A Collector’s Information to American Flyer “Tru-Mannequin” Trains, 3/16″ Scale “O” gauge, 1939-1941

Following responses from quite a few discussions/arguments with (largely older) “practice guys” as as to whether American Flyer trains had two or three rail monitor, it appeared some clarification was so as. It additionally appeared that, whereas the post-war “S” gauge two-rail interval is sort of nicely lined, there may be little or no info nonetheless in print on their fast ancestors. The aim of this little information is to current, to the people who find themselves unaware of their existence, the three-rail “Tru-Mannequin” toy trains of the A. C. Gilbert Firm, of New Haven CT, which have been launched on the 1939 New York World’s Truthful, and which have been produced till the war-imposed shutdown of non-essential manufacturing, in July 1942. Dimensions and shade schemes are offered, all through the work. Wheel preparations comply with the Whyte system after all. Lengths given exclude couplers. Locomotive lengths given embrace the right tender. At LEAST one giant shade picture is included for EACH distinct merchandise, and EVERY set is illustrated in catalog format, in shade! Captions are self-explanatory. All (220+) images have been taken by the creator, of specimens from his private assortment, except particularly credited in any other case. Whereas an try was made to point out ‘better-grade, collectible’ specimens, the vehicles are consultant of classic TOYS, and are usually not supposed to symbolize the pristine, mint-in-the-box, gadgets accessible to solely a really rich few.It ought to be famous that when Gilbert introduced American Flyer in 1938 there was a considerable quantity of salable (however non-scale) “Chicago” stock readily available. Previous to that point, most toy trains, typically, have been fairly unrealistic in look, notably automobile size. In the event you needed extra realism, you had however one selection – construct from scratch! This information does NOT cowl ANY of that pre-1940 “Chicago Flyer” materials! The 1939 American Flyer catalog first launched the die-cast 3/16” scale tools, however solely within the 4 costliest units, with would grow to be the 2 top-of-the-line locomotives. By 1940, the conversion to three/16” scale (together with the primary pressed-steel vehicles) was nicely below means, but it surely was not till the 1941 catalog that ALL choices have been of Gilbert’s new 3/16″ scale design. The primary post-war catalog (for1946) doesn’t checklist the very restricted remaining inventory of “O” gauge trains which was bought off as quickly as attainable in order to focus on the model new – and extra thrilling – two-rail lineup.There’s some intentional redundancy within the descriptions, since it’s felt that many customers are going to easily look within the index for “their” automobile(s), and I needed them to have the ability to discover every little thing in a single place, with out their having to crawl web page by web page. It ought to be famous that authentic, manufacturing facility produced, gadgets are identified with some characteristic(s) differing barely from the “customary” variations of the gadgets introduced right here. Cash was saved wherever attainable, and shortcuts have been taken, notably as to colours, and markings. Nothing was wasted – some cabooses have been even made on tender frames! The commonest off-beat instance being that some vehicles could have two “American Flyer Strains” decals as an alternative of the traditional one, plus the automobile quantity. Paint shades might range.It should be remembered that their intent was to supply operable toys, hopefully at a revenue, for the enjoyment of (largely) kids, they usually weren’t following any inflexible guidelines to fulfill ‘nit-picking’ collectors within the then far-distant future. Inside sure parameters nearly something is at the least attainable and, after 80 years, some repairs, repaints, and so on. have themselves acquired the patina of genuine-ness and antiquity. The creator takes full duty for the accuracy of any opinions relating to such specimens which can be said on this work. The creator welcomes enter from fellow collectors having any corrections, or additional info, relating to these trains, which can be integrated into future editions of this work.