1946 A.C. Gilbert A.F. Accessories

A.C. Gilbert

578

Accessory

Station Figure Set

1946

painted & lettered

A.C. Gilbert

581

Accessory

Girder Bridge

1946

painted & lettered

The #581 Girder Bridge was sold by Gilbert in 1946-56 and has five variations. The first sold in 1946-49 in black with "LACKAWANNA" stamped in silver on both sides as shown in the photos of a 1946 model as indicated by the presents of the early 1946 sticker on the bridge. In 1952, 1954, and 1956 the black 581 wording was changed from "LACKAWANNA" to "AMERICAN FLYER" creating the second variation. The third variation produced in 1951 is painted silver with black lettering that reads "LACKAWANNA". Finally the fourth variation is painted black with WHITE lettering that reads "AMERICAN FLYER LINES" and has the number "581" on both ends.

A.C. Gilbert

582

Accessory

Blinker Signal

1946

painted & lettered

Produced from 1946 to 1948.

A.C. Gilbert

584

Accessory

Bell Danger Signal

1946

painted & lettered

Produced from 1946 to 1947, this accessory was also produced as a pre-war item from 1940 to 1942. This accessory is covered in the Ted Hamler column of the January 2012 issue of the S Gaugian magazine.

A.C. Gilbert

588

Accessory

Semaphore Block Signal

1946

painted & lettered

The rarest accessory made by Gilbert, which according to Greenberg the #588 "Semaphore Block Signal" was offered from 1946-48. The #588 was first cataloged in 1946. However, it never appeared until the March 1948 Toy Fair. It is estimated that about 25 were made. Apparently, it did not work very well and there were not enough orders to warrant a full production run. Therefore, the project was scrapped and many of the parts were used for the 1949 #758 "Sam the Semaphore Man" accessory.

A.C. Gilbert

591

Accessory

Crossing Gate

1946

painted & lettered

The #591 has three variations that came with a #707 Track Terminal. The first variation, shown in the main photo, is an example of the 1946 model. The 1946 model has white and black stripes painted on a plastic roadway gate. The walkway gate is metal and is painted black. The rook on the small building is smooth and is painted green without a stack. The second variation, made after 1946, has black stripes painted on an aluminum roadway gate. The walkway gate is painted with white and black stripes. It also has a black-painted crackle-finished roof with a black stack. The third variation, also made after 1946, is like the second except the crackle-finished roof is painted light green.

A.C. Gilbert

594

Accessory

Animated Track Gang

1946

painted & lettered

Produced from 1946 to 1947, this accessory was also produced as a pre-war item from 1940 to 1942.

A.C. Gilbert

598

Accessory

Talking Station

1946

painted & lettered

Talking Station Record with Diesel Locomotive Sound. Produced from 1946 to 1956.

A.C. Gilbert

751

Accessory

Log Loader

1946

painted & lettered

The #751 Log Loader was produced from 1946 through 1950 and has one variation. Early units produced in 1946/47 have a yellow painted Bakelite base and a red painted Bakelite roof while the later units have a black painted Bakelite base and an unpainted Bakelite roof. The model shown in Photos #2 through #4 is from 1946. In the 1952 the 751 was modified and given the new catalog number 751A. One of the major differences is the base was changed from Bakelite to steel with a red Bakelite roof. Photo #4 shows the Log Loader with the 1946 #717 Log Unloading Flatcar and the #710 Special Track Section (these did not come with the #751).