Thanks for sharing Brian. Thanks also to the others that have shared their collections. I often wonder how many of the dealer display layouts actually still exist today. The Lionel team was pretty creative with the displays. They put a lot of action into a small space. At least the plans survived for many of them, so they can be somewhat recreated. The main issue would be finding the accessories. However, I'm willing to guess that Lionel or dealers sometimes switched thing around at times. When you look at the prices, those were quite a few dollars for the time. Lionel trains were not cheap. When I was going thru my dad's collection, I found some receipts for items he purchased and wondered how long he had to save to buy something. In the envelope was a receipt for a set of 2344 NYC F3's. He paid $37.50 for them in 1950.
Wow, 37.50 was a ton of money back then. Plus all the track, accessories and rolling stock. Yes, the displays were expensive, but helped sell trains and increase profits!. There are displays out there and I plan on showing as many as I can over time. Most collectors are pretty private, but they are willing to share on this platform. So some great stuff in the works! Thanks for the support. Brian
Great video! When I was a kid back in the 50s, My dad worked part time at a Sears store in Montgomery, Al. I vividly remember the operating train display they had there and what an impression it made on me. I guess that had something to do with me being a train nut now! I still have my first set, a Union Pacific 2023 freight set, boxes and all.
That is awesome, great memories. Don't you wish he brought them home when the season was over!!!. Love the old trains and glad you still play with trains. Enjoy!! Brian
My pleasure, love postwar Lionel trains and sharing some of the cool stuff out there!. If you haven't checked out the selection of 1 minute shorts, those are fun as well. Thanks for the comment. Brian.
Really great you have this and the knowledge to walk us through. The $$ back then were still substantial with that final large display being the equivalent of almost $3,300 today. They would sell most of the items when they ran out of inventory, but still an investment for them to make.
You are so right, was expensive, but when you broke out what you got for the money and how much it helped sell trains; totally worth it. Also, the displays are so cool!. Thanks. Brian.
Thank you. I have the D-147 layout, passed down from my brother. Many memories every time I use it or share it. I put some videos of it on youtube. I would love to lend it to a museum or special display function. I think all children would enjoy watching it operating.
That is super cool and such a great layout. Feel free to E-mail me about the layout, depending on where you live in the US, may get to make an episode out of it as well. Thanks for sharing. Brianstrainroom@gmail.com
Plan is to show as I can find and film them. Already shown the D265 from 1959, a D103 counter display and the D165 from 1956. Check out those episodes. More coming. Appreciate the comment and stay tuned! Brian
Yes, it was suggested to dealers to sell the layout at the end of the season to help recoup cost of the initial display. Anyone who wanted a working layout, but didn't have the time to build it, would have jumped on the chance to pick one up. Wired and ready to go. Typically the layouts were priced based on the accessories and track costs, so they were a deal when you broke down the cost of each display with everything on them. Thanks. Brian
Thanks for sharing Brian. Thanks also to the others that have shared their collections. I often wonder how many of the dealer display layouts actually still exist today. The Lionel team was pretty creative with the displays. They put a lot of action into a small space. At least the plans survived for many of them, so they can be somewhat recreated. The main issue would be finding the accessories. However, I'm willing to guess that Lionel or dealers sometimes switched thing around at times. When you look at the prices, those were quite a few dollars for the time. Lionel trains were not cheap. When I was going thru my dad's collection, I found some receipts for items he purchased and wondered how long he had to save to buy something. In the envelope was a receipt for a set of 2344 NYC F3's. He paid $37.50 for them in 1950.
Wow, 37.50 was a ton of money back then. Plus all the track, accessories and rolling stock. Yes, the displays were expensive, but helped sell trains and increase profits!. There are displays out there and I plan on showing as many as I can over time. Most collectors are pretty private, but they are willing to share on this platform. So some great stuff in the works! Thanks for the support. Brian
They had some amazing products back then!
Those displays are fascinating.
I totally agree. Love the layouts and displays to help sell trains. Thanks. Brian
Great video! When I was a kid back in the 50s, My dad worked part time at a Sears store in Montgomery, Al. I vividly remember the operating train display they had there and what an impression it made on me. I guess that had something to do with me being a train nut now! I still have my first set, a Union Pacific 2023 freight set, boxes and all.
That is awesome, great memories. Don't you wish he brought them home when the season was over!!!. Love the old trains and glad you still play with trains. Enjoy!! Brian
Excellent documentation of Lionel history. Really enjoying your channel!
My pleasure, love postwar Lionel trains and sharing some of the cool stuff out there!. If you haven't checked out the selection of 1 minute shorts, those are fun as well. Thanks for the comment. Brian.
Thanks for everyone sharing their trains and knowledge!
Yes, This project is possible with help from fellow collectors. Thanks everyone!. Brian
Really great you have this and the knowledge to walk us through. The $$ back then were still substantial with that final large display being the equivalent of almost $3,300 today. They would sell most of the items when they ran out of inventory, but still an investment for them to make.
You are so right, was expensive, but when you broke out what you got for the money and how much it helped sell trains; totally worth it. Also, the displays are so cool!. Thanks. Brian.
Thank you. I have the D-147 layout, passed down from my brother. Many memories every time I use it or share it. I put some videos of it on youtube. I would love to lend it to a museum or special display function. I think all children would enjoy watching it operating.
That is super cool and such a great layout. Feel free to E-mail me about the layout, depending on where you live in the US, may get to make an episode out of it as well. Thanks for sharing.
Brianstrainroom@gmail.com
Nice. A friend of mine, who is one of the top collectors in the country, always brings his D-133 to shows. It is pretty cool.
Agree, the D-133 is a great display, glad you friend shares it with other collectors. Thanks. Brian
These are fascinating. The only suggestion would be to find a couple of these to demonstrate operation with authentic period pieces.
Plan is to show as I can find and film them. Already shown the D265 from 1959, a D103 counter display and the D165 from 1956. Check out those episodes. More coming. Appreciate the comment and stay tuned! Brian
EXCELLENT suggestion, TOTALLY agree !
Very cool, I'll take one of those D-148s please lol. Nice find.
For Sure!. Love the old dealer layouts and displays. Appreciate the comment. Brian.
That was awesome !!!!!!
These are great catalogs and have such cool stuff in them. Thanks. Brian
Was it practice for dealers to sell Lionel's dealer displays to the public after Christmas for each years model year?
Yes, it was suggested to dealers to sell the layout at the end of the season to help recoup cost of the initial display. Anyone who wanted a working layout, but didn't have the time to build it, would have jumped on the chance to pick one up. Wired and ready to go. Typically the layouts were priced based on the accessories and track costs, so they were a deal when you broke down the cost of each display with everything on them. Thanks. Brian
THANKS FOR THE INFORMATION!
Do any of these dealer layouts exixt today@@BriansTrainRoom