Any toy steam engine collectors here?

Navy Chief · Apr 15, 2011

I have had this steam engine since I was a little boy. All the attachments for it have the original boxes.

Anyone know what it may be worth?

The steam engine works, but some seals need replacing.

NC

jhefner · Apr 15, 2011

Hi Navy Chief;
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Is that steam engine a Weeden? What brand are the attachments?
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I am not an expert on toy steam engines, but I do own a few. Your best bet is watch e-bay for a while, and see what they are commanding in regards to prices.
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The stationary engines do seem to command less than the movable engines like steam tractors, steam rollers, and steam waggons; while locomotives command even more. Vintage steam engines like yours command a little more than the Mamods and Wilesco you can still buy today. The engines that command top prices are the prewar engines built by German makers and Jensen engines; all were considered the finest built. Here is a website on the German engines at:
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http://johno.myiglou.com/steammain.html
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While Jensen has a nice company website on the web.
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If yours is a Weeden with all the bits in running order, my guess is in the neighborhood of $100. The steam accessories sold for less brand new; so I would think they would command less; but that may not be case due to their rarity. If yours is a Weeden, see if you can find it's model number on the following website; he gives quotes on past prices here:
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http://www.weedensteam.com/
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My first steam toy was a Mamod SR-1a steam roller. I don't have the details with here; but I think the box and other details dated it from the mid 1970s. I picked it up for $100 back in about 2002:
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I wanted a "beat up old Mamod" steam engine to put out in our garden, and let it gracefully age there; so I picked this SR-1 roller up on e-bay for $20.00. I later found out that it was built in 1962; the second year Mamod made the steam roller, and the first year after they moved. A mint condition SR-1 built in 1961 on e-bay helped me date mine; it sold for $200! Needless to say, it never found itself in the garden; it was in running order until the fitting for the whistle came loose; I didn't want to take a chance on messing up a vintage toy, so it sits on the shelf for now.
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This was another bargain engine on e-bay; I also bought it for $20.00. It is a Mamod SW-1 steam waggon; it too is from about the early 1970s; IIRC. Whoever owned it left it sitting on a shelf in a garage or barn with one side exposed to the elements, so it had some rust along one side. I was able to restore it to the condition you see here; it does run; though it takes a bit more fussing to get it to go.
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We used to live in a house that had a perfect garage for running them in; that is where these pictures were taken.
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Last year, my wife and I went to San Francisco for our 19th wedding anniversary. There, I met a contact I made at the San Francisco Maritime Museum; he gave me a tour of the machinery spaces in the museum's steamships that are normally not accessible to the public. We were also going to ride a steam train; though I ended up passing on that.
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The first place my contact brought us was to a Maritime antique museum. While browsing around, on a shelf with other steam engines, I saw a humble looking Weeden toy steam engine sitting there on a shelf minus a smokestack. (In the picture below, it is on the bottom shelf, on the left in the back.) He was asking $60 for it; my wife and I knew I found the perfect souvenir for the trip. We went back on the last day when we were picking up tee shirts a snow globe, and other mementos, purchased it, and had it shipped home.<o

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View attachment 35207

The above website had a replacement smokestack, but not the deadweight for the whistle, so I use a pair of washers. They also had a replacement mica sheet that fits over the heating coils to protect them from dripping water and oil. With everything in place, I coaxed it to life; years of deposits smell terrible when it first raises steam, but it runs great. With its large boiler, it easily runs for 20 minutes at time. It is very relaxing just watching it.
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We had an "old stuff" day at work last year; while others brought old computers and like stuff; my c.1935-1939 Weeden had them all beat. It impressed several of the judges (thought not enough to win anything.)
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>Another type of steam toy is the "pop-pop boat." They are truely steam powered, but have no moving parts. Like the other steam toys, they date back to the "Age of Steam" in the 1880s; and are still being made today in places like India.</o

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>I own the Titanic model below, built by a firm in India. It is as large as these pop-pop boats get.</o

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>And, there is a website that shows you how to make one using just materials you find around the house; no soldering or welding required. So, my son made one for his science project at school. He placed first in his catagory, and came within 0.5 points of third place in a regional science contest. We had a ball working on it together.</o

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>Thanks for bringing up a subject that is near and dear to me. There are lots of other websites and youtube videos if anyone wants to see them in action, or wants more information. The parting shot is of my son running my first Mamod Steam Roller when I first got it back in 2002.</o

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>-James Hefner (the builder of steam aircraft for FS)</o

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>Hebrews 10:20a</o

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>Surviving World Steam Project</o

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>International Stationary Steam Engine Society</o

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Navy Chief · Apr 15, 2011

Thanks James! Great pictures and information! I am not sure what the manufacturer of the steam engine is, but most likely Weeden. The toys that attach to were made by Fleischman. The countershaft was made by Wilesco.

Although the toys have a sentimental value to me, I am moving, and don't want to take things that will just end up in a closet.

NC

OleBoy · Apr 15, 2011

I don't know much of these particular type of toys, but they are interesting to see and reflect back on. I've still got many from back in the day that were wrapped, boxed and are tucked away. Some are displayed and collecting dust. And others I have went as far as making custom wooden cases for. For me, old toys are a part of my past enjoyment when I did not think even for a minute while playing in (was part of) the dirt and mud, (I was very young) when I walked through the door and tracked all my fun, all through the house. OH, MY MOTHER WAS FURIOUS!!! :icon_lol:

Navy Chief · Apr 15, 2011

I spoke to my sister a little while ago; she called from Indianapolis. Apparently her husband has a nephew who's wife is expecting very soon. A son. I may give this to him. Keep it in the family, and would mean a lot to him, am sure.

NC

Roadburner440 · Apr 15, 2011

NC trying to determine worth of something like this is really tricky.. Being into various hobbies and such going up it all depends on who you are trying to sell it to, and what it means to them... My brothers destroyed my Hess truck collection my parents bought me over the years every x-mas. A lot of people charge $60-$80 per truck, but I lucked out at a train show a month or so ago here in Jacksonville and a guy sold me all the ones I had and then some for $25 a piece.. Even gave me the last one for $11 since I could not withdraw over a certain amount from the ATM. It seems to me lately that things that were worth money when I was growing up are practically worthless now unless they are unopened new in the box or something.

Navy Chief · Apr 15, 2011

I wish I had one of these, even today!!! Mattel toys made a bazooka-looking type gun called the "Sonic Blaster". My neighbor had one, and it was AWESOME! But as soon as the warnings came out that it could destroy ear drums, his mom had it destroyed! I saw one on Ebay a couple years ago, and it was listed for $1200, new in the box! I have no doubt it got sold, eventually. Such a cool toy. No way it would make it to the market nowadays. We had some cool toys!!!

By the way, this is a young Kurt Russell in the video!!!

[YOUTUBE]7E1JO6bADeQ[/YOUTUBE]

Any toy steam engine collectors here?

Navy Chief

Senior Member

jhefner

Charter Member

Navy Chief

Senior Member

OleBoy

Charter Member 2015

Navy Chief

Senior Member

Roadburner440

Charter Member 2010

Navy Chief

Senior Member