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Collecting Articles

A.C. Gilbert's Colorful Trains

Many photos and descriptions of rare A.F. items.

AF Price Valuation Guides: Analyzing and Explaining the Differences

With the arrival of the Bubeck-Garrigues book on American Flyer S gauge, the Greenberg AF Guide has some competition. This article explains how to evaluate A.F. pieces.

American Flyer Collector's Column

The author reviews the purpose behind this column, and continues by suggesting ways that new collectors can get into the hobby.

American Flyer Collector's Column

In this column, the author discusses A.C. Gilbert A.F. advertising, including providing a complete listing of all known advertisements in magazines.

American Flyer Collector's Column

The author covers the A.C. Gilbert advertisements in newspapers, covering the various sets that were available.

American Flyer Collector's Column

This column continues the discussion of A.C. Gilbert's AF diesel locomotives. Includes several model photos.

American Flyer Collector's Column

This column covers the A.C. Gilbert Export Division, which was responsible for sales outside of the U.S.

American Flyer Collector's Column

This column answers a number of reader's questions on a wide variety of topics.

American Flyer Collector's Column

This month's column answers readers' questions.

American Flyer Collector's Column

This article covers the A.C. Gilbert train sets of 1953 (25 in all).

American Flyer Collector's Column

This month's column covers what A.C. Gilbert did in 1954.

American Flyer Collector's Column

The author describes why A.C. Gilbert switched to the 5-digit numbering system in 1957 (use of computers).

American Flyer Collector's Column

The author describes what 1957 was like for the A.C. Gilbert company, and the start of their decline.

American Flyer Collector's Column

The author answers a number of questions he has received about previous columns.

American Flyer Collector's Column

The author covers A.C. Gilbert's offerings of 1958, the last of the "Golden Years" of the company, in which they still offered a full line of products.

American Flyer Collector's Column

This columns covers how one can identify American Flyer prototypes and pre-production models from common repaints and home-made items.

American Flyer Collector's Column

Continuing with the A.C. Gilbert story, this column concentrates on the actions in 1967 leading up to the auctions of the Gilbert plant equipment and the Gilbert archives.

American Flyer Collector's Column

In this column the author covers the various AF displays available to retailers.

American Flyer Collector's Column

This column answers a number of questions, covering the A.F. #20340, Billboard Whistles, ATSF freight set, #21115, and more.

American Flyer Collector's Column

This column continues the discussion of the history of American Flyer trains with a look at 1959, Gilbert's 50th Anniversary year.

American Flyer Collector's Column

The author dives deep into the Talking Station accessory.

American Flyer Collector's Column

The author answers questions about the Post cereal boxes used for the 1959 Gilbert Frontiersman promotion, #807 Rio Grande "Cookie Box" box car, and French instructions for A.F. products.

American Flyer Collector's Column

This column covers Kleer-Pak packaging and the color of the corvettes on the #24578 Corvette Flat Car. It also answers a couple of individuals' questions.

American Flyer Collector's Column

Covers the American Flyer non-Pikemaster turnouts.

American Flyer Collector's Column

The author covers these topics: the resolution of complaints about the 1947 production; a possible explanation as to why so little information is available on Gilbert's SP sets in 1954; the boxing of #30, #31, and #32 figure sets in 1949.

American Flyer Collector's Column

This installment is a question-and-answering column covering a wide variety of topics.

American Flyer Collector's Column

This installment is a question-and-answering column covering various topics.

American Flyer Collector's Column

Answering various questions from readers regarding AF.

American Flyer Collector's Column

This column features the second floor layout display at the New York City Gilbert Hall of Science. Includes several photos.

American Flyer Collector's Column

The author continues the discussion of the Gilbert Hall of Science layout is from the previous S Gaugian issue. Includes photos and portions of the track plan.

American Flyer Collector's Column

This is the author's first column, and he discusses the rare 1959 "One of the First 50" set, highlighting the unique differences between the very rare set and the standard #20550 Frontiersman set. Includes detailed photos. Includes a sidebar and a photo of the author.

American Flyer Collector's Column

The author covers several other A.C. Gilbert 50th Anniversary items the company sold. He researched who got one of the first 50 Frontierman sets. He also covers the Overland Baggage Cars (24730). Includes photos and period ads, as well as the Post Cereal ads.

American Flyer Collector's Column

The author built his collection by focusing on themes, and he starts this two-part series off on the CB&Q equipment he collected. Includes details and photos.

American Flyer Collector's Column

In this column, the author covers the CB&Q cars made by A. C. Gilbert.

American Flyer Collector's Column

The author starts a two-part column on A.F. items with the number 625. This installment covers the Shell/Gulf tank cars and the Shell and Gulf Oil Terminal depots.

American Flyer Collector's Column

This column covers the #480 orange Shell tank car.

American Flyer Collector's Column

The author answers some questions he has received via postal mail and e-mail (covers Franklin sets).

American Flyer Collector's Column

The author starts a two-part series on three-digit numbered American Flyer reefers.

American Flyer Collector's Column

In this installment the author covers the 5-digit AF reefers.

American Flyer Collector's Column

The author covers the two unique numbering systems Gilbert used between 1956-57 and 1962-63 for cars and locomotives. Includes several photos of cars.

American Flyer Collector's Column

The author covers the L-series locomotives and the C-series cars produced by Gilbert between 1962 and 1964.

American Flyer Collector's Column

The author starts a two-parts series on rare locomotives. He first defines what is "rare", and how to evaluate it. Next, he covers the A.C. Gilbert #299, #375, and #21161.

American Flyer Collector's Column

In this installment, the author covers these five A.C. Gilbert engines: #21099, 21115, 21129, 21139, and 21140.

American Flyer Collector's Column

The author covers the #24450 American Flyer Trail Blazer Freight set, and the #24470 New York Central Pacemake Freight set. Includes photos of some of the cars in the sets, and of several very rare models.

American Flyer Collector's Column

The author covers the rare items A.C. Gilbert produced in 1958.

American Flyer Collector's Column

The author covers the A.C. Gilbert A.F. non-operating knuckle couplers and the cars and locomotives that utilized them. Includes photos of some of the cars mentioned.

American Flyer Collector's Column

This column covers a number of different answers to questions posted by readers.

American Flyer Collector's Column

In this column the author answers a number of readers' questions.

American Flyer Collector's Column

This is the first of two columns on the topic of American Flyer catalogs.

American Flyer Collector's Column

This column covers the various A.C. Gilbert A.F. catalogs from 1950 to 1967.

American Flyer Collector's Column

Covers the question about the wattage rating of the #22034 transformer, the validity of #24127, how the load was fastened to a #24578, and the author asks for help from his readers.

American Flyer Collector's Column

With this article, the author intends to start covering figures and action figures in AF equipment. This installment covers their introduction, and competition with Lionel's inclusion of figures. Includes a photo of large number of AF figures, as well as a listing of figures.

American Flyer Collector's Column

This column covers the AF #740 and #742 handcars, and the various rolling stock that came with figures inside.

American Flyer Collector's Column

This column continues to cover various A.F. action cars.

American Flyer Collector's Column

In this column, the author answers a number of questions he has received.

American Flyer Collector's Column

The author continues his series on American Flyer accessories kits.

American Flyer Collector's Column

This column starts covering A.F. accessories that include figures, including #584, #758, #770, and #766.

American Flyer Collector's Column

The author discusses the postwar AF cabooses.

American Flyer Collector's Column

The author discusses the AF F9 diesel locomotives.

American Flyer Collector's Column

The author covers the Sharon Bolt & Screw Company which makes items for use with AF trains and Erector sets. Also covered is a follow-up on the A.C. Gilbert sunglasses.

American Flyer Collector's Column

The author discusses the undocumented "All Aboard" set, called "1 No. 26123 4 Unit All Aboard Scenic Layout". Includes photos.

American Flyer Collector's Column

This column covers 20 questions posed by reader Elliott Yolles.

American Flyer Collector's Column

This column is part 1 of 2 covering the A.C. Gilbert gondolas.

American Flyer Collector's Column

The author continues his discussion of AF gondolas.

American Flyer Collector's Column

The author covers 6 rare accessories that appeared in the 1946-47 A.C. Gilbert American Flyer catalog.

American Flyer Collector's Column

The author starts a series of articles about unique and cool items that A.C. Gilbert produced. This issue covers the #11 Circuit Breaker, the #300 Atlantic, the #632 hopper, the #700 track, and the #705 Remote Control Uncoupler.

American Flyer Collector's Column

The author continues to share some of his favorite A.C. Gilbert items from 1948/49, and starts on some from 1950/51. Includes photos of the items.

American Flyer Collector's Column Part 1

The author starts his discussion about the AF tank cars.

American Flyer Collector's Column Part II

The author discusses the tank cars.

American Flyer Features

The author travels for his job, so he has been able to get a glimpse of AF collecting from all of the country, which he shares in this article.

Be Safe, Be Organized - Inventory Your Equipment!

The author describes his system for keeping track of his model railroading inventory.

Beware of Alleged American Flyer Mail Scam

A warning about a "Linda Benson" of Henderson, Nevada selling cheap products as valued American Flyer products via mail order.

Collecting 'S' Scale Brass

People who collect brass model may not be model railroaders. The article also covers why brass is sought after, what to collect, how to purchase and protect the collection.

Collecting AF Via Train Lists

This article describes the author's recommended approach to starting to collect American Flyer items.

Improve Profits Was the Watch Word at Gilbert

This article covers other items produced by A.C. Gilbert.

Meet Your Fellow Collector

Several collectors are profiled in this article.

President's Message

This column covers the upcoming LSR convention, the local elections, and the author's thoughts on why he keeps buying kits that he'll never get around to building.

Standard Gauge S Scale Brass List

All the known S-scale cars and engines produced up to that time in brass.

The Collector

The author shares his believes that the A.F. collector is the one who has kept S-scale alive over the years.

The Market for Brass

The author expects brass prices to fall as lots of older people pass away, flooding the market.

The Mysterious and Rare American Flyer Sets #46221 and #4624

Details and history about these two train sets. Includes photos and parts lists.

The Roundhouse

The author describes things to do to fix an AF whistling billboard accessory, the revolving aircraft beacon, and provides some hints for other accessories that need simple repairs.

The Roundhouse

The author answers a few reader questions.

Things That I Collect

How we as humans tend to collect things, even things that don't have anything to do with trains.

Uncataloged Flyer Sets

The author describes two uncataloged sets he purchased.