Product Description
Author: Barker, Thomas B.
Brand: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
Edition: 4
Number Of Pages: 314
Details: Product Description Since Tom Barker published his first book on Gilbert American Flyer S Gauge operation and repair over 45 years ago, thousands of loyal Flyer Fans have used this book to preserve these fantastic testimonials to American ingenuity and manufacturing prowess. While these trains are 60 to 70 years old, they are still going strong because of a dedicated group devoted to their preservation. Tom hopes that his research and writing has helped in some small way to help these thousands of AF fans in their efforts. Now, in a giant single volume, Tom covers the fundamental aspects of problem diagnosis and repair. He lists the basic tools that need to be in your roundhouse to effectively keep your American Flyer S Gauge trains on the right track. This is the authoritative book on Gilbert AF Train repair. Not just a manual of parts, but a guide on how to actually take things apart and put them back together in excellent working order. In this, the Fourth Edition, Tom expands on the basics found in his first handmade book and adds his “tips” that range from the ever present problem of keeping track clean to the complete restoration of a Circus Train from junk box parts. The accessories section has been expanded to include the most popular of these operating marvels. If you find a broken sawmill, Tom’s step-by-step guidance will get it working on your layout. His philosophy has always been to use commonly available components to reconstruct and restore broken parts that are no longer available. (The Gilbert Factory closed in 1967). If you are new to operating and collecting Gilbert American Flyer S Gauge, welcome to a wonderful world! If you are a seasoned, experienced AF operator you will just love the compilation of information Tom has assembled. From the Author I first assembled my thoughts on Gilbert American Flyer train repair and restoration in the early 1970's, some years after the Gilbert Company had ceased operation. Up until then, the only "official" guide to the repair of these great model trains was a set of exploded diagrams with part numbers that were being circulated from photocopies of the originals. There was nothing on how to really fix these trains and the company was no longer there to supply replacement parts. My first AF Repair Book was a handmade compilation of the experience I had gained by fixing hundreds of engines and lots of accessories for a fellow collector who did not have the skill to do it himself. He "paid" me with 20% of what I worked on and that's how I built my collection - but what I really built was the knowledge base on how these trains worked and how to make them work again. Later, Greenberg Publishing asked me to have them print the book in a professional format which became the "First and Second" Editions. When Greenberg sold out to Kalmbach and the book inventory ran out, I obtained the rights back to my book. After ten years of supplying it in an electronic format, I discovered Amazon's Creatspace publishing arm and went to work revising and making the book live again. However, it was not just a reprint of the original with a new cover - it is a complete revision of the original work with over 80 new photographs and expanded and added chapters. All the original Gilbert instructions and diagrams have been reset in a more readable type and the entire book has been put into a larger font for easier reading. The Facebook AF group was very supportive in my efforts and five of the members volunteered to proof read the pages. I am so grateful for their help and support. Restoring AF by Gilbert is a labor of love and I hope my efforts have helped in this labor. About the Author Tom Barker's apprenticeship in American Flyer (AF) repair work began when he was eleven. He had found a 342 in an after Christmas Sale at the E. W. Edwards Department Store in Rochester, NY. The engine was broken - it had been purchased at half price of course because of its condition - and
Release Date: 04-05-2018
