Oh yeah...in addition to those questions...can anyone give a ballpark value for this set? It is complete, and also comes with a lot of O-gauge track...switches, lights, etc. and a few original (flattened) boxes. Thanks again!!
Your Christmas Lists crack me up...very cool. I have been lurking for a while, but still haven't found the information I am interested in. I figured I better ask the geniuses here. I have what I believe is a fairly rare American Flyer set, in I would say very good condition. I say I believe it is very rare because in several days of searching online, I cannot find it...cannot find it in online price guides...etc. I WAS however, able to find what I believe it is in a picture from the 1938 AF catalog. I searched this catalog based on the known history of ownership of this set. I believe I have the No. 10 Northern Pacific Freight Train set with #7 75W Transformer. The only thing visibly wrong with it is that the pilot trucks are a little chewed up, and I see from various sources that the prewar AFs had this problem commonly. I took them off to prevent them getting worse, but still of course have the original parts. Also, the cord on the transformer is very brittle plastic, and is a mess. I have two questions...
In order to keep the highest value possible...do I leave everything original, albeit slightly worn? That is...do I try to find replacement trucks for a weirdly rare 2-6-4 set, and replace the power cord on the transformer, or do I leave them original and know that the set cannot run in this condition? Thanks in advance...and I can add photos if anyone wishes.
Christmas Wish List
1941
To paraphrase President Roosevelt, "This is a year that will live in Infamy". The United States is at war. After the US fleet is all but destroyed in a surprise attack in December, the US declares war on Japan and enters World War II. Events in the news have shown the clouds of war spreading over more and more of Europe and spreading now even to our own back yard. Its hard to find news that isn't about the war: President Roosevelt is sworn in for a third term. A new cartoon character named Captain America gets his own comic book. The United Service Organization (USO) is created to entertain American troops, and Bob Hope signs on as one of its primary entertainers. The Grand Coulee Dam in Washington begins to generate electricity. There is a new cereal at the general store called CheeriOats (the name is later changed to Cheerios). Orsen Welles' new film Citizen Kane premiers in New York. Joe DiMaggio has a 56 game hitting streak. The Great Gildersleeve debuts on the radio. Walt Disney has another great feature length cartoon called Dumbo in theaters. The carving of the four heads of important presidents in completed at Mt Rushmore.
With all of the frightening news on the radio and in the newspaper its a real comfort to look at the American Flyer Trains by Gilbert catalog. You have spent several nights looking through its pages under the covers by flashlight. Mr. Gilbert opened a whole building in New York called The Hall of Science.
The Northwoods Flyer Collection
of
American Flyer Trains
"The Toy For the Boy"
1940
The only thing on the radio these days is news about the war in Europe. It almost makes a kid feel like they don't want to listen to the radio anymore. But mom and dad, and even the neighbors who stop by, are glued to it. Its hard to find other events going on in the world - but there are some things that will divert your attention.
RKO releases Walt Disney's second feature length animated movie, Pinnochio. Its hard not to like a boy who's nose grows when he fibs. Mom and Dad keep warning the same thing will happen to you. There are two new cartoon characters showing up at the movies too - Tom and Jerry make their debut. And a third guy with a weird way of speaking shows up in the cartoons - Elmer Fudd. If you lived in San Bernardino California you could go to a new restaurant that just opened called McDonald's. Most parents don't think it will last. There is lots of news about the rescue of British forces at Dunkirk France by anybody who had a boat to bring them back across the British Channel- over 850 boats were involved for 9 days. The Republican party selects Wendell Wilkie as its candidate for President to run against incumbent president Franklin D. Roosevelt. President Roosevelt wins a third term in office, something no other president has ever done. President Roosevelt signs the Selective Training and Service Act which establishes the first peace time draft in U.S. History. Walt Disney releases a second film this year called Fantasia. The Chicago Bears beat the Washington Redskins by a score of 73 to 0 in the 1940 NFL Championship Game.
While the map of Europe is changing every day, things in the U.S. remain pretty much the same. Europe and the fighting going on there are a very long distance from your living room. So its with a sense of relief and great expectation that you run home with your copy of the catalog for Gilbert's American Flyer Trains. That name is still a little strange.
1939
The Philco radio in the living room has been filled with nothing but disturbing news this year. The world is at war, countries are invading countries and it sounds as if the world is changing forever. One county after another seems to be disappearing as the Nazi's are on the move. Mom and Dad talk in hushed tones after the kids are in bed. So far the U.S. isn't involved. There are other things going on in the world too:
Students at Havard University have established a new tradition - swallowing goldfish. The 1939 World's Fair opens in New York. A new comic book character appears at the news stands - Batman is born. Major League Baseball's Lou Gehrig ends an unbroken streak of 2,131 games played after announcing that he has contracted ALS. There are two really good movies at theaters across the country; The Wizard of OZ and Gone with the Wind. Kids like the first one and adults like the second one.
The American Flyer Trains catalog is now called Gilbert American Flyer Electric Trains.
1938
This has been a tumultuous year. Listening to the old Philco radio in the parlor during the evening brings news of scary and painful happenings in the world; and a few pleasant things. The Niagara Bridge in New York collapses because of an ice jam. Adolph Hitler has been creating all kinds of havoc in Europe. He is pressuring the government of Austria for power in that countrhy, he has his sights set on places as far away as Africa and for most of the year he has been threatening Czechoslovakia. Italy beats Hungary in the World Cup competition. Heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis knocks out Max Schmeling in the first round of their rematch at Yankee Stadium. A new character named Superman appears in a new comic book called Detective Comics. Howard Hughes sets a new record by completing a 91 hour airplane flight around the world. Wrong Way Corrigan takes off from New York headed for Califonia, he ends up in Ireland instead. The chemical company DuPont announces the development of a synthetic yarn called "nylon". Orson Wells broadcasts a story on the Mercury Theater on the Air called "The War of the Worlds" about an invasion from Mars. It causes a panic all across the country. In Germany Kristallnacht "the night of broken glass" takes place as Nazi activists loot and burn Jewish business.
Its a disappointing and frightening time. Even kids discover that things they thought would always be there have changed. When the American Flyer Trains catalog comes out it is very different.
Thanks Jim,
If I remember correctly you got a Polar Express last year for Christmas. You already have the track, now all you need is to visit ebay and pick up an engine and some cars. I think I have also tried to lure you into the land of O gauge Flyer in the past too. I think its about time you rewarded yourself with a sample of Chicago Flyer.
Greg- Nice, real nice. Makes me have a notion to venture into AF "O".
Jim
Hi laz,
It sounds like winter has descended on you. Its a cool 21 degrees here today. We only have predictions of snow showers and flurries for the next few days. The 10 inches we got a week ago is still here. Its looking a lot like the Christmas cards. I'd say that your weather sounds perfect for running trains inside, and it would be a great way to reward yourself for all that neighborliness.
Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby and staying frosty,
Northwoods Flyer
HI GYZ,
WOW lots o AF stuff. 19 and cold here we are to get 4-8 inches of SNO HI O tomorrow. Great for me! I gotta clear all the neighbor ladies driveways with the SNOW BLOWER. I might have to do it like JIM DUDA does?
Stay frosty,
laz57
1937
There have been a lot of big event in the news this year. The biggest one that has everyones attention is the disappearance of Amelia Earhart and her navigator Fred Noonan during her attempt to become the first woman to fly around the world. Its been the topic of conversation for months. There are many other events too: President Franklin D Roosevelt is sworn in for a second term. A new comic book shows up at news stands called Detective Comics. There is a new character in Looney Tune cartoon shorts. He's a crazy black bird called Daffy Duck. The German airship Hindenberg bursts into flames when mooring to a mast in Lakehurst New Jersey. The coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth takes place in London. Wallis Simpson married the former King Edward VIII. The Golden Gate bridge opens to pedestrian traffic one day and to automobile traffic the next. George Gershwin dies in Los Angeles. Orsen Wells stars in a new radio program called The Shadow. Walt Disney releases the first feature length animated cartoon with music called Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
The best thing about the year is the arrival of the American Flyer Trains catalog down at the hardware store. The cover looks great, but it also looks familiar. Maybe the people at American Flyer decided to reuse the cover from another year.
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.
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.
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.
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!
Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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)
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.
beautiful!
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.
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
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.
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
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.
Nothing is more fairly distributed than common sense: no one thinks he needs more of it than he already has.
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