Collecting American Flyer Toy Trains
[mage source="flickr"]Collecting American Flyer Toy Trains[/mage]
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Inside CTT’s October 2010 issue

Ask any passionate collector of toy trains about American Flyer, and chances are they’ll be able to converse about these classic toy trains for hours. That’s because American Flyer is a tradition in the creation of toy trains and has been for years. Since the beginning of the 1900′s, American Flyer has been producing elite toy trains and brought smiles to the faces of millions of people who received them as presents or heirlooms. A truly exclusive find in toy train systems, American Flyer continues to be a top name in toy trains and continues to bring joy to today’s children and collectors.

American Flyer toy trains began as an idea to develop a clockwork motor for toy cars in 1901 by a man named William Fredrick Hafner. In 1905, he created a train that could be operated by a clockwork motor on O gauge track. After receiving numerous requests and finances for orders, Hafner enlisted the assistance of his friend, William Coleman. They began producing these new models of toy trains. At this time, Coleman had taken over full control of Edmonds-Metzel Hardware Company, who had experienced economic hardship in 1906. The two friends without delay started to produce toy trains by using the surplus manufacturing prospective of Edmonds-Metzel. The production was a success, and by 1910 Edmonds-Metzel left the hardware business and changed its name to American Flyer. Originally American Flyer toy trains were thought to be generic in comparison to its competitor manufacturer, Ives.

A basic search of the internet will provide one with a complete listing of where to find and purchase American Flyer toy trains and accessories. You’ll find numerous options for attending shows and conventions that bear American Flyer trains and you’ll find several items up for bid at certain eBay stores. The prices of American Flyer toys range from $20 for accessories to $500+ for toy trains, box cars, cabooses, and tank cars. Once you discover a collectible from American Flyer, it can be a quite addicting hobby to purchase more pieces and accessories for your collection!

Collecting American Flyer Toy Trains

Treasure Hunters Roadshow

The Treasure Hunters Roadshow is hot on the trail for treasures. You may have some valuable items lying around that could bring you some instant extra cash. At times you may just bag all of that old stuff up and hull it to the junk yard or give it away, but you may want to think twice before you put it in the bag. Treasure Hunters Roadshow has been surprising folks all across this USA.

What kind of items are they looking for? Well take a look below abd see if you have any collecting dust. Treasure Hunters Roadshow have a map and it just may lead them to your city.

Precious Metals

* Gold Coins – Including $20, $10, $5, $2 1/2, $1 private gold, etc.
* Investment Gold – Krugerrands, Canadian Maple Leafs, Pandas, gold bars, etc.
* Scrap Gold – Broken and unused jewelry, dental gold, scrap gold, bullion, etc.
* Silver – Anything made of platinum, silver flatware, tea sets, goblets, jewelry, etc. Anything marked sterling.
* Coins – Any and all coins, both U.S. and foreign, made before 1965, rare coins, coin collections, silver dollars, half dollars, quarters, dimes, half dimes, nickels, three cent pieces, two cent pieces, cents, large cents, 1/2 cents, all others.
* Platinum – Anything made of platinum.
* Currency or Paper Money – All denominations, both U.S. and foreign made before 1934.

Jewelry

* Jewelry / Precious Stones – Vintage jewlery, modern jewelry, diamond rings, broaches, bracelets, earrings, loose diamonds, ruby’s, sapphires, emeralds, all gemstones, rare vintage costume jewelry, etc.
* Watches – Wrist watches; Rolex, Tiffany, Hublot, Omega, Chopard, Cartier, Patek Philippe, Ebel, Waltham, Swatch, all makers. Pocket watches; Chopard, Elgin, Bunn Special, Railroad, Illinois, Hamilton, all others.

Collector Items

* Toys – All toys made before 1965 , pedal cars, banks, push toys, tractors, Hot Wheels, Tonka trucks, Buddy L, Smith Miller, Nylint, robots, battery toys, Mickey Mouse and all others. need to be in B to A++ condition.
* Dolls – Character dolls, German dolls, vintage Barbie, vintage G.I. Joe, Shirley Temple etc.
* Trains – Lionel, American Flyer, Marklin, Hafner, Train sets, accessories, individual cars, all gauge scales.
* Musical Instruments – Pre – 70’s electric and acoustic guitars, clarinets, drum sets, saxophones, etc.
* Tiffany – Items signed by LCT, lamps, vases, art glass, etc..
* Advertising Memorabilia – Petroleum, beverage company, Porcelain and metal signs, beer and liquor makers, automobile, implements, famous brands, signs, store promotions, serving trays, outdoor thermometers, jukeboxes, game machines, coin scales, vintage telephones, barber poles, gas pumps, etc.
* Military Items – Civil War, World War I, World War II, and all other items like swords, daggers, bayonets, etc.

Basically anything old, we want to see it -

About the Author

Matthew represents thousands of collectors around the world looking for all types of antiques and collectibles. Treasure Hunters Roadshow represents these private collectors who are actively seeking items for their collection.

Inside CTT’s October 2010 issue

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