Wanamaker's Dept. (Philadelphia) American Flyer Store Displays
Sep 22, 2019 19:25:53 #
Sep 23, 2019 05:38:28 #
DIRTY HARRY wrote:
http://www.americanflyerdisplays.org/department_store/wanamaker-phil.htm
I'M sorry, but this image just don't do a thing for me, nothing in the image is sharp and the contrast is very low.
Sep 23, 2019 06:30:13 #
I was a frequent visitor to Wanamaker’s train department at Christmas time in the the 1950’s - 1980’s. Thanks for sharing this, it brought back some great memories of simpler times.
Sep 23, 2019 07:45:44 #
exakta56
Loc: Orford,New Hampshire
DIRTY HARRY wrote:
http://www.americanflyerdisplays.org/department_store/wanamaker-phil.htm
Thanks for sharing these fine nostalgic photos. It is what they represent, not so much the quality of the photos that matters. The Gilbert science exhibit was hopefully, inspiring to the children of the times. Has anyone seen such an exhibit these days? All I see today, is our youth with their noses stuck in an I phone. I hope I am wrong.
Sep 23, 2019 07:52:20 #
I never entered that store, but I know I would have loved to see such a large display of American Flyer trains. They were great train sets back when. Thanks for the posting!
Sep 23, 2019 08:21:55 #
Nice reminder of the old days. I always thought it was odd that the two-rail system of American Flyer played second fiddle to Lionel's three rails.
Sep 23, 2019 08:22:37 #
Sep 23, 2019 08:26:53 #
Sep 23, 2019 09:13:12 #
You bring long ago memories to mind with the photo. We had AF trains that had it all over Lionel (third rail, really?). I digress. The Christmas light show was something to see there, too! Thanks.
Sep 23, 2019 09:14:44 #
DIRTY HARRY wrote:
http://www.americanflyerdisplays.org/department_store/wanamaker-phil.htm
Thank you for sharing the link also I looked at the video clip Date with the Angels it had Betty white . I was born in 1951 so I grew up in Texas but I still remember the trains and the displays in the stores during Christmas time those were the best of days thank you for sharing this .
Bruce
Sep 23, 2019 09:22:22 #
jerryc41 wrote:
Nice reminder of the old days. I always thought it was odd that the two-rail system of American Flyer played second fiddle to Lionel's three rails.
Jerry, two things to consider: 1) JLC was a marketing genius; 2) with 3-rail AC it is much easier to do sophisticated electrical tricks. For instance, a reversing loop on a 3-rail layout requires no special wiring, while 2-rail requires a method to reverse the electrical polarity once the train is within the loop. The method can be manually accomplished (easiest) or automatically (more difficult).
I have both an AF and an O scale 3-rail layout. The AF layout is dog bone shaped with a reversing loop at each end. Practically pulled my hair out installing automatic reversing components. This would be a no brainer for someone well versed in electricity or electronics.
Sep 23, 2019 09:44:10 #
DIRTY HARRY wrote:
http://www.americanflyerdisplays.org/department_store/wanamaker-phil.htm
Thanks for the memories. I was never in that store but back in Memphis we had Goldsmiths and Lowenstein stores that would put on elaborate displays similar to this at Christmas time. I can remember especially at Goldsmiths, how an area of the store was turned into a virtual winter wonderland. Now kids just want electronics!
Sep 23, 2019 10:21:51 #
DIRTY HARRY wrote:
http://www.americanflyerdisplays.org/department_store/wanamaker-phil.htm
Wow, Gilbert chemistry sets and Erector sets, those were the days.
Sep 23, 2019 10:21:56 #
bthomas42
Loc: North Ridgeville Ohio
Prior to 1941 American Flyer trains where O gauge the same as lionel. I have a an American Flyer from 1939 and a Lionel from 1948 that I put out every Christmas
Sep 23, 2019 10:49:20 #
Manglesphoto wrote:
If you had looked at the link posted by DIRTY HARRY you would see the photo was extracted from the link. On the link the photo was credited to somebody named Ray Morhlang. DIRTY probably included the photo in his post as a tease to get readers to click on the link. There were several other Ray Morhlang photos of Wanamaker's.I'M sorry, but this image just don't do a thing for me, nothing in the image is sharp and the contrast is very low.
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