model freight car origiin
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Tony Thompson
List members, I have two ancient flat cars, both the same, with a wood body, cast (Zamac?) underframe, and a steel sheet body wrapped around the wood. The plastic AB brake parts look like what Varney later supplied, so I surmise that these were early Varney products. But one source suggested to me that Athearn also once had a similar flat car.
Photo of underbody below. The stake pockets are pressed out from the side sill, and are rounded, not square at all. My two cars are both black, B&O and B&LE. Does anyone know the origin of these cars? Tony 
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Benjamin Hom
Tony Thompson asked:
"List members, I have two ancient flat cars, both the same, with a wood body, cast (Zamac?) underframe, and a steel sheet body wrapped around the wood. The plastic AB brake parts look like what Varney later supplied, so I surmise that these were early Varney products. But one source suggested to me that Athearn also once had a similar flat car. "Photo of underbody below. The stake pockets are pressed out from the side sill, and are rounded, not square at all. My two cars are both black, B&O and B&LE. Does anyone know the origin of these cars?"  Varney. Excerpt from a 1950 Varney brochure downloaded from the HO Seeker website attached for reference showing the parts of the kit. Athearn metal flatcar instruction sheet (also from HO Seeker) included for reference; note the separate stamped metal strip for the stake pockets and underframe construction similar to the Athearn metal house car kits. Ben Hom _._,_._,_ V
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Paul Koehler
Tony:
I had one just like that years ago, I think yours is one of the early Athearns.
Paul C. Koehler
From: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io <main@RealSTMFC.groups.io> On Behalf Of Tony Thompson
Sent: Friday, August 21, 2020 6:36 PM To: RealSTMFC@groups.io Subject: [RealSTMFC] model freight car origiin
List members, I have two ancient flat cars, both the same, with a wood body, cast (Zamac?) underframe, and a steel sheet body wrapped around the wood. The plastic AB brake parts look like what Varney later supplied, so I surmise that these were early Varney products. But one source suggested to me that Athearn also once had a similar flat car. Photo of underbody below. The stake pockets are pressed out from the side sill, and are rounded, not square at all. My two cars are both black, B&O and B&LE. Does anyone know the origin of these cars?
Tony
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Tony Thompson
No, the kit instructions for the two companies are distinctly different, and it's a Varney. I admit I hadn't thought of searching on the web for old kit instructions. Tony Thompson
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Paul Koehler
Tony:
After seeing Ben’s response with the instruction I agree. It’s a Varney.
Paul C. Koehler
From: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io <main@RealSTMFC.groups.io> On Behalf Of Tony Thompson
Sent: Friday, August 21, 2020 11:41 PM To: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io Subject: Re: [RealSTMFC] model freight car origiin
No, the kit instructions for the two companies are distinctly different, and it's a Varney. I admit I hadn't thought of searching on the web for old kit instructions.
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Dave Pfeiffer
Maybe early Mantua kits?
Dave Pfeiffer
From: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io <main@RealSTMFC.groups.io>
On Behalf Of Tony Thompson
List members, I have two ancient flat cars, both the same, with a wood body, cast (Zamac?) underframe, and a steel sheet body wrapped around the wood. The plastic AB brake parts look like what Varney later supplied, so I surmise that these were early Varney products. But one source suggested to me that Athearn also once had a similar flat car. Photo of underbody below. The stake pockets are pressed out from the side sill, and are rounded, not square at all. My two cars are both black, B&O and B&LE. Does anyone know the origin of these cars?
Tony
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Tony Thompson
Dave Pfeiffer wrote:
No, definitely Varney. Ben Hom's reply is clear. Tony Thompson
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Donald B. Valentine <riverman_vt@...>
The heck of it, Ben, is that when compared to Athearn Blue Box kits 15 years later at $1.69 these Early Varney kits were expensive for their era. Oh well, at least one had a steel box car with operating doors and scale tracks that operated without gross “claws” on the bottom.
Cordially, Don Valentine
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John
I'm very glad to see this information. I have one, complete with the folded paper crates shown in the Varney brochure (and X2f couplers) that was my dad's. I never knew who made it. Since Dad spent all his working years at Chrysler, I suspect that is why he bought it. Thanks for sharing.
John Bopp Farmington Hills, MI
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