Just saw this listed on CL. Gotta love the formica and stainless steel trim table, I wonder if this was made as a display piece or decoration? It would fit in to an old style diner's decor. I also wonder if this guy made this or is it was a commercial thing? Sure looks professional. Can you imagine the grief "Ops guys" would shower on this fella's layout plan if he posted it on a MRR forum today? It is located in Texas although he listed it here in Phoenix, click here to see the listing. He must be trying to reach out for a buyer, he is asking $1,000. A wee bit pricey but it sure is cool. I guess the two helix' could be separated and used to go up and down to a level on a layout, in case you don't own a diner to display it in.
The ops guys would probably be right, at least in their milieu. Otherwise, it's a wonderful bit of craftsmanship and design.
They would be right about what? I am fully aware that "Operations" have taken over the MRR hobby and that it is now the norm to be hyper-critical of any layout that does not look or operate "protoypically", but that does not make them "right". This idea that operations and/or realism is the only environment or genre for enjoying this hobby has gone a bit too far these days in my opinion. The reality is that a MRR layout is a personal thing and whatever someone chooses to make is right.
The ad says "dated prewar." Hmmm. Does not look to be that. It is interesting, but unless there is more than pictured, not for the price asked.
I was thinking the same thing. The materials used makes me think it was made in the 1950's. The formica and stainless steel look was around by the late 30's but certainly not in widespread use then.
I think the photo could easily be from the early or mid-40's. The diner décor is similar to what I remember during and right after WW-II. The recording disc on the wall appears to be an ET (Electrical Transcription) used to distribute 30 and 60 minute radio shows to franchised network stations. I played many ETs for my college radio station in the early 50s. IIRC, they were recorded at 16 RPM...quality was not an issue with radio back then. The track looks like O-Gauge Flex Track from GarGraves, which was founded in 1940, http://www.gargraves.com/.
I sure wish you'd have squirreled away a bunch of the old tme radio shows! There are so many episodes apparently unknown, (no examples existing- sadly), such as from Superman, Lone Ranger, etc. I get lost in listening to those for days at a time! Great stuff, simple and clean, which makes a person actually think and use their imagination.
Ken, I don't think GarGraves brought out their accessories until the late 50s or early 60s. IIRC, GarGraves Flex Track was the major, if not only competitor to Lionel's 0-27, 0, and 0-72 sectional track. GarGraves was designed to mate with Lionel's 0 and 0-72 switches and sectional track, which Marx did not.
Hee, Hee, I don't think the college would have taken kindly to my "squirreling away" some of their ETs.
Just to clarify something: The picture of the diner was just a random one I posted and is not associated with the helix track. The tables in that diner are a close match to the layout table, with red formica and SS trim. I was just demonstrating how the layout would fit in with that style of decor as it was the first thing that popped into my mind when I saw this. Edit to add: Here is a link to where the diner pic came from. It was called the Metro Diner and was in Tulsa OK and was built in the 80's and closed in '06. Sorry for any confusion adding that pic to my original post may have caused.
Aha, it now comes out. Therefore, you shall submit to 50 lashes with a wet noodle until your eyes narrow with pain....LOL
Hank- What I am seeing are a couple of post-War Lionel accessories, such as the station. (Cannot think of the catalog number right now.) It has a track which there should have been a baggage cart, that would have vibrated it's way out of one door, around the platform, and into the other door.
OK. Memory clouds have cleared a bit- I am recalling this as a #356 Operating Freight Station. Made from early to just after mid-1950's. There was also a non-operating version, the #256.
