About the "Space Age America". ABSOLUTELY TRUE! AF strengths were their quality and varied accessories. They were poor marketers, and it showed. In my opinion, If they had stayed with quality and cut back on the number of offerings. They might even be in business today. Sadly, after AC Gilbert died, the brains of the company could only think of $ signs and did not understand the business or where it was going. Frank
AF4EVERIt was only the late Fifties, when AF was cutting back and cheaping their sets and rolling stock that Lionel was able to catch up and over take AF.
It was only the late Fifties, when AF was cutting back and cheaping their sets and rolling stock that Lionel was able to catch up and over take AF.
By the late Fifties, Lionel was cutting back and cheapening their sets and rolling stock, too.
Flyer did not recognize where their strengths were and that is what understand killed the company.
In my opinion, the problem was that Flyer (in its S scale incarnation) simply came along too late in a game that ended much too soon. S scale was just beginning to hit its stride when Space Age America decided it wasn't interested in anything as "old fashioned" as toy trains any longer.
AF4EVER If you look at the items AF had during most of the Fifties, they were head and shoulders over Lionel. Their R & D was really something! It was only the late Fifties, when AF was cutting back and cheaping their sets and rolling stock that Lionel was able to catch up and over take AF. Flyer did not recognize where their strengths were and that is what understand killed the company. Frank
If you look at the items AF had during most of the Fifties, they were head and shoulders over Lionel. Their R & D was really something! It was only the late Fifties, when AF was cutting back and cheaping their sets and rolling stock that Lionel was able to catch up and over take AF. Flyer did not recognize where their strengths were and that is what understand killed the company.
Frank
The best inventors are the worst marketers.
Alton Junction
richhotrain richhotrain Here is the tally of American Flyer guys so far: Sturgeon-Phish green97probe Timboy richhotrain balidas Northwoods Flyer sulafool mersenne6 jcolonbc banks arkady stebbycentral aflyer traindaddy1 joehohmann laurastom RockIsland52 - wannabee Russ D Little Tommy nwoodsnut AFBOXCAR rrlineman Major AF4EVER PHM AFLines LocoPops kaycee Brady AF53
richhotrain Here is the tally of American Flyer guys so far: Sturgeon-Phish green97probe Timboy richhotrain balidas Northwoods Flyer sulafool mersenne6 jcolonbc banks arkady stebbycentral aflyer traindaddy1 joehohmann laurastom RockIsland52 - wannabee Russ D Little Tommy nwoodsnut AFBOXCAR rrlineman Major AF4EVER PHM AFLines LocoPops kaycee Brady AF53
Here is the tally of American Flyer guys so far:
Sturgeon-Phish
green97probe
Timboy
richhotrain
balidas
Northwoods Flyer
sulafool
mersenne6
jcolonbc
banks
arkady
stebbycentral
aflyer
traindaddy1
joehohmann
laurastom
RockIsland52 - wannabee
Russ D
Little Tommy
nwoodsnut
AFBOXCAR
rrlineman
Major
AF4EVER
PHM
AFLines
LocoPops
kaycee
Brady
AF53
From your mouth......
Ray
Bayville, NJ
Life is what happens to youWhile you're busy making other plans - John Lennon
I wonder about the future of train hobbiest? It really lies within the age of the collector. My kids show interest in my AF. I'm 52 they are in their 20's. Anyone else?
Correct me if I'm wrong but i believe the glory days peaked during the fifties. At that time I'm not sure Lionel had anything on AF. Anyone else?
Add another. Had years of great times with my dads set.
richhotrain Here is the tally of American Flyer guys so far: Sturgeon-Phish green97probe Timboy richhotrain balidas Northwoods Flyer sulafool mersenne6 jcolonbc banks arkady stebbycentral aflyer traindaddy1 joehohmann laurastom RockIsland52 - wannabee Russ D Little Tommy nwoodsnut AFBOXCAR rrlineman Major AF4EVER PHM AFLines LocoPops kaycee Brady
I'm getting the itch..
In my previous post, I should have added that one of my true treasures is a pre-war AF Zephyr that my sister gave to me one Christmas in a brown paper bag. Seems her neighbors were throwing stuff away. Also, I still have the 521T set from my childhood. Let's keep this thread going. Perhaps Kalmbach will find the resources to begin publishing Classic American Flyer Trains.
richhotrain richhotrain richhotrain richhotrain richhotrain Here is the tally of American Flyer guys so far: Sturgeon-Phish green97probe Timboy richhotrain balidas Northwoods Flyer sulafool mersenne6 jcolonbc banks arkady stebbycentral aflyer traindaddy1 joehohmann laurastom RockIsland52 - TEMPORARY AF WANNABE? / VOYEUR WITH AF TENDENCIES? Russ D Little Tommy nwoodsnut AFBOXCAR rrlineman Major AF4EVER PHM AFLines LocoPops kaycee
richhotrain richhotrain richhotrain richhotrain Here is the tally of American Flyer guys so far: Sturgeon-Phish green97probe Timboy richhotrain balidas Northwoods Flyer sulafool mersenne6 jcolonbc banks arkady stebbycentral aflyer traindaddy1 joehohmann laurastom RockIsland52 - TEMPORARY AF WANNABE? / VOYEUR WITH AF TENDENCIES? Russ D Little Tommy nwoodsnut AFBOXCAR rrlineman Major AF4EVER PHM AFLines LocoPops kaycee
richhotrain richhotrain richhotrain Here is the tally of American Flyer guys so far: Sturgeon-Phish green97probe Timboy richhotrain balidas Northwoods Flyer sulafool mersenne6 jcolonbc banks arkady stebbycentral aflyer traindaddy1 joehohmann laurastom RockIsland52 - TEMPORARY AF WANNABE? / VOYEUR WITH AF TENDENCIES? Russ D Little Tommy nwoodsnut AFBOXCAR rrlineman Major AF4EVER PHM AFLines LocoPops kaycee
richhotrain richhotrain Here is the tally of American Flyer guys so far: Sturgeon-Phish green97probe Timboy richhotrain balidas Northwoods Flyer sulafool mersenne6 jcolonbc banks arkady stebbycentral aflyer traindaddy1 joehohmann laurastom RockIsland52 - TEMPORARY AF WANNABE? / VOYEUR WITH AF TENDENCIES? Russ D Little Tommy nwoodsnut AFBOXCAR rrlineman Major AF4EVER PHM AFLines LocoPops kaycee
richhotrain Here is the tally of American Flyer guys so far: Sturgeon-Phish green97probe Timboy richhotrain balidas Northwoods Flyer sulafool mersenne6 jcolonbc banks arkady stebbycentral aflyer traindaddy1 joehohmann laurastom RockIsland52 - TEMPORARY AF WANNABE? / VOYEUR WITH AF TENDENCIES? Russ D Little Tommy nwoodsnut AFBOXCAR rrlineman Major AF4EVER PHM AFLines LocoPops kaycee
RockIsland52 - TEMPORARY AF WANNABE? / VOYEUR WITH AF TENDENCIES?
Pre-war Chicago Flyer.....keeps our pre-war O gauge layout in balance. Our layout is represented by many pre-war brands to cover the 1930's era. We like them all, although the flyer cast engines of this era are quite striking.
Sorry I am unable to help as I never shop on ebay
I am certain there are more individuals interested in American Flyer. I just happened upon you when Classic Toy Trains sent me their e-mail newsletter. If we started an AF forum would Classic Toy Trains desiminate the information in their magazine?
rrlineman Rich, with the listed people so far i have a question for everyone. does anyone know the name or website of the guy that was selling super magnets for Flyer DC motors earlier this spring on Ebay? I lost the listing and trying to find out if he has completed the 3/4 inch super motor DC feilds and matching Armatures he mentioned in his auction. thanks, Mike (AKA rrlineman)
Rich, with the listed people so far i have a question for everyone. does anyone know the name or website of the guy that was selling super magnets for Flyer DC motors earlier this spring on Ebay?
I lost the listing and trying to find out if he has completed the 3/4 inch super motor DC feilds and matching Armatures he mentioned in his auction.
thanks, Mike (AKA rrlineman)
Unfortunately, eBay only carries Completed Listings for 30 days, so nothing shows up.
Can anyone help Mike?
richhotrain richhotrain richhotrain richhotrain Here is the tally of American Flyer guys so far: Sturgeon-Phish green97probe Timboy richhotrain balidas Northwoods Flyer sulafool mersenne6 jcolonbc banks arkady stebbycentral aflyer traindaddy1 joehohmann laurastom RockIsland52 - TEMPORARY AF WANNABE? / VOYEUR WITH AF TENDENCIES? Russ D Little Tommy nwoodsnut AFBOXCAR rrlineman Major AF4EVER PHM AFLines LocoPops
richhotrain richhotrain richhotrain Here is the tally of American Flyer guys so far: Sturgeon-Phish green97probe Timboy richhotrain balidas Northwoods Flyer sulafool mersenne6 jcolonbc banks arkady stebbycentral aflyer traindaddy1 joehohmann laurastom RockIsland52 - TEMPORARY AF WANNABE? / VOYEUR WITH AF TENDENCIES? Russ D Little Tommy nwoodsnut AFBOXCAR rrlineman Major AF4EVER PHM AFLines LocoPops
richhotrain richhotrain Here is the tally of American Flyer guys so far: Sturgeon-Phish green97probe Timboy richhotrain balidas Northwoods Flyer sulafool mersenne6 jcolonbc banks arkady stebbycentral aflyer traindaddy1 joehohmann laurastom RockIsland52 - TEMPORARY AF WANNABE? / VOYEUR WITH AF TENDENCIES? Russ D Little Tommy nwoodsnut AFBOXCAR rrlineman Major AF4EVER PHM AFLines LocoPops
richhotrain Here is the tally of American Flyer guys so far: Sturgeon-Phish green97probe Timboy richhotrain balidas Northwoods Flyer sulafool mersenne6 jcolonbc banks arkady stebbycentral aflyer traindaddy1 joehohmann laurastom RockIsland52 - TEMPORARY AF WANNABE? / VOYEUR WITH AF TENDENCIES? Russ D Little Tommy nwoodsnut AFBOXCAR rrlineman Major AF4EVER PHM AFLines LocoPops
I am unworthy to be considered an AF gentleman. I own only postwar lionel and one engine from the MPC era.
Northwoods is correct. I have the AF water tower he shows, the one with the black ladder, except mine is missing the spigot. It is the only remnant of my father's (rip) AF trains.....all sold off during the depression (no, not this one, the one from 1929- about1940). He kept the one piece while the family had to sell off the trains to put food on the table.
So while my heart is in the right place, I do not have either the space or the $ to satisfy both my appetites. My father jumped back into toy trains after WWII with Lionel, right before I was born (anticipating a boy or what?). Hence my suggestion I go into counterfeitting to fix the $ issue with the caveat they better have a train room at Leavenworth.
Maybe I could just be listed as TEMPORARY AF WANNABE? Or VOYEUR WITH AF TENDENCIES?
Jack
IF IT WON'T COME LOOSE BY TAPPING ON IT, DON'T TRY TO FORCE IT. USE A BIGGER HAMMER.
A lot of early Flyer was scaled for O and looks better with it Especially if it is a pre war O scale Flyer Hiawatha, Zeypher or City of Denver. The tinplate Talking Station, Water Tank and Switch tower are all oversize for S Scale. All of these were based on pre war items. Like you I love the talking stations and have found them to be totally reliable as long as they are clean and lubricated. I have one playing the diesel sound and another playing the steam side of the record.
I have a few AF pieces on my O gauge layout. One is a really cool postwar talking station. Still works great.
I keep writing to the editor to include more American Flyer in CTT.
I want to see more articles on what new electronics can be used when creating a Flyer layout since I'm about to build my first layout so I can finally display my life's collection.
Count me in. I've been collecting since 1950!!!!
Greg (Northwoods Flyer) - Your pre-war pictures are really tempting. I am drawn to the "toy like" appearance, and the tin lithography is very appealing. I have several times watched auctions for the pre-war items but have not taken the plunge! At this point there are still a LOT of AF pieces on my want list, and if I started a pre-war list, I KNOW I would be in trouble in a hurry! Self disciplice keeps me from straying, but your pictures do weaken my resolve. (Keep posting them)
Jim
Northwoods Flyer RockIsland52 Rich......I don't belong on the list. . Jack I beg to differ with you Jack. I think that packed somewhere in your vast railroad holdings you own an American Flyer water tank from your childhood. All you need is a nice die cast Pre War steamer and you are good to go. That quailifies you to be on this list in my book. And besides, I predict Flyer in your future. I'm still working on you and Sturgeon to join the Pre War clan. Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby Northwoods Flyer I have to agree with you NF. Once someone mentions American Flyer, and in favorable terms, he deserves a place on our list. Jack needs to adamantly demand removal from the list if that is his desire and, even then, it would break all of our hearts to seem him leave. Rich
RockIsland52 Rich......I don't belong on the list. . Jack
Rich......I don't belong on the list. .
I beg to differ with you Jack. I think that packed somewhere in your vast railroad holdings you own an American Flyer water tank from your childhood.
Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby
I have to agree with you NF. Once someone mentions American Flyer, and in favorable terms, he deserves a place on our list.
Jack needs to adamantly demand removal from the list if that is his desire and, even then, it would break all of our hearts to seem him leave.
Rich
RockIsland52 Rich......I don't belong on the list. Rich.....I originally posted I like both (AF and Lionel), have friends with both, but sady don't have both. As I said, so much choice, too little space. Jack
Rich......I don't belong on the list. Rich.....I originally posted I like both (AF and Lionel), have friends with both, but sady don't have both. As I said, so much choice, too little space.
Jack,
Check the latest list. We have noted your identity crisis!!!
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