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 Posted - April 12 2015 : 09:48:43 AM
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While not really an "accessory, more a necessity, these two pieces are FAR and away too interesting to me to let pass an opportunity to show them, how many of you have seen these before? These are pre-war Lionel throttles, that's right, they needed an external transformer or battery hook-up to use. One actually says Battery, the other doesn't. I will have to ask my boss about them, not sure if a battery version and transformer version co-existed,and if the resistance would have been different - I doubt it, since I assume the motors would run off 18V no matter what?
At any rate, a pair of really early Lionel "throttles", picked them up at the Annapolis Train show last month for $5 each. Nice onversation pieces, if nothing else. Or, I could rig one up to run a Lionel train in the back of my car! Hey!  
Jerry
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
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Posted - April 12 2015 : 11:22:46 AM
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Those Lionel rheostats are way cool. I suspect that they are really very good collector items.
Regards, Vic B.
Vic Bitleris
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Posted - April 12 2015 : 11:29:50 AM
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 Good job on finding those things, man.Do they even work?  Anyway, my AOTW is a sad, beat up, MRC Dual Loco Pack Model 2 from I presume was made in the 1960's - 1970's.
-Steve
"A lot of modellers out there who go to these train shows see broken HO stuff and go, 'This is useless' when, in reality, they can still be used for modeling whether it's as a prop on your layout or a cool project to make something old new again."
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Posted - April 12 2015 : 12:25:52 PM
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Very interesting to see the pioneer equipment. MRC pack
was well loved.
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Posted - April 12 2015 : 12:44:01 PM
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quote:While not really an "accessory, more a necessity, these two pieces are FAR and away too interesting to me to let pass an opportunity to show them, how many of you have seen these before? These are pre-war Lionel throttles, that's right, they needed an external transformer or battery hook-up to use. One actually says Battery, the other doesn't. I will have to ask my boss about them, not sure if a battery version and transformer version co-existed,and if the resistance would have been different - I doubt it, since I assume the motors would run off 18V no matter what?
At any rate, a pair of really early Lionel "throttles", picked them up at the Annapolis Train show last month for $5 each. Nice onversation pieces, if nothing else. Or, I could rig one up to run a Lionel train in the back of my car! Hey!
Jerry
Originally posted by AMC_Gremlin_GTÂ -Â April 12 2015Â :Â 09:48:43 AM
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We never used those to actually, manually control train speed. We had power packs/transformers that were "notch" style..move the lever to tap points. Could not use with open e-unit. Our old pre-wars with manual reverse levers worked well.
These were used for controlling downhill speeds, slowdown sections for stations or towns, accessory fine tuning. Trying to get the release moved, and slide those to where you wanted them on the fly was difficult at best.
Dave
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Posted - April 12 2015 : 3:53:26 PM
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I have read mention of people running model trains off of car batteries in the early days. That raises questions, because prewar cars probably had 6-volt systems.
I've seen the throttles with a finite number of taps on them. At one point, there were also variable transformers which had a contact that could be slid along the secondary coil like the contact on a crystal radio tuner. I once had a Lionel power pack for HO trains that worked on that principle.
Carpe Manana!
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Posted - April 12 2015 : 6:53:57 PM
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Those Rheostats are very cool. I've never seen anything like that before. I remember reading once an old timer said his parents hooked his electric train to generator run by water. They had to keep the water in the bath tub running to generate electricity!
Here's my accessory of the week. A baseball bat. Well a miniature one that I cut the knob off of and drilled a hole in the top of.
Master Of Plasticville
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Posted - April 12 2015 : 8:05:59 PM
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| That smoke stack idea is awesome!
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Posted - April 12 2015 : 8:16:33 PM
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quote:Here's my accessory of the week. A baseball bat. Well a miniature one that I cut the knob off of and drilled a hole in the top of.
Originally posted by Gary BÂ -Â April 12 2015Â :Â 6:53:57 PM
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One splendid example of thinking outside the box!
Carpe Manana!
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Posted - April 12 2015 : 9:43:17 PM
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Quoted from the Classic Toy Trains website on the Rheostat controllers :
#88 Battery Rheostat is the simplest, with speed control only, & "off" to the far left.
#81 Controlling Rheostat has speed control and an on-off switch on the slider, & does not go to "off" to the far left(you use the switch).
#95 Controlling Rheostat has speed control and a direction(press to interrupt) switch on the slider, & "off" to the far left.
They can all be used with batteries or transformers, AC or DC. They are all of otherwise similar construction, & I use them for short duty cycles in block control applications, so they are all equal as far as I'm concerned. The #81 has a wider control range for running trains, so between that and the on-off switch on the slider it's probably the most versatile.
So now I know what they are capable of, as Dave/ScaleCraft said, more for subtle control than actual all throttle speed control. Good to know, as I had never seen them before, so had no idea how they were/are used. Thanks for your input, Dave.
Jerry
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
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Posted - April 12 2015 : 10:16:39 PM
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I remember seeing them used in slow down sections, like through towns. I seem to remember (vaguely) a series of them slowing trains for a station stop, which cycled through, trains started up through increasing voltage blocks. Worked in both directions.
Al the early stuff was AC or DC..."universal" filed wound motors. Batteries, yes, six volts connected in series was 12, 18, 24. I remember old timers telling me they'd go to a "run", pull the batteries out of their cars to hook up, then everybody push started the cars afterwards.
Best deal by far was Marn-0-Stats. Just hook the transformer and rectumfrier to one side of the toggle, battery the other. Tore a LARGE 0 railroad apart several years ago after my friend died, who had just that for power outtages. Two 12V batteries kept on trickle, through Marn-0-Stats.
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Posted - April 12 2015 : 11:14:36 PM
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Nowadays we have a DCC setting for locomotive momentum/realistic braking... nothing is without its precedent in ancient history, I see
--CRC
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Posted - April 13 2015 : 12:50:04 AM
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A couple of older Life-Like lighted billboards...
Edited by - walt on April 13 2015 01:02:31 AM
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Posted - April 13 2015 : 6:18:19 PM
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I don't know what possessed me to get this off Ebay, but at the
time it seemed profoundly important. Anyways, NIB, unopened.
I think the lichen moss has dried to the consistency of brittle glass.
Anyone just GOT to have this? I'd trade up or sell for $10...
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Posted - April 13 2015 : 6:19:44 PM
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One splendid example of thinking outside the box!
Originally posted by scsshaggy - April 12 2015 : 8:16:33 PM
[/quote]
A home run!
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Posted - April 13 2015 : 7:20:56 PM
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| I don't have a picture as I don't think one is necessary. My most useful accessories, ones I use all the time, are empty "Laughing Cow" cheese boxes. You know the round ones with a lid about 3/4 of an inch deep. When I work on an item, I keep all the parts to that item in the box with a post it note on the lid to indicate what it relates to. That way I can let a project rest for a few days and when I return to it, I know where everything is.
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Posted - April 13 2015 : 8:50:04 PM
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Rectumfrier? Not sure I really want to know...
Glenn
I was thinking of the immortal words of Socrates, who said, "... I drank what?"
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Posted - April 14 2015 : 5:35:43 PM
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Chops, it would seem I too am possessed. 
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Posted - April 14 2015 : 5:57:06 PM
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Scalecraft,
An emergency backup power system so if the power fails one can still run trains. There was a man after my own heart.
Regards, John
If you don't know where you are going, you might wind up someplace else. <> Yogi Berra
Edited by - JRG1951 on April 14 2015 5:57:40 PM
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Posted - April 14 2015 : 7:02:38 PM
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quote:Nowadays we have a DCC setting for locomotive momentum/realistic braking... nothing is without its precedent in ancient history, I see
Originally posted by PRR 4800Â -Â April 12 2015Â :Â 11:14:36 PM
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dcc does not work well with high current, open frame, ac motors.
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Posted - April 14 2015 : 7:04:06 PM
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quote:Rectumfrier? Not sure I really want to know...
Originally posted by gmoney - April 13 2015 : 8:50:04 PM
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You ever experience a multiple plate selenium rectumfrier that has been in high-current use for some hours....don't sit on it.
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Posted - April 14 2015 : 7:07:08 PM
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quote:Scalecraft,
An emergency backup power system so if the power fails one can still run trains. There was a man after my own heart.
Regards, John
If you don't know where you are going, you might wind up someplace else. <> Yogi Berra
Originally posted by JRG1951Â -Â April 14 2015Â :Â 5:57:06 PM
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I have the Marn-0-Stats from that layout. Laid together, 6-1/2 feet of them.
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Posted - April 14 2015 : 11:09:30 PM
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quote: quote:Nowadays we have a DCC setting for locomotive momentum/realistic braking... nothing is without its precedent in ancient history, I see
Originally posted by PRR 4800Â -Â April 12 2015Â :Â 11:14:36 PM
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dcc does not work well with high current, open frame, ac motors.
Originally posted by ScaleCraft - April 14 2015 : 7:02:38 PM
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Having survived an ill-fated attempt to run an old Model Die Casting PRR H10 2-8-0 on a DCC club layout, I can attest to that.
--CRC
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Posted - April 15 2015 : 12:32:56 AM
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Old Bachmann blinking bridge
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 Posted - April 16 2015 : 3:02:10 PM
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Only thing I HATED about the Blinking Bridge is the power came from the rails & would often slow the loco 
I want to modify one to run off the accesories on the power pack
Do these count as a accessory? hehe
Also Tree Stump Cam
Edited by - microbusss on April 16 2015 4:34:33 PM
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Posted - April 16 2015 : 5:02:36 PM
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Is that a banana patch? 
http://tycodepot.com/
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 Posted - April 16 2015 : 5:39:52 PM
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Scalecraft
I wanted a Marn-0-Stats back in the day. They were so cool in the Walther's catalog. MRC was all I could afford, and that was pushing it. When I was in the navy, I built throttles from surplus parts scrounged at the base surplus scrap pile.
Regards, John
Whenever a fellow tells me he's bipartisan, I know he's going to vote against me. <> Harry S Truman
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Posted - April 16 2015 : 6:27:41 PM
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When I was in the Navy, I tried Half Zero (still have the Mantua 0-6-0 tender loco I bought new in 1970), then a dabbling in N for a bit, then back to the family Lionel (which I still have).
KW's and ZW's....didn't need Marn-0-Stats then. I always looked at those in the ads...now I have them....that and five bucks will get me a beer most places, eh?
Didn't have salvage piles in Charleston. It was all regulated SubSafe stuff.
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Posted - April 16 2015 : 6:31:34 PM
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quote:Is that a banana patch?
Originally posted by JNXT 7707Â -Â April 16 2015Â :Â 5:02:36 PM
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yup
years ago I had a Banana Line idea
Where the line splits
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Posted - April 16 2015 : 9:30:24 PM
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quote: quote:Is that a banana patch?
Originally posted by JNXT 7707Â -Â April 16 2015Â :Â 5:02:36 PM
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yup
years ago I had a Banana Line idea
Where the line splits
Originally posted by microbusss - April 16 2015 : 6:31:34 PM
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" Banana Line, where the lines split, and your cash doesn't, we bring a'ppeal to railroading. Don't let this opportunity slip away! Ship with Banana Line! "
Jerry
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
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Posted - April 16 2015 : 10:12:43 PM
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quote:
" Banana Line, where the lines split, and your cash doesn't, we bring a'ppeal to railroading. Don't let this opportunity slip away! Ship with Banana Line! "
Jerry
Originally posted by AMC_Gremlin_GTÂ -Â April 16 2015Â :Â 9:30:24 PM
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LMAO good one Jerry! I love it!
dunno where I even found that patch
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Posted - April 17 2015 : 09:42:35 AM
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| Colorful photos so far. This next one a Shell truck.
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Posted - April 17 2015 : 5:59:51 PM
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quote: quote:
" Banana Line, where the lines split, and your cash doesn't, we bring a'ppeal to railroading. Don't let this opportunity slip away! Ship with Banana Line! "
Jerry
Originally posted by AMC_Gremlin_GTÂ -Â April 16 2015Â :Â 9:30:24 PM
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LMAO good one Jerry! I love it!
dunno where I even found that patch
Originally posted by microbusss - April 16 2015 : 10:12:43 PM
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There is, actually, a railway in Britain that is known as the "Banana Train". Take a look.
-Steve
"A lot of modellers out there who go to these train shows see broken HO stuff and go, 'This is useless' when, in reality, they can still be used for modeling whether it's as a prop on your layout or a cool project to make something old new again."
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Posted - April 17 2015 : 11:30:04 PM
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quote:| Colorful photos so far. This next one a Shell truck.
Originally posted by wks - April 17 2015 : 09:42:35 AM
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thats a Majorette tanker trailer with a Hong Kong made International tractor
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