st variation, which I have previously posted here, has an orange base on top, which has been overpainted at the factory, as evidenced by a gray underside on the base.
Yet another variation came up, this time at a local auction. I picked this station up this morning. It came with its original box. The base is the same color both on the underside and on the top, with only one coat of paint that is somewhat light in places on the bottom.
The green base and roof is most unusual on the 104. I have seen both on variations of the late freight station set, as shown below.
NWL
NWL,
Nice auction find. The dark green combination is a very attractive looking piece. I am going to have to start watching for one. That is one variation I don't have....yet.
Trivia Quiz #15
Where will you find this? What is the number of the item where you will find it? Extra credit: What year(s) will you find it in the catalog(s)?
Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby
Northwoods Flyer
The Northwoods Flyer Collection
of
American Flyer Trains
"The Toy For the Boy"
OK that is a 92 Watchman's Tower. Too lazy to look up when it was cataloged, my guess is 1928-1931, with it becoming the 214 New Lighted Watchman's Tower in 1932, but that is a guess.
Here are some variations.
Northwoods, a Question for you (and others). What other accessory was also numbered 92 and what years was it cataloged?
Since nobody answered my question,
The other item that Flyer numbered 92, was the Billboard, cataloged in 1923 and 1924.
Nationwidelines OK that is a 92 Watchman's Tower. Too lazy to look up when it was cataloged, my guess is 1928-1931, with it becoming the 214 New Lighted Watchman's Tower in 1932, but that is a guess.
Nationwidelines,
You are right. The bell is on one of my #92 Watchman's Tower.
The #92 was cataloged from 1929 thru 1933.
The #214 was cataloged from 1934 thru 1938. The #214 was illuminated.
Nationwidelines The other item that Flyer numbered 92, was the Billboard, cataloged in 1923 and 1924. NWL
I thought I would let someone else take a few guesses. I didn't have a photo to post either. Your 92 billboard is in great shape.
Greenberg lists another item numbered 92. Its a turntable that was made in Germany but sold by American Flyer. Its circa 1910 - 1917. Its also called the M92. I've never seen one but there is a sketch of an example in the book.
Here's two more additions to the unusual 96/104 station base colors
Blue
...and yellow
In addition to the yellow base 104 I have a tan base #96. NWL- Question - is the green base green roof a 104 (internal light) or is it a #96 (no light)?
Mersenne,
Thanks for posting the variations of the early stations. I do have one with a tan base that is an early station. Have not found a nice one with a blue base, but I was aware of that variation.
As for the green base/green roof late version, it does have an interior light and came with a box indicating it was a 104 station with interior light.
my early 104 with tan base is a slight variation from yours. It has a red roof on it.
Between the Flyer catalog cuts and my observations over time I think the plan was to put various shades of green roofs on the #96 stations and maroon or red roofs on the #104. I also think this pattern was adhered to as long as there were ample supplies of both on the assembly line...and when there wasn't they would use whatever color was available. This is why I was asking about the 104 with the green base. If it had been a #96 with the later clapboard litho treatment it would have increased my count of those stations by 100% since I've only seen one other #96 with the later litho sides.
I know you mentioned the late litho as an un-lighted 96 station and I honestly have never came across one (not that I have been looking). Could you post more details about it? and photos of the inside and outside of the building/base. I am curious to see it.
I have seen very few variations in the late 104 stations, which is why I went to the local auction and bought the green base one (as I knew it was at the auction and previewed it prior to the auction). The orange base and green base are the only variations of this station that I have observed. I also have a very late 104 station in a Gilbert box, with a Gilbert label on the base.
NWL here you go
Station and shipping box
Inside station
Underside
Assuming my sample count of this station is something other than personal sampling bias (I can't go to every train show in the U.S.), I would guess that the difficulty in finding this version of the #96 may be due to nothing more than price differentials. My impression is that Flyer made the transition to the new litho treatment in 1935. For that year the prices of the two stations were #96 - $1.00 and #104 - $1.50 - basically you were paying $.50 for a light. This was also the last year Flyer mentioned #96 in the catalog. In 1936 #104 was selling for $1.00 - the same price as the #96 the year before (by the way - the pencil price marking on the box label in the picture is 98 cents).
It is also worth noting that the description of the #96 in the 1935 catalog states "Same as above but without light or frosted windows." This, of course, raises another interesting question. My version has punched and frosted windows - are there any #96 stations with the late lithograhic treatment with unpunched windows?
One last item - I edited my earlier post above - the #104 base is yellow not tan, however, I do have a #96 with the same litho treatment with a tan base.
Something to Ponder - Is yours a Righty or Lefty?
So while in the train archives this afternoon, I noted that there are variations of the 234 Suburban Station that have the building on the Right and variations that have the building on the Left. I had never noted this before. I say on the right or left, because there is a clear front and back to this station, as the back has no platform area behind the station, but the front has about 1 to 1.5 inches of platform area. Here are some variations I have.
I note that both of my 234 suburban stations with the building on the left are punched for some other station, either a small passenger or small freight station, as evidenced by extra holes for a larger building. Not sure if this is the only way to have the building on the left, or not.
So this came in the mail yesterday.
That is a great example of an 1109 sand car. For an American Flyer collector its even better than getting a letter from Publishers Clearing House.
Your earlier posting about the #234 station and its variations of "lefty" and "righty" got me thinking about my examples of that station. I have 7 variations in my collection but I have never paid attention to the difference between right and left orientation. I finally had some time to go and look at mine. I have them scattered around the layout and on shelves. Here is what I discovered.
Lefty #1
Lefty #2
Lefty #3
Lefty #4
Righty #1
Righty #2
Righty #3
Of course now this means that I am going to have to be on the watch for other variations of the ones that I already have so I can have mirror image stations.
Thanks a lot NationWideLines
I guess it just goes to show how easy it is to overlook the obvious (and yes, I have the small station in left and right handed versions as well). Until NWL posted his pictures I thought the only stations that had the metal for their base plates fed into the bending machine upside down were the long base #97 freight stations. The end result is the crane on either the left or right side of the building.
It would appear that at some point Flyer was either trying to turn out a universal base for the various small stations or they had a lot of leftover bases which they used in any way they could. The same base with all of the extra holes NWL mentioned can also be found as the base for the crane on the long base #97.
Tenders, Tenders, Variations of Tenders
So I just acquired another variation of these little tenders and thought I would post some photos of the variations I have.
Some comments on these tenders. Some have only a single named plate, with the plate on the other side of the tender reading "American Flyer" My variations of Annapolis and West Point have only a single named plate, while the Madison and Hancock tenders have the named plates on both sides.
I seem to recall seeing an Army-Navy tender before.
These tenders are obviously a means of American Flyer using extra standard gague plates. So any of the names that appeared below the windows on President Special and Flying Colonel cars are possibilities for these cars. I do not recall all of the names that they used on the Standard gauge cars.
Happy Hunting!
I think that it might not be bad to sort the contents of this thread sometime. I know that someone else made a site to document the production of the various OO gauge manufacturers here in the US (amercicanoo.blogspot.com), so would there be objection to my doing this with the information y'all have set forth here?
I took the silence for a yes, and started one
https://www.prewaraf.blogspot.com
for the purpose of organizing the information here.
I got a warning message when I followed your link. I'm not sure that site is safe.
It mig just be because it's using a blog site. What are you viewing it on?
I'm using my laptop, Windows 10. When I click on the link you have posted above it gives me a warning message that the site is not private and it is vulnerable to attackers.
Hmm. That's a new one for me. Don't think I have ever seen that warning for this batch of sites before.
EDIT: the warning only shows up here if you click the link. Since that's just to the home page of the site, just typing it in is fine apparently. No wanrings when I do that.
tinplatacis,
Good Luck with your task. With almost 1800 postings to this thread you have a lot of information to summarize. I've thought about doing a new index for the thread but I think it will have to wait until retirement. It looks like you have a good start already.
Trivia Question #16
What is this and where will you find it?
tinplatacis I think that it might not be bad to sort the contents of this thread sometime. I know that someone else made a site to document the production of the various OO gauge manufacturers here in the US (amercicanoo.blogspot.com), so would there be objection to my doing this with the information y'all have set forth here?
I like how the blog is able to sort the information to specific links, but the information you have posted is very general and to a collector is somewhat vauge on certain things.
A question for you, can pictures be posted along with the links?
I think that could be very helpful in trying to explain things. Otherwise, for instance you posting of the first american flyer set information is so general that it is not even very good. To link the 1907 engine to the later engine from 1916 is just so vague due to the differences in motors, shapes of the castings, rivet detail, etc. that occured over this 9 year period of production. I purchased a 1907 engine this spring at York and can tell you I was unsure about it at first, because it did not match what I expected it to be.
To be honest, it is possible to post photos, I just a, having difficulty doing so.
Northwoods Flyer Trivia Question #16 What is this and where will you find it? Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby Northwoods Flyer
No guesses so far, so here is a hint. But now you need to give the #of the item.
Hint #1
Have fun.
Enjolying the World's Greatest Hobby
It's the rear of the 4963 tender would be my guess.
Close, but that is the o gauge tender, the sheetmetal vanderbuilt tender I believe.
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