Need hlep finding information on a train

[1688torpedo]

Hello again Jim! Joe Mania will give you tips on d.c. toy train operation and basic Maintanance of the Mechanicals of the Howard as he is a well known wiz of Antique Toy Trains.Keith.

[1688torpedo]

Hello Onceler! There is a Gent in Freehold , New Jersey by the Name of Joe Mania.He restores and Manufactures reproductions of old toy trains from the early 1900's.If you're unable to get the Howard to run Get a hold of Joe.He most certainly can help you out in this regard. Just Type in " Joe Mania" in the address section of your computer and this will put you in touch with Joe. I hope your Family never sells this train as it is a one of a kind and once its gone you will probably never see another one again for any price.Take care and have a nice day.........Keith

[pbjwilson]

WOW! Nuff said.

[spankybird]

Here is the link that you want

http://www.tmbooks-video.com

The video name is ‘ Great Toy Trains Layouts of America’

In the video, Walt shows off his 221[:D]

This is a two dics set, a total of 283 minutes and also includes our very own ‘Big_Boy_4005’ layout.[8D]

tom

[lionelsoni]

Does it have a wound field? If so, is the field in series with the armature? Is the field winding intact? Is the magnetic circuit of the field laminated or solid?

In addition to figuring out what kind of motor it has, we need to find out the voltage that it was intended for. This could range from a few volts, if it was meant for a battery, up to 110 or 220 volts (DC only, or either AC or DC if it has a laminated field) if it was meant to be connected to the power line.

[Anonymous]

Also, specifically to macdannyk1. . . I did a search for "Great Train Layouts Volume 1" and Ward Kimball, and Kimball Ward, and any number of permutations and came up empty on Amazon and my library's PA network search. Have any other information on that book? Was it part of a larger collection by a different name?

Jim

[Anonymous]

Dad did put an ohmmeter on it and got resistance through the armature circuit, which means he said it looks like the windings are in good shape, but he was concerned that it was mechanically siezed and didn't want to overheat it and melt something.

He also wants to clean it, and the track up, but is concerned about damaging it, or devaluing it as a result. Any ideas about how to clean up the train and track without causing undo stress and strain on it?

Jim

[Anonymous]

We tried DC across just the engine (at a hobby store just to see if it worked) and didn't get the wheels to turn. They didn't know if there was something wrong with it or not. Dad is reluctant to mess with it for fear of damaging it.

Any additional information on the DC setup is appreciated.

Thanks,
Jim

[1688torpedo]

Hello everyone! The early trains made by Howard,Voltamp,Lionel and others in that time period required at least two D.C.Dry cell batteries wired in series with a Group of Light Bulbs acting as a rheostat in order to regulate the Track voltage.Jim would most likely be better off to use a D.C. supply to run the Howard providing that it is still in running condition.Keith

[lionelsoni]

Jim, are you able to run it? Be careful about using AC if you don't know whether the motor is a universal type. It might run but overheat if it was designed only for DC. (Battery operation was common in the early days.) Sask, do you know what kind of supply was meant for it?

[Anonymous]

Well, to be fair to my mother, she's probably hoping to have it under her tree for 40 or so more years before I have it under mine. . . but who knows, maybe 50 years from now I'll be talking about the 150 year old train that I have under my tree.

Jim

(still working on that first star)

[Anonymous]

I'm very glad that I could be of help with this! Looking at these pictures that you've shown us, onceler, that is one very sharp looking train set that you have! It's really fantastic to see that it is in a family that has treasured it as the heirloom that is is for a whole century and realizes how special it is! I'd love to see that photo of your grandfather with it in 1905! You should set it up around your Christmas tree this year. It would really be something to have the same train under your tree today that your family did 99 years ago.

[Anonymous]

My mom told me she thinks my grandfather got it on his first birthday, which would have been December of 1905. She actually thinks she has a photograph of the train under the Christmas tree from when he was a baby (and it was new). If we can dig it up, I'll scan it too. Spankybird graciously agreed to post the other three pics of the train, and I've sent those over.

This group's enthusiasm for the topic has been mindblowing. The old "one man's trash is another man's treasure" leaps to mind. My mother always believed the train was worth something, and since my mom and dad started purchasing some new model trains/tracks, and moved to Pennsylvania they got interested in the topic.

Thanks again for the help.
Jim

[spankybird]

Some more Pics






tom

[macdannyk1]

Wow, nice pictures. That's only the second Howard engine I've "seen"; the only other one was on Great Train Layouts Volume 1, Ward Kimball. Neat.

[Anonymous]

Wow! That's some very helpful information. I have three or four more pictures I can share if you're interested. Of course, it'd require spankybird's help, if he's willing.

I'll see if we can dig up anything more on the history (like when he actually received the train), I'm intrigued by the idea that Howard made it and was only in business from 1904 - 1907, because we've always thought that he got it in 1904, which would have been the first year they manufactured them. Anyway, my folks had previously sent the pictures to a hobby store owner here in PA who offered to show them to collectors and give them some feedback on what they might be, but this forum has been phenomenal both with the quantity of information and also the timeliness of it.

Thanks
Jim

[cheapclassics]

One word. Wow!!!!! Neil or Bob or Roger at CTT, if any body is monitoring this thread, would you please consider doing an article on this set. It has been in one family for 100 years. That is amazing. Thank you everybody for sharing this wonderful set and contributing to solving the mystery.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[1688torpedo]

Hello Sask-Tinplater! Your knowledge of old Toy Trains is incredible.The other Companies in business at the same time as Howard were: Voltamp(Baltimore,Md) Carlisle& Finch(Cincinnati,Oh) Boucher(New York,N.Y.) They also made trains very similar to what Howard made in the early 1900's.Interestingly, Carlisle & Finch is still in business today.although they are involved in other products and services than Toy Trains.They would have the distinction of being Lionel's oldest competitor had they continued manufacturing Toy Trains today.Maybe someday Neil will hire you at Classic Toy Trains.With your knowledge of trains it could happen! Take Care! Keith.

[wrmcclellan]

I agree with Prewardude. This is a very interesting find and I wi***o express my appreciation to onceler for sharing it with us and to Sask and the others for the details.

Onceler - you get a star in my book. Thanks for joining the forum and allowing us to enjoy your find.

Best regards,
Roy

[lionelsoni]

My comment about gauge needs correction. It seems that Howard made trains from 1904 to 1907, whereas Lionel didn't create standard gauge (2 1/8") until 1906. So Howard used 2" well before there was any incentive to be compatible with the Lionel gauge.

[prewardude]

Guys, this is one of the most interesting threads that I have seen on ANY online forum. Good stuff! [:)]

[Anonymous]

The train that you have was manufacturered by Howard. The full name of the company was the Howard Miniature Electric Lamp Co. The company was based in New York and part of their product line included electric trains. Howard was the first company to produce electric trains with illuminated headlights and brass drive wheels. It had a fairly extensive line of trains, but the company could not compete with the larger manufacturers and quit making trains by 1910.

Words like incredible, fantastic, amazing, awesome and unbelievable would best describe your train! Any trains that old are hard to find, but ones by Howard are much rarer-not to mention finding one in the outstanding condition that yours is! I can say without any doubt that the train you have is worth thousands of dollars!

Since trains like yours seldom turn up, it would be very hard to put an exact value on it, but I can guarentee if collectors of these types of trains found out that you had it, they'd be pounding down your door.

[spankybird]

Here are your pics





as always, click on the pics to enlarge them.

tom

[Anonymous]

I have so far to go. . .

. . . and after this I may well have exhausted my supply of train related banter.

[wrmcclellan]

Stars depend on whether Santa thinks you have been good this year....

Actually:
1 star at 50 posts
2 stars at 100 posts
3 stars at 500 posts
4 stars at 1000 posts

[Anonymous]

Also, when do I get little stars next to my name?

[Anonymous]

Alright, help is on the way. Spankybird to the rescue. I tried the villagephoto link, but the pictures were too big (120K each) and the limit for freebie users is 120K. I sent the pics to Spankybird, who kindly offered to post them.

Thanks for all the help, everyone.

Jim

[Jim Duda]

try: www.villagephotos.com

[wrmcclellan]

I found one of Tom's postings on this subject:

http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=20382