S-Gaugers, Warning! - This posting is a little long, but I tried to be as informative as possible to get educated feedback. As usual, any input, opinions, experience, or suggestions (even flames and jokes) on the following topics would be welcome. Topic: This posting has to deal with * A Gilbert American Flyer store display set * Questions on how to ship such a set * How Gilbert originally shipped, assembled and stored such store display sets * If its not feasible, then best way to market such a set * URL pictures to the display set to educate responders History: At my parents house in Rochester NY is a1957 AF Christmas store display set that my father bought on Christmas Eve of that year from a downtown department store (Sibley's). I restored it to operable condition in the mid 70's and then headed off to college, graduated and settled out of NYS. Currently, I am in Texas (DFW for last 11 years) for most of my career. "Moving on up...going to a deluxe apartment in the sky...": My parents are seniors that are going to change their lifestyle by moving to easier living in an apartment tower and therefore are planning to sell their house. The train set is in a very nice attic scenario at their long time residence and is used by my father to occasionally entertain his grandchildren. We had it under lock and key, and most grandchildren live outside his hometown, so he would operate it with them on their occasional visits. The problem: He does not plan to take the set with him when he down sizes his dwelling and has offered it to me since I restored it years ago, have kept it running during infrequent holiday visits and have a hobby interest in collecting toy trains that developed out of years of playing with the set as a child. Questions: Have any of you ever shipped or know of anyone who has shipped a train set like this across country? Are there special folks who move such things or is it just major movers such as Allied or Atlas that you would use? I wonder how Gilbert shipped these things to department stores to display for Christmas. Did the stores set up and store these display sets or did the sales reps? What was done with the sets in off-season or if they didn't sell? I do know he told me he offered the store half price at 3:00 PM Christmas eve day - if they would deliver it that day. They delivered it at 6:00 PM and he finished setting it up that Christmas eve. So, I have to believe that the store was not motivated to store the set in the off season or did it go back to Gilbert? The set splits in half (bolted), has removable legs and has the following dimensions: 4.5' X 9' Of course the equipment on the set (including the tunnel) can be taken off, boxed and shipped separately. The track would be left on the top since it is secure to the board plywood board. I am even considering removing the set sides (nailed on) to just ship the plywood set top with track. The original sides or new ones could be put back on when the set is re-set up. I'm not sure if there any unforeseen issues with such an approach.(?) I currently don't have the room to operate it (it would stay stored for awhile). I'm in a situation whereby I wouldn't have room for about a few more years. I think we've all been there at one time or another - no cellars and no finished stand up attics in Texas! If logistically moving it, the cost of moving it is too much or my current lack of space situation to store it or run it is not feasible, we will also contemplating selling it. If that is what it unfortunately comes down too - What would be the most effective way to market such a set? I don't think a moving garage sale is the way to go... but I don't know. I'm going up during spring break in early March to discuss alternatives for the set with my father. Pictures: Our friend Paul Yorke and the S-Scalers let me use their photo galley at: http://66.246.35.207/~pyorke/albums/view_album.php?set_albumName=album80 See the album named Gilbert AF Store Display Set Direct Look: Pick the right door to see the Gilbert Flyer Store display Set - One, two or three: :>) http://66.246.35.207/~pyorke/albums/albums/album80/01_G.jpg http://66.246.35.207/~pyorke/albums/albums/album80/02_G.jpg http://66.246.35.207/~pyorke/albums/albums/album80/03_G.jpg <http://66.246.35.207/~pyorke/albums/albums/album80/01_G.jpg> http://66.246.35.207/~pyorke/albums/albums/album80/04_G.jpg <http://66.246.35.207/~pyorke/albums/albums/album80/01_G.jpg> http://66.246.35.207/~pyorke/albums/albums/album80/05_G.jpg <http://66.246.35.207/~pyorke/albums/albums/album80/01_G.jpg> http://66.246.35.207/~pyorke/albums/albums/album80/06_G.jpg <http://66.246.35.207/~pyorke/albums/albums/album80/01_G.jpg> http://66.246.35.207/~pyorke/albums/albums/album80/07_G.jpg <http://66.246.35.207/~pyorke/albums/albums/album80/01_G.jpg> http://66.246.35.207/~pyorke/albums/albums/album80/08_G.jpg <http://66.246.35.207/~pyorke/albums/albums/album80/01_G.jpg> http://66.246.35.207/~pyorke/albums/albums/album80/09_G.jpg <http://66.246.35.207/~pyorke/albums/albums/album80/01_G.jpg> http://66.246.35.207/~pyorke/albums/albums/album80/10_G.jpg As usual, any input, opinions, experience, or suggestions on the above topics would be welcome. Thank You, Scott Dee
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