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Discussion Boards => Layouts => Topic started by: early0electric on August 07, 2020, 02:40:04 PM

Title: Mike's layout
Post by: early0electric on August 07, 2020, 02:40:04 PM

Nothing fancy, nothing special. I'd like to have bigger but this works for me. I change it out for Christmas. My Grand Daughter used to be here pre-Covid 19 and help me set it up. Hopefully that will happen again.
 

Title: Re: Mike's layout
Post by: starfire700 on August 07, 2020, 04:48:08 PM

Large layouts are both time-consuming and space-consuming. I never had the time or space, until we moved south from the Chicago area.
The important thing is to be able to make trains do what they were made to do.....run, and to enjoy it. 

Title: Re: Mike's layout
Post by: early0electric on August 07, 2020, 05:15:51 PM

Yeah, you're right. I run everything from my 703's and Armored Loco's down to my 150's. Even my Quaker takes a few laps. Thanks.

Title: Re: Mike's layout
Post by: Terry on August 07, 2020, 06:29:20 PM

That's a nice layout.

Title: Re: Mike's layout
Post by: starfire700 on August 09, 2020, 05:04:52 AM

Not many collectors can say that they have run a Quaker! The only other who I knew had one was Dave Ely. Dave was local to me at the time (Chicago area), so his was the only Quaker loco I have seen, don't remember if he had a 728 or 732. Could you post pictures of yours?
I have collected scale-series trains since the 1970's, but never had a T-rail layout until recently. Last night was the first time that I ever placed a 700E, tender and the 4 cars on the track and ran set # 707W. I chose a 700K to pull the set, was surprised that it ran, did 2 loops then the pilot grounded-out, tripped the E-unit and I ended the experiment. It was still satisfying to accomplish this, and can't understand why it took me so long to do so.
A close friend, John Potter, who recently passed away, told me that he ran everything he had. I am trying to live-up to that idea, as that is what these trains we collect were made for.

Title: Re: Mike's layout
Post by: starfire700 on August 09, 2020, 06:45:56 AM

You can see this set on the tracks on the Jim's Layout thread

Title: Re: Mike's layout
Post by: early0electric on August 09, 2020, 11:39:11 AM

My Quaker is a 728 (Same size as a 700). The number is worn off both sides but QUAKER is quite legible. Rough, but right.
 

 

Title: Re: Mike's layout
Post by: starfire700 on August 09, 2020, 07:04:17 PM

Thanks for sharing photos of your 728.

Title: Re: Mike's layout
Post by: steamrocket on October 16, 2020, 06:09:07 PM

Sorry for jumping in here late in the game, but Jim or Mike could you please tell us more about the Quaker locomotives? I've never heard of them before. Thanks!

Title: Re: Mike's layout
Post by: early0electric on October 16, 2020, 07:52:29 PM

From what I know, sometime during 1915 Lionel produced 2 different promotional O gauge outfits. One was similar to Outfit 70 (700, 600, 600) except the loco was stamped QUAKER in the oval and numbered 728. The other was similar to Outfit 72 (701, 602, 601, 601) except the loco was stamped QUAKER in the oval and numbered 732. Collectors have long argued who these were made for but no documentation has been found, at least as far as I know, as to who "QUAKER" was. At the time, there were numerous businesses that had QUAKER as part of their name. A boxed 728 QUAKER Outfit surfaced at YORK a number of years back and the outfit number was identified as 728. So based on this, I'm assuming the other is Outfit 732. The boxed 728 Outfit is shown in Greenberg's new guide to Lionel Trains, O Gauge vol 1. 1915 - 1928 on pages 58 & 59.

Title: Re: Mike's layout
Post by: steamrocket on October 16, 2020, 08:15:51 PM

Thanks very much for the great information, Mike. Much appreciated!

Title: Re: Mike's layout
Post by: Terry on October 16, 2020, 08:37:46 PM

Here's my Quaker. I only have the 728 so far.
 

Here's a regular 700 Loco from the same period. The only difference is the stamping on the side.

 

Like Mike, I've been searching for some documentation about the Quaker name associated with this loco for decades. I've been told repeatedly it was Quaker Oats, and the only reason I got was "Collectors  always said Quaker Oats when talking about these back in the 1950s. The 1950s were much closer to the teens so they would have known. "

That sounds good, but they were saying the Halloween General set made in 1960 was a Sears special in the late 1960s, and we found out in the 1980s it was a Gift's Galore Promotional set that had nothing to do with Sears.

This is one of the questions we'll probably never know the answer to.

Title: Re: Mike's layout
Post by: early0electric on October 17, 2020, 02:28:23 PM

I even sent a letter to the Quaker Oats company to verify if the Lionel Outfits were for them. Their reply was as shown:

So no help there and they even spelled my first name wrong.

Title: Re: Mike's layout
Post by: Terry on October 17, 2020, 10:35:12 PM

That letter infers that they have an archive of old promo items. Hmm.

Title: Re: Mike's layout
Post by: starfire700 on October 21, 2020, 05:29:38 AM

In the late 1970's I worked for Sears Store Planning Dept in the Sears Tower Chicago. They had an archives department with bound copies of all the old catalogs. I remember it took me 2 elevators to get there, but was worthwhile. Like a library, I could check-out volumes and inspect on the premises, don't remember if they allowed copying, and that was way before cell-phone camera technology. Sears moved HQ to Schaumburg in the suburbs in the 1990's, and I moved onto a position at one of the companies shopping malls. I wonder if that archive is still there in Schaumburg? The Sears "Big Toy Box" book is a help, but only goes back to the early 1950's. There is a similar book on Montgomery Wards. The John Schmid book on Lionel Promotional Outfits is very detailed and comprehensive, but only covers the narrow window of 1960 to 69. I was at the Stout auction when he and his Dad bought the archives pile, paid a lot of $$. I am not sure if he is working on a book for earlier periods.   

Title: Re: Mike's layout
Post by: Terry on October 21, 2020, 03:19:42 PM

I heard there is another hoard of old Lionel paper dating back into the 1920s but don't know who owns it.

There is a book called White Street that has information from Lionel company meetings between 1906 and 1910 when the factory moved to New haven. The book has actual production numbers by month.

Title: Re: Mike's layout
Post by: early0electric on October 22, 2020, 11:56:59 AM

The White Street book you mentioned was written by Paul Kovacs. I believe there is a 2nd edition of the book. All production was done at White Street until they outgrew the facility in 1909.

I've not heard of another stash of Lionel Paper unless it was in the granddaughters possession. Some of the items they had are "out there" but the bulk of it when it was sold, I believe, remains underground. What a shame.

Title: Re: Mike's layout
Post by: early0electric on November 30, 2020, 07:47:45 PM

Here's my Christmas layout.  Nothing spectacular, just a simple oval, but it fits the room.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/viNPoAPMjbswYAix7

 

 

Title: Re: Mike's layout
Post by: starfire700 on December 03, 2020, 05:07:05 AM

Nice table layout. Did you use a white sheet or Christmas felt for the snow. Looks like you have the Lionel/Shonhut station. Looks nice with the lights. Happy Holidays!

Title: Re: Mike's layout
Post by: starfire700 on December 03, 2020, 09:34:55 AM

I have never known for sure, how to tell a Shonehut station made for Shonehut from one that they made for Lionel. Is there any difference? I have both the 124 station size and smaller station, but do not have either at this time.

Title: Re: Mike's layout
Post by: early0electric on December 03, 2020, 08:15:35 PM

Jim, the snow is one of those snow blankets that they sell in stores this time of the year. the size is perfect for the table I have. As far as the station, I believe it to be the 121 that Schoenhut made for Lionel because the dimensions match the ones in the catalog. I have seen larger and I have seen smaller Schoenhut stations. How do you tell? Good question! I have never seen a boxed one or one with a Lionel label.

The only thing missing from my layout is my granddaughters help decorating it.

Title: Re: Mike's layout
Post by: starfire700 on December 04, 2020, 04:27:12 AM

I guess that I spelled Shoenhut wrong, because I don't have one. The only label I have seen on them is a small Shoenhut decal on the edge of the base.
These stations have that great "vintage" look and go perfect with early Lionel.

Title: Re: Mike's layout
Post by: early0electric on December 04, 2020, 01:46:12 PM

I used to have some boxed Schoenhut Hollywood Home Builder houses that also went well with early Lionel.

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/15174998_278-schoenhut-0410-hollywood-home-builder-kit-ob

Title: Re: Mike's layout
Post by: starfire700 on December 04, 2020, 04:43:29 PM

Those are nice. I don't think I have seen them, or at least not in the box.

Title: Re: Mike's layout
Post by: Terry on December 04, 2020, 04:54:10 PM

The schoenhuts are wonderful. I have a whole town of Schoenhuts  on my layout. The ones on the end under the cliff.

They made stores which I don't have. This lot has stores in the backrow.]https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/42057991_schoenhut-home-builder-houses]This lot has stores in the backrow.  (https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/42057991_schoenhut-home-builder-houses) Those are harder to find than the houses.

There is also a Barn which I think I have, but can't find and the gas station and most of the houses were made with pressed paper roofs after 1932. Then they went bankrupt. They came out of bankruptcy as SKYLINE MFG.

Title: Re: Mike's layout
Post by: early0electric on December 04, 2020, 06:10:45 PM

Yeah, Terry, they're great and look great. Nice vintage accessories for vintage trains.

Title: Re: Mike's layout
Post by: Terry on December 04, 2020, 07:13:11 PM

I have a bunch of loose parts for them if you need to fix some up. Roofs, floors, doors and windows.

Title: Re: Mike's layout
Post by: early0electric on December 04, 2020, 07:52:17 PM

Thanks Terry, but a had a bout of unemployment back in 2005 and had to let some things go.

Title: Re: Mike's layout
Post by: early0electric on January 10, 2021, 03:34:08 PM

Christmas has passed and the Christmas tree and christmas figures have been put away. Now I have a winter layout.
 

 

Title: Re: Mike's layout
Post by: CNJRR on January 10, 2021, 03:52:19 PM

Nice.
You going to keep it up?

Funny you say winter layout
I am turning a small N scale layout I have, into a year long winter wonder land, just started.  :)