Honestly I think it'd be a bit humbing to be in the presense of that toy train. Just think of it, the hands that made it are dust, the first hands that played with it are dust, but that toy train still "lives" and does what it was meant to do, bring joy to all who see it. Thanks Leonard, thanks so much.
To See an early Carlisle& Finch actually running was a thrill for me ! I've read about them for decades , but have never seen then in action. Thanks again to Mr. Williams !!
What a beautiful set. Someday i would like to find one for a reasonable rate. Honestly for how simple the construction is it is very effective and honestly feels like what you would see from a early drawing/ what would be used for a stamp design.
I too never expected to see one of these run. Thank you for sharing this, and pointing out the simple construction of the trucks. I wondered at first how you'd managed a reverse loop until I spotted the gauntlet track. The wooden ties allowed the use of DC long before the plastic ties of HO half a century later made it popular. Of course, many of these would be powered with a wet-cell battery since not many homes had electricity in 1900. And DC made reversing simple.
I think it was roughly 3% of the American homes had electricity at the turn of the century. The the engine does have a manual reverse underneath the cab simply flipping the power from one brush to the other.
Brilliant as always. And the good old C&F green stained wood for truck insulation... I couldn't quite tell in the video, but I'm guessing the Nuremberg style tab and slot construction was practically unknown and the cars were soldered together. With that, I'm guessing the car sides were constructed in two halves, bent as appropriate with the resulting corners soldered? Then areas soldered to the base? The printed paper sides were a good idea; I think from memory wooden trains from the '80's (think Milton Bradley was a typical brand) had the same. They would've been quite expensive to make I think: especially that soldering and tin construction requires more than an unskilled labour requirement whereas the earlier cast iron equipment would've limited skilled labour to foundry work. Overall it's a well constructed, very well proportioned and decorated train. I see C&F equipment sometimes on ebay... way way out of my league... 😢
In all that stuff (toys) at that time and continuing for a very long , it wasn't that better products couldn't be made , it was just what PEOPLE thought about toys in general... First, money was a big factor , second it would have been considered indulgent / extravagant and unnecessary for children past 6 or 7 to even have bought toys and certainly not adults...YOU had children in 1898 going to work at 11 years old and girls getting married at 13 or 14... OVERALL less school, less learning less playing and the play was GROUP play
Actually it was cutting edge in manufacturing and technology, and was very much sold to adults as scientific amusements and also to layout builders, and for a scientific toy for youths and teenagers, very rarely for someone the ages of what you've mentioned, and the working ages you've mentioned would imply a working class family, the likelihood of purchasing a train of this nature being very slim. It wasn't until the 1960's when model trains really became affordable for the general public, sets like this C&F would've been very much sold to the well to do, and adult model enthusiasts.
Honestly I think it'd be a bit humbing to be in the presense of that toy train. Just think of it, the hands that made it are dust, the first hands that played with it are dust, but that toy train still "lives" and does what it was meant to do, bring joy to all who see it.
Thanks Leonard, thanks so much.
Yes very perceptive we pass on but our work continues if appreciated by others to care for them
@@vintage-model-trains Thanks!
This is a great bit of history for model trains. Kids back then must have been beside themselves when getting this set. I know i would have been.
Talk about old, impressive that it still runs 😊 !!!
To See an early Carlisle& Finch actually running was a thrill for me ! I've read about them for decades , but have never seen then in action. Thanks again to Mr. Williams !!
Glad you liked the video if you go amongst my other videos you'll find quite a few Carlisle and Finch sets running
Wow I saw that in the Greenbergs book! Never thought I’d see a working one! That looks good, engine is proportional
That looks fantastic and the sound it makes is glorious!
Certainly an eye opener... wonderful ! 👍
I think the colors and graphics on the paper look great. Fantastic train.
Thank you ..yes graphics are fun !
What a beautiful set. Someday i would like to find one for a reasonable rate. Honestly for how simple the construction is it is very effective and honestly feels like what you would see from a early drawing/ what would be used for a stamp design.
Yes it is a very nice set and as you said a nice simple design
I too never expected to see one of these run. Thank you for sharing this, and pointing out the simple construction of the trucks. I wondered at first how you'd managed a reverse loop until I spotted the gauntlet track. The wooden ties allowed the use of DC long before the plastic ties of HO half a century later made it popular. Of course, many of these would be powered with a wet-cell battery since not many homes had electricity in 1900. And DC made reversing simple.
I think it was roughly 3% of the American homes had electricity at the turn of the century.
The the engine does have a manual reverse underneath the cab simply flipping the power from one brush to the other.
wow great history lesson!
Very cool!
I love it, but where is Ward Kimball?
nice.
Now that's something !
Very amazing to see this!
Glad you enjoyed the video!
Brilliant as always. And the good old C&F green stained wood for truck insulation...
I couldn't quite tell in the video, but I'm guessing the Nuremberg style tab and slot construction was practically unknown and the cars were soldered together.
With that, I'm guessing the car sides were constructed in two halves, bent as appropriate with the resulting corners soldered? Then areas soldered to the base?
The printed paper sides were a good idea; I think from memory wooden trains from the '80's (think Milton Bradley was a typical brand) had the same.
They would've been quite expensive to make I think: especially that soldering and tin construction requires more than an unskilled labour requirement whereas the earlier cast iron equipment would've limited skilled labour to foundry work.
Overall it's a well constructed, very well proportioned and decorated train.
I see C&F equipment sometimes on ebay... way way out of my league... 😢
Yes flat tin folded and soldered together lots of little pieces labor intensive
The conductor and rear brakeman won't dose off riding in that caboose!
The wheels are not exactly what you'd call precise
i wish i can give more likes .
Thank you
In all that stuff (toys) at that time and continuing for a very long , it wasn't that better products couldn't be made , it was just what PEOPLE thought about toys in general... First, money was a big factor , second it would have been considered indulgent / extravagant and unnecessary for children past 6 or 7 to even have bought toys and certainly not adults...YOU had children in 1898 going to work at 11 years old and girls getting married at 13 or 14... OVERALL less school, less learning less playing and the play was GROUP play
Actually it was cutting edge in manufacturing and technology, and was very much sold to adults as scientific amusements and also to layout builders, and for a scientific toy for youths and teenagers, very rarely for someone the ages of what you've mentioned, and the working ages you've mentioned would imply a working class family, the likelihood of purchasing a train of this nature being very slim.
It wasn't until the 1960's when model trains really became affordable for the general public, sets like this C&F would've been very much sold to the well to do, and adult model enthusiasts.