April 2019 Vol. 65, No. 2 65TH TCA NATIONAL CONVENTION • ALBUQUERQUE, NM • JUNE 22-30, 2019 4 APRIL 2019 VOLUME 65, NO. 2 4 65th Annual TCA Convention Scott and Elaine Eckstein review coming events for the Albuquerque Convention. 6 Lee’s Train Service Gerald Wagner shares pictures and history of the first West Coast Lionel Authorized Service Station. ©2019 Train Collectors Association Printed in U.S.A. Printed Collectors Association Train ©2019 12 Playthings 1904 Carey Williams continues his report of toy train history in Cover Story Playthings magazine. This whimsical dessert scene was creat- ed by Lawrence Archer 71-3921 with the 6 2019 Albuquerque National Convention 14 Fifty Years and the “End-of-Steam” in mind. Come to the dessert in June to Jim Burke tells about collecting early steam locomotives. enjoy a week of trains and make some new friends. 16 Collecting Those American Flyer Franklin Cars Eric Hundertmark reflects on a less known American Flyer collectable. April 2019 Vol. 65, No. 2 The Train Collectors Quarterly (ISSN 0041-0829) published 20 American Flyer Fan quarterly by The Train Collectors Association, PO Box 248, Chip Kessler reports correspondence from Flyer collectors. Strasburg, PA 17579. Phone 717-687-8623, Fax 717-687- 0742. Subscription is $14.00 per year which is included as part of the annual membership dues. Periodical post- 22 Off The Rails, Part 21 age paid at Ronks, PA and additional mailing offices. Larry Poland takes a humorous look at being a toy train collector. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Train Collectors Quarterly, P.O. Box 248, Strasburg, PA 17579-0248 23 Ron’s Rooms Part II The views expressed by the contributors to this publication are Ron Hollander finishes a two-part article on his five rooms filled theirs, and not necessarily the views of the Editor or the Train with collectables. Collectors Association. 16 President: 28 Plasticville Boxed Sets 103, Rarity Rupert C. Campbell Robert Spivey discusses his observations on Plasticville collecting. President Elect: Peter Atonna 30 Plasticville on My Layout Vice President: Barry Schaub shares pictures from his Plasticville layout. E. James Potts Secretary: 32 Who Done It? Part 147 Christie M. Wilson John Newbraugh asks questions and shares reader answers Treasurer: TM about lesser known toy train manufacturers. Rick McKenny Immediate Past President: 37 Does Anyone Really Care? Part 4 Joseph Fanara Paul Ambrose writes about lesser known Lionel collector trivia. Send all correspondence for National Officers to: 38 Bing Table Top Layout Train Collectors Association P.O. Box 248 Roger Tichenor demonstrates the difference between an artist’s 23 publicity mock-up and an actual layout. Strasburg, PA 17579-0248 Email: [email protected] Editor: 39 Historian’s Corner Mark Boyd TCA Historian Chris Allen reminds readers of past TCA events. P.O. Box 21043 Castro Valley, CA 94546 Email: [email protected] 39 The Drumhead Web Sites: Readers share their comments. www.traincollectors.org www.tcamembers.org TCA Mission Volunteer Staff: To develop an appreciation of and to preserve an important segment of history – Tinplate Toy Trains – Patricia Boyd through research, education, community outreach, fellowship, establishment of collecting standards, Fred Schlipf 32 and to promote the growth and enjoyment of collecting and operating toy, model, and scale trains. PRESIDENT’S COLUMN “The TCA is one of the largest and most Membership is a noun meaning 1) ROOM.” Each respected collecting societies in the world. the state of being a member, with in of you have We focus on toy trains -- the hobby of col- 2) members collectively, as of a group, and the opportuni- lecting and operating them, the fun of 3) the number of members. ty to feed and members buying, selling and discussing The bedrock of the Train Collectors fill that desire. them, the study of their characteristics, Association is MEMBERSHIP! Any as- Be a mentor. and the history of their production.” These sociation must strive to be a real benefit Sometimes all words are the opening statement of our to its members. Not just a perceived ben- you need to do TCA website. efit, but a real-life enhancing chance to be is provide a membership application. Another fact: “In 1957, the Train Col- a part of and to have a social experience, Without a strong membership base, we lectors Association was incorporated as a a chance to exchange ideas, thoughts and cannot continue to exist. Your dues are the non-profit corporation under the statutes wishes and to interact with like mind- foundation to operate as an association, to of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. ed people. Thus, as a TCA member, our run the NBO, to have a library and a muse- An authorized 501 (c)(3) entity, TCA may number one mission should always be um. There are programs, now in place, to accept tax deductible contributions. Mem- the maintenance of the membership. help perpetuate our efforts, but they have bership in the Association, from a humble As a TCA member, you have access not reached the level of funding necessary beginning of sixty-eight meeting in a barn to a storehouse of real benefits provid- to be as useful as they could be. We are in Pennsylvania, has grown to a world- ed by your fellow members. You receive working to that end. Each and every dona- wide organization of tens of thousands of this and other TCA publications all year tion helps, but they don’t offer the financial members, with many local divisions and long. You can attend any and all local TCA predictability we need. Without it, we can- chapters.” meets and if you have access to the world- not establish a budget and plan the future. wide internet, you can be entertained and We can no longer depend on “someone else TRAIN COLLECTORS ASSOCIATION learn vast amounts of knowledge about will do it.” We have to work on this. MISSION STATEMENT this hobby on our website. There are spe- The elected officers need your input “To develop an appreciation of and to cial emails to all who have signed up, pro- to make good decisions affecting almost preserve an important segment of his- viding timely and new information not 20,000 members of the TCA. Yes, we are tory - Tinplate Toy Trains - through only about toy trains, but what your as- all volunteers, but we are people who care research, education, community out- sociation is doing. If you have never visit- about our hobby and the association we reach, fellowship, establishment of ed our National Business Office (NBO) or joined, and we need to foster that mission. collecting standards, and to promote the Reference Library and Museum, may- We need more volunteers at every level so the growth and enjoyment of collect- be you should plan a visit. I promise you step up and make yourself known. There ing and operating toy, model and scale will be amazed. is a place for you! Our success depends on trains.” To buy, swap and sell toy trains is im- you to not only increase national member- portant, but it should be more than just ship, but your own Division and Chapter No, I’m not proposing to change history that. Sharing the fun and enjoyment of membership! Let’s all go out and support or to revamp the Train Collectors Mission this age-old hobby can remind us of our the exposure of the TCA to a broader com- Statement, only to restate it and to remind youth, give us a chance to reflect on our munity. us of what we are and what we can be. accomplishments, and the knowledge we Thank you for allowing me to serve Association is a noun. It means 1). as- gain building and operating our layouts. this year. Remember to attend a train sociating or being associated, 2) fellow- Some of us still draw on that knowledge, meet and bring a friend. May the Train ship, partnership, 3) an organization or share our passions and entice others to Collectors Association continue another society, 4) a mental connection between want to join the TCA and get in on the 65 years or more! ideas. fun part. “Let me show you my TRAIN Rupert Campbell EDITOR’S COLUMN This issue of the Quarterly features a future issue. in hard copy publications. You may no- six-page spread on Lee’s Train Service in Technology is a growing part of your tice some of the Quarterly article by-lines Oakland, CA. Most of my train collection TCA membership. I realize there are a include eMail addresses. I provide those came from this store, beginning when I number of members who do not even when offered by the authors, so readers spent my paper route money on trains have a computer and further, don’t want can correspond directly with the writers. when I was a boy. Unfortunately, I spent one. Some of those are even loyal read- I look forward to seeing many readers most of it on scenery, but the pictures ers of the Quarterly. But if you have an at York in April. As usual, I will be at my ta- bring back great memories for many eMail address, President Rupert Camp- ble E-1 in the Silver Hall near registration West Coast collectors who got their start bell is asking you to let the National Busi- on Thursday and the first half of Friday. collecting through the doors of this leg- ness Office know your eMail. Around 80 Mark C. Boyd endary business. I felt quite honored to percent of the TCA membership has an Editor, The Train Collectors Quarterly have Jerry Wagner share these pictures eMail on file.