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 Posted - January 31 2007 : 1:33:28 PM
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Hey Y'all
Certain things are naturally touchstones in time. It's recently come to my attention that there are at least two books available as collectors guides for Athearn Trains. I was reflecting on what that means and the recent uptick in Tyco prices on Ebay. I think it's fair to say that the Tyco brand was by far the most visible manifestation of Toy trains from some point in the 60's to some point in the 70's, perhaps the 80's. During that time we saw Sputnik roar into space, John Kennedy assasinated, the Vietnam War, Cuban Missile Crisis, Martin Luther King Jr. and then Bobby Kennedy Assainated. Man walked on the moon, Watergate, well you get the idea. Tyco trains were one of many things to connecct as a web these events, as we went from being boys to men and give to us now, context. Time marches on inexorably.
I think we have moved far enough from Tyco-Ubiquity to gain the neccesary perspective for a Tyco book/reference. I was just making the point on the Vintage-HO Yahoo group that their sense of what is "really" vintage Ho smacks of Tradition for traditions sake. What is vintage changes. Values on Tyco equipment are beginning to reflect that. It's perfectly natural for Tyco to become a reflection of a period of history as other things in Popular culture have done.
Tony is the logical person to work on this project. I think contacting the appropriate publishing company and pitching such a project might get the ball rolling. I am working on such a project in the form of a Trackplan book based on the work of George Baustert who was published in "MR" during the 50's and 60's and was a friend of John Allens of Timesaver fame.
Anyway as the saying goes; "I'm putting this out there."
-Gareth
Edited by - romcat on January 31 2007 2:39:20 PM
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 Posted - January 31 2007 : 11:48:45 PM
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There's been more than one discussion about a book here in the past - there are several unique challenges a TYCO book would encounter. But I am rolling my own ball with the narratives and descriptions I cobble together as I build a collection for that sole purpose.
Certainly, its time HAS come, and it will require a monstrous, collaborative effort.
At least one guy here has a publishing contact that hasn't yet born fruit; another had a knack for research but has recently left the forum. I do have another gentleman giving me some back story as it pertains to an earlier era of TYCO... and I do have a name to contact, but as of yet have not devised the proper way to do so.
Hopefully between the lot of us stooges here, we can get SOMETHING put together... someday...
Remember that Athearn was a true pioneer, and Lionel has a cult following and two short-lived ill-fated attempts in HO. That is why they have books. Atlas, Varney, Life-Like, Walthers, Cox, Bachmann, TMI, Penn-Line, and a host of others do not - just like Tyco. And most of them would have much less to sift through - and sometimes more cachet and respect to command.
It's a boondoggle for sure [;)]
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Posted - February 01 2007 : 12:05:23 AM
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I know in the case of the book I'm working on called "the Trackplan Crusade" time is a factor. The guy who's designs and ideas it's about has the last station on the line in site. I'd like to get it done and published before that train comes to a complete stop.
I'd like to help on a Tyco book project. I'd suggest two forms a downloadable pdf format and a traditional book version.
Cheers,
Gareth
Edited by - romcat on February 01 2007 12:07:54 AM
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