the feeling you described at the begging is so true my great grandpa bought an american flyer train when he got home from ww2 and now i’m trying to fix it and there is a sense of awe when you look at them
Very happy to hear this! Where there any video sequences that were particularly helpful? Would you believe I'm still not 100% complete with my 312? I finally picked up the necessary parts but have been occupied with other projects. Thankyou for your comments and feedback.
I think about my old postwar Lionels and Flyers just like you do for your Flyers! I recently got a 2353 Santa fe (from 1953) and I always think about who it sold to and whatever boy who got it for maybe a birthday present or christmas must have went extatic! I always love getting old Lionels or Flyers and just thinking about all the memories these little toy trains must carry with them and all theyʻve seen through there lifes must be a huge story to tell. I always wish I could track these locos or rolling stock back to their original owner and I wish I could meet them in person to discuss what times they had growing up with these trains. Great video as always and thank you!
The air chime "tube" is actually an electro-mechanical vibrator. They were commonly used in car radios from the 40's through 60's to chop the DC battery voltage which fed a transformer to develop the hundreds of volts needed by the tube plates. Some old line parts houses may still have some in stock but they are getting very rare.
Very helpful comments George. Please say more about how 'chopping' the voltage benefitted the early radio...and how in turn was that technology applied to flyer.
A little Google Fu turned up this description which explains how the vibrator chopped the DC to provide an alternating field for the transformer which stepped up the battery voltage to supply the vacuum tubes with a high plate voltage. www.radioremembered.org/vpwrsup.htm As a teenager in the 60's.in high school I helped a local radio and TV shop repair many of these early car radios. The same vibrator was used by Gilbert to superimpose a square wave on the track which causes the speaker in those trains to provide a quasi horn or diesel sound depending on the resonant frequency of the vibrator.
There was an old-time electronics store in Denver that still had car radio vibrators as late as the 1980s. I heard that a Flyer enthusiast bought out their entire inventory of them.
Congratulations on a great Gilbert American Flyer train purchase. I always wonder about the history of the trains I have in my collection as to who owned them originally. Loved the video.
@@AustinsAmericanFlyertrains I know the history of the American Flyer train set I received for Christmas 1953. This is the one that started me in the hobby and has given me a lifetime of enjoyment.
I would check for a loose connection. If your unit uses the reverse unit then check the reverse unit fingers as they may need adjustment, replacement or cleaning.
@@AustinsAmericanFlyertrains I'm sorry I just started wathcing your videos I thought I would share another good American Flyer channel I didn't know you were already subscribed to him
Do you buy AF stuff? I collect Pre and Postwar Lionel and recently got a bunch of Flyer stuff in a large collection. I have some nice pieces for sale or trade.
Possibly...I usually have not been able to afford the better pieces. However, I would be interested in what you have and what you are thinking. Please email me: AFtrainfun@gmail.com
Great video except for the music 🎶. 30 seconds or so on the intro is fine but the constant loop is distracting and annoying. Ruins an otherwise nice video. Sorry 😞
Thanks for the feedback. I agree the audio is a mess on that video. I've learned much since then and, hopefully the videos are getting better. If you dont mind please check out a more recent video ...or the one releasing this coming friday and tell me what you think.
@@AustinsAmericanFlyertrains like I've said previously, I LOVE your videos. I only recently found you, so I'm watching all I can find. I truly don't mean to be offensive. I have subscribed and hit like on every one I watch. By all means, keep them coming.
@@AustinsAmericanFlyertrains I am a retired school custodian, 73 years old. Right now I am more of a collector than operator. My wife and I are considering downsizing so for now I just collect. I did have a massive layout that took up half of the basement. Unfortunately, that was before the days of electronic video. I do run MTH standard gauge around our Christmas 🎄tree. I have a fair amount of Lionel 0 gauge, MTH standard gauge, AF prewar 3/16 0 gauge. My pride and joy is the prewar 4-8-4 "Challenger". Runs great. Currently I've been collecting Flyer accessories and 1950s transformers. Recently found a nice #293, and a #322 sib. Are you a TCA member? If so, do you attend York meets? It would be nice to meet up for lunch, coffee, or whatever.
Hi Dan and welcome to a fantastic hobby. I'll give you an email address. If you could send me some pictures of what you have I'll look them up in my resources books. Aftrainfun@gmail.com
I have like new items like that set and bought a like new mountaineer 1956 set all with boxes and engine wrapper. Set box included also. No kid ever touched this set or yours either it only takes a minute of play for a kid to put lots of fingerprints,scratches and dirt on a nice train. I know how destructive I was at 10 years old. I would guess your train was never used at all. The wheels get dirty right away especially the metal pick up wheels. Kids are better off with an old beat up Lionel post war train like I had. AF trains are too fragile for kids.
Hi Austin, I can lay down 12 curved and 12 straight track on the carpet space but I hardly ever do it. That's why I video every thing I can in one day. Lots of long link coupler trains 3 years ago. I watch those alot. Must set up again for that 282 that you rebuilt
I still have my 1961 Pioneer Flyer freight set with a 21165 Casey Jones loco (with a knuckle coupler!) that I got for my fifth birthday, with the original box and $11.88 price sticker. It still runs and the cars are in nice shape. I was one of those kids who didn't abuse toys; I handled that stuff with care.
They called it the airchime whistle generator. That set is a real find!
the feeling you described at the begging is so true my great grandpa bought an american flyer train when he got home from ww2 and now i’m trying to fix it and there is a sense of awe when you look at them
What an excellent story! Thankyou for sharing and your efforts to repair and enjoy your trains honors tour grandfather.
@@AustinsAmericanFlyertrains i have repaired the said 312 your 312 repair series helped my a lot
Very happy to hear this! Where there any video sequences that were particularly helpful? Would you believe I'm still not 100% complete with my 312? I finally picked up the necessary parts but have been occupied with other projects.
Thankyou for your comments and feedback.
I think about my old postwar Lionels and Flyers just like you do for your Flyers! I recently got a 2353 Santa fe (from 1953) and I always think about who it sold to and whatever boy who got it for maybe a birthday present or christmas must have went extatic! I always love getting old Lionels or Flyers and just thinking about all the memories these little toy trains must carry with them and all theyʻve seen through there lifes must be a huge story to tell. I always wish I could track these locos or rolling stock back to their original owner and I wish I could meet them in person to discuss what times they had growing up with these trains. Great video as always and thank you!
And thank you for your comments.
Great video austin,,,awesome flyer train set,,,love those hudsons steam engines and thanks for sharing
I thank you very much!
I have the original American flyer polar express train set
Do you like it? Is it one made by Lionel?
The air chime "tube" is actually an electro-mechanical vibrator. They were commonly used in car radios from the 40's through 60's to chop the DC battery voltage which fed a transformer to develop the hundreds of volts needed by the tube plates. Some old line parts houses may still have some in stock but they are getting very rare.
Very helpful comments George. Please say more about how 'chopping' the voltage benefitted the early radio...and how in turn was that technology applied to flyer.
A little Google Fu turned up this description which explains how the vibrator chopped the DC to provide an alternating field for the transformer which stepped up the battery voltage to supply the vacuum tubes with a high plate voltage. www.radioremembered.org/vpwrsup.htm As a teenager in the 60's.in high school I helped a local radio and TV shop repair many of these early car radios. The same vibrator was used by Gilbert to superimpose a square wave on the track which causes the speaker in those trains to provide a quasi horn or diesel sound depending on the resonant frequency of the vibrator.
There was an old-time electronics store in Denver that still had car radio vibrators as late as the 1980s. I heard that a Flyer enthusiast bought out their entire inventory of them.
Very interesting....
That set, in that condition is a wonderful find. Congratulations. I don't know that I had that set, but I did have all of the rolling stock.
Thankyou Mark. TH-cam is just now showing me your comment...one year later?!?
Congratulations on a great Gilbert American Flyer train purchase. I always wonder about the history of the trains I have in my collection as to who owned them originally. Loved the video.
Thank you. The stories really add the value of a set. Do you have any sets you know the back story too?
@@AustinsAmericanFlyertrains I know the history of the American Flyer train set I received for Christmas 1953. This is the one that started me in the hobby and has given me a lifetime of enjoyment.
the only thing that can ever make something more valuable is someone else wants it... collectible is you want it...
I have an AF #583 Electronmagnetic crane. The motor gearbox which did work but stop. Any ideas on how to repair this unit.
I would check for a loose connection. If your unit uses the reverse unit then check the reverse unit fingers as they may need adjustment, replacement or cleaning.
I have a few of the more desirable sets such as the 20450 and 20470 from 1958, both all-five-digit.
Congratulations.
rquesting more videos
Please say more...what additional videos are you wanting?
One of your log loader and coal loader
Did you see the accessories play list? Are you wanting to see more in addition to those?
sorry I cant hear you with the back music,
My apologies for the editing issues at the end of this video.
👍
Thank you Sue.
That’s how I got it
You should subscribe to Daves American Flyer Trains on TH-cam he is a welth of knowledge
Thanks for the comment Jody. I'm curious why you would make that comment? I am already a subscriber on his page.
@@AustinsAmericanFlyertrains I'm sorry I just started wathcing your videos I thought I would share another good American Flyer channel I didn't know you were already subscribed to him
Do you buy AF stuff? I collect Pre and Postwar Lionel and recently got a bunch of Flyer stuff in a large collection. I have some nice pieces for sale or trade.
Possibly...I usually have not been able to afford the better pieces. However, I would be interested in what you have and what you are thinking. Please email me: AFtrainfun@gmail.com
Great video except for the music 🎶. 30 seconds or so on the intro is fine but the constant loop is distracting and annoying. Ruins an otherwise nice video. Sorry 😞
Thanks for the feedback. I agree the audio is a mess on that video. I've learned much since then and, hopefully the videos are getting better. If you dont mind please check out a more recent video ...or the one releasing this coming friday and tell me what you think.
@@AustinsAmericanFlyertrains like I've said previously, I LOVE your videos. I only recently found you, so I'm watching all I can find. I truly don't mean to be offensive. I have subscribed and hit like on every one I watch. By all means, keep them coming.
@@ronalddevine9587 wow...thankyou. do you have a layout? If so do you have any video of it? Do you collect flyer?
@@AustinsAmericanFlyertrains I am a retired school custodian, 73 years old. Right now I am more of a collector than operator. My wife and I are considering downsizing so for now I just collect. I did have a massive layout that took up half of the basement. Unfortunately, that was before the days of electronic video. I do run MTH standard gauge around our Christmas 🎄tree. I have a fair amount of Lionel 0 gauge, MTH standard gauge, AF prewar 3/16 0 gauge. My pride and joy is the prewar 4-8-4 "Challenger". Runs great. Currently I've been collecting Flyer accessories and 1950s transformers. Recently found a nice #293, and a #322 sib. Are you a TCA member? If so, do you attend York meets? It would be nice to meet up for lunch, coffee, or whatever.
@@ronalddevine9587 I am not a tca member. Forgive my ignorance but is tca mostly centered on the east coast?
Hello. I have a radio flyer set that was my fathers. I’d like to know how to tell which set I have what year it is I’m very new to this
Hi Dan and welcome to a fantastic hobby. I'll give you an email address. If you could send me some pictures of what you have I'll look them up in my resources books. Aftrainfun@gmail.com
I have like new items like that set and bought a like new mountaineer 1956 set all with boxes and engine wrapper. Set box included also. No kid ever touched this set or yours either it only takes a minute of play for a kid to put lots of fingerprints,scratches and dirt on a nice train. I know how destructive I was at 10 years old. I would guess your train was never used at all. The wheels get dirty right away especially the metal pick up wheels. Kids are better off with an old beat up Lionel post war train like I had. AF trains are too fragile for kids.
What do you do with your mint sets? Do you run them? Display them?
@@AustinsAmericanFlyertrains I only run one like new set. I have no display room in a tiny Apt. All mint is kept in original boxes.
Hi Austin, I can lay down 12 curved and 12 straight track on the carpet space but I hardly ever do it. That's why I video every thing I can in one day. Lots of long link coupler trains 3 years ago. I watch those alot. Must set up again for that 282 that you rebuilt
I would like to see your videos!
I still have my 1961 Pioneer Flyer freight set with a 21165 Casey Jones loco (with a knuckle coupler!) that I got for my fifth birthday, with the original box and $11.88 price sticker. It still runs and the cars are in nice shape. I was one of those kids who didn't abuse toys; I handled that stuff with care.