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 Posted - July 31 2012 : 11:22:32 PM
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While visiting my buddy in Acme,PA this weekend, he took me on a tour of the local antique shops, and one he has been to before we stopped at. They had the back room open, he said hadn't been before, so we went poking around. on top of a glass case, I found a small box and instantly was smitten. Inside was a trolley bus, with the two poles. Yup, powered! Also had 6 poles ( 1 is broken ), and 6 bases, and most of the overhead rails to fit them. Not sure if this is AC or DC? I tried DC when I got home, but no response from the motor.Made in West Germany. Anyone know offhand? When I enquired about the price, the gentleman there said $10 ( WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH - the sound of me whipping out my wallet   ). I was very happy to find one of these NOT at Ebay pricing! Those sell usually for over $40 each, and not with the poles and overheads, either. I think I did well.   Anyway, here's a few pictures of the bus.
Jerry
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
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Posted - July 31 2012 : 11:41:07 PM
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Ask DaCheez!
Not sure if he still has the video of his working trolley bus/buses, but I do remember the video.
Perhaps look him up on YouTube, also.
DaCheez could be very close by. DaCheez? 'You there?
John
I don't have a one track mind. It depends on the turn-out.
"I love your catenary!"
Is that a power-trip or just another pick-up line?
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Posted - July 31 2012 : 11:53:32 PM
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Apparently Aristo-Craft imported them, but I think I saw them in a 1970 AHM catalog as well.
http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/2855798
If it were an AC motor, it would run on DC too. Better open it up and clean it out.
The Tyco Depot
Edited by - NickelPlate759 on August 01 2012 12:17:09 AM
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Posted - August 01 2012 : 12:17:45 AM
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Jerry, congrats on such a great find! My guess would be Eheim or Brawa, although I've only seen your version in auctions once and I don't recall the maker. It seems to be a very early version of these buses. The "W" emblem on the front is different than the ones from the 1960's that I've seen.
-Thomas
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Posted - August 01 2012 : 05:14:51 AM
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Jerry,
NOW thats an AWESOME find.....(I kind of expected Sean to come off with one of those!)
~John
Many have tried to, and failed, ya just can't repair stupid...
Do NOT try to Idiot-Proof anything!!!! God, will simply create a better......IDIOT!
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Posted - August 01 2012 : 08:10:02 AM
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hi jerry check this site out ken
http://home.planet.nl/~helde862/Eheim/Busses/bus1.htm
this link explains that it was ac and dc in one
http://home.planet.nl/~helde862/Eheim/Busses/bus3.htm
started life as fischer,then eheim,finally brawa and produced to early 2000`s
Edited by - catfordken on August 01 2012 08:41:47 AM
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Posted - August 01 2012 : 12:08:22 PM
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Jerry, it seems that you might have an "Europa" trolley bus. According to this article, it predates Eheim by a couple years.
http://home.planet.nl/~helde862/Eheim/history.htm
In any case, you have quite the collectable!
- Thomas
PS: Thanks to Ken for pointing the way...
Edited by - Redwoods on August 01 2012 12:10:24 PM
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Posted - August 01 2012 : 2:58:58 PM
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neat stuff & I soooo want the VW draisine
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Posted - August 01 2012 : 6:22:45 PM
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| Serious envy dude...my cousin had one years ago, been pursuing one since.
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Posted - August 03 2012 : 11:18:09 PM
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Definitely 50's or earlier Nice find, especially for $10! Here's my Eheim version:
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Posted - August 05 2012 : 8:16:15 PM
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Thanks for all the informative replies, and helpful website tips! You guys are great! Here's some more pics of the entire set I got. Missing a few parts, one tower is broken, but nothing insurmountable. I have enough for a basic circle if I can fix the one tower, and find some metal stock to replace 3 of the missing "tracks", and it'll be good to go. Motor turns but is stiff, so may just need basic cleaning/oiling. Nothing looks fried inside. All the wires are intact and not broken anywhere, either. So I'll work on it and see about repairing the tower and finding replacement metal flat stock.
Jerry
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
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Posted - August 05 2012 : 10:32:53 PM
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The version I have uses regular circular "wire" as the overhead tracks...it's easy enough to replace, but those flat bands your bus uses may be a little trickier  . Lucky you though got the poles with the weighted bases
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Posted - August 06 2012 : 12:56:59 AM
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I wasn't aware Rivarossi made their own trolley bus up until 1957. They were nice looking units.
http://home.planet.nl/~helde862/Rivarossi/rivarossi.htm
The Tyco Depot
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Posted - August 07 2012 : 11:29:12 AM
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Hmm, I didn't know about Rivarossi's bus either. Thanks for posting.
One of these days I'll pull out my Silvine bus from storage and post a picture. I have a few overhead pieces for it, but I haven't tried running it yet.
-Thomas
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Posted - August 07 2012 : 9:27:28 PM
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I have been trying to figure out what size thread is on the pole bottom, yesterday I brought home some 2.5mm nuts, they "almost" go, then freeze up. We also have 2.6 mm stock at work, so I brought some of that home today, no nuts but I found some brass stand-offs though ( nut and thread combo ). BINGO! So it looks like the pole thread is 2.6 mm. Thankfully my company is International, so we carry a variety of hardware for different countries. . Now to either cut the standoffs down to nuts,or just buy some 2.6mm nuts.
Jerry
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
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Posted - August 08 2012 : 7:42:38 PM
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After some more Internet investigation today, I finally found what I need for overhead power transmission - it's called " flat wire ". You can get it in stainless, comes in different shapes, too, found 3 or 4 possible suppliers, although some have minimum quantity requirements. But at least it's still available after 60 plus years . There's also the temper to consider, not sure what a stiff but bendable combination would be called, but anyway, at least I'm " on the right track " now. Maybe I can request some 3' samples of various tempers, and that way I'll get my track free. Now the question is, can I find some flat wire holders that would sub for the track holders I have, and so expand my trackage length available? Back to Google....
Jerry
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
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Posted - August 08 2012 : 9:24:38 PM
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| Jerry, I'm wondering if it is possible to use N-gauge rail (such as code 55). I would be certainly easier to solder than stainless steel. What do you think? - Thomas
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Posted - August 09 2012 : 6:18:47 PM
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quote:Jerry, I'm wondering if it is possible to use N-gauge rail (such as code 55). I would be certainly easier to solder than stainless steel. What do you think? - Thomas
Originally posted by Redwoods - August 08 2012 : 9:24:38 PM
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Aside from the shape differences, track rail tends to be rather flexible, not what you want for this overhead trolley track, it needs memory to stay set once bent, as the trolley will be putting pressure on it going around curves. It would deform too easily and cause problems. I thought about track, but realized it wasn't stiff enough. I DO have some copper wire scrap from plastic AC wire, that 14 gauge copper strand is stiff enough, would have to flatten the ends to fit into the couplings, but doable. But if I can find this correct stainless steel flat wire, I can use it as is. Soldering it is not the issue, it slides into fittings that the trolley pole glides over. No solder necessary. Finding more of the pole couplings to increase my track length would my next goal, if I can find the right size flat wire as is.
Jerry
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
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Posted - August 09 2012 : 6:39:12 PM
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quote:
Aside from the shape differences, track rail tends to be rather flexible, not what you want for this overhead trolley track, it needs memory to stay set once bent, as the trolley will be putting pressure on it going around curves. It would deform too easily and cause problems. I thought about track, but realized it wasn't stiff enough. I DO have some copper wire scrap from plastic AC wire, that 14 gauge copper strand is stiff enough, would have to flatten the ends to fit into the couplings, but doable. But if I can find this correct stainless steel flat wire, I can use it as is. Soldering it is not the issue, it slides into fittings that the trolley pole glides over. No solder necessary. Finding more of the pole couplings to increase my track length would my next goal, if I can find the right size flat wire as is.
Jerry
Originally posted by AMC_Gremlin_GTÂ -Â August 09 2012Â :Â 6:18:47 PM
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Ah, I do see your point. Code 55 is pretty soft. I was thinking about the soldering issues because I'm thinking of making my own poles, but yes if you already have the poles, the stainless steel wire is the way to go. I'm not sure what I will end up doing, I'll have to experiment a bit.
- Thomas
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