Sunday, May 25, 2014
A Beautiful Late Spring Day
Sunny & Warm
I always find coincidences "interesting" for lack of a better word (for now). I received an e-mail yesterday from Mr. John Armstrong. He's a fine toy builder who is on Etsy. For those who don't know, Etsy is a very interesting website for artists and craftspeople who make things with their hands. Sometimes they even have antique toys for sale. In the case of John, he builds wood toys for children.
The coincidence was that John wrote to comment about how I was as I wasn't blogging quite so often recently, while at he same time, my wife and I were having to figure out what to do with out staircase that leads from our sunroom to the patio. Both are hands-on work working with wood.
The staircase is one of my spring projects, and I've probably replaced almost 80% of it. The problem is that living in Quebec, the weather is extreme. Consequently even with cedar, pressure-treated wood, and high-quality paint, the wood will rot! Also, since the staircase was built when wood dimensions were exact (e.g. a 2" x 4" x 10' was exactly 2" x 4" x 10') as recently as 1992, my "repairs" have made the staircase totally out of proportion. Treads and risers are all sizes, and the staircase tilts. A 2" x 4" x 10' now is really a 1 3/4" x 3 3/4" x 10'.
And so, I decided that "this was it", and I'd be hiring a carpenter to do the work! I had removed 2 entire steps and supports, bought lots of wood, and the "final straw" was when a 2" x 8" x 10' pressure-treated piece of wood smashed my windshield, after I closed the trunk of my car. That wasn't yet the end. The top of the staircase had carpenter ants or flying ants. So my wife changed her mind several times. Replace some steps, rebuild the entire staircase, remove the entire staircase, and back again to just replace some steps. The even bigger problem is our sunroom - a huge project!
So when John wrote, I know I had an introduction for today's post. When I went to visit Aero1Toys on Etsy, I was very pleasantly surprised. The cars and engines now have nice decals that John prints out, and then seals them with a water-based poly to protect the toys and decals from scratches.
Inspired by the HUGE steam locomotives of the 1940s, at the end of the steam-powered era, GOLIATH is my largest and most powerful locomotive. This engine is all business, and with a smooth, crisp, Art Deco look.
The GOLIATH is painted with the markings of the A.B.C. & X.Y.Z. Railroad. The A.B.C. & X.Y.Z. of course being the Atlanta, Burlington, Chicago and Xenia, Youngstown, Zanesville Railroad.
The body of the engine is 6 ½ inches long and the body of the tender is 3 ½ inches long. Total length of the set (including fasteners) is 11 inches long. The wheels for GOLIATH are specially chosen for their dark, smoky look. As large as it is, GOLIATH will still interact nicely with all my other train cars.
Part of a line of traditional floor trains. These trains are slightly larger than, and do not interact with foreign manufactured train sets, such as Thomas and Brio, that require wooden tracks. The cars are connected with a hook and loop system. This permits longer trains to be made up and when played with can make a pleasant “clicking” sound, reminiscent of real railroad cars.
WARNING: Choking Hazard, small parts. Not for children under three years of age.
Like all trains of this size and type, these trains are not recommended for children under three years of age due to the use of small parts, which may pose a choking hazard. Any finishes used are lead free.
A Beautiful Late Spring Day
Sunny & Warm
I always find coincidences "interesting" for lack of a better word (for now). I received an e-mail yesterday from Mr. John Armstrong. He's a fine toy builder who is on Etsy. For those who don't know, Etsy is a very interesting website for artists and craftspeople who make things with their hands. Sometimes they even have antique toys for sale. In the case of John, he builds wood toys for children.
The coincidence was that John wrote to comment about how I was as I wasn't blogging quite so often recently, while at he same time, my wife and I were having to figure out what to do with out staircase that leads from our sunroom to the patio. Both are hands-on work working with wood.
The staircase is one of my spring projects, and I've probably replaced almost 80% of it. The problem is that living in Quebec, the weather is extreme. Consequently even with cedar, pressure-treated wood, and high-quality paint, the wood will rot! Also, since the staircase was built when wood dimensions were exact (e.g. a 2" x 4" x 10' was exactly 2" x 4" x 10') as recently as 1992, my "repairs" have made the staircase totally out of proportion. Treads and risers are all sizes, and the staircase tilts. A 2" x 4" x 10' now is really a 1 3/4" x 3 3/4" x 10'.
And so, I decided that "this was it", and I'd be hiring a carpenter to do the work! I had removed 2 entire steps and supports, bought lots of wood, and the "final straw" was when a 2" x 8" x 10' pressure-treated piece of wood smashed my windshield, after I closed the trunk of my car. That wasn't yet the end. The top of the staircase had carpenter ants or flying ants. So my wife changed her mind several times. Replace some steps, rebuild the entire staircase, remove the entire staircase, and back again to just replace some steps. The even bigger problem is our sunroom - a huge project!
So when John wrote, I know I had an introduction for today's post. When I went to visit Aero1Toys on Etsy, I was very pleasantly surprised. The cars and engines now have nice decals that John prints out, and then seals them with a water-based poly to protect the toys and decals from scratches.
#5205 GOLIATH locomotive
Inspired by the HUGE steam locomotives of the 1940s, at the end of the steam-powered era, GOLIATH is my largest and most powerful locomotive. This engine is all business, and with a smooth, crisp, Art Deco look.
The GOLIATH is painted with the markings of the A.B.C. & X.Y.Z. Railroad. The A.B.C. & X.Y.Z. of course being the Atlanta, Burlington, Chicago and Xenia, Youngstown, Zanesville Railroad.
The body of the engine is 6 ½ inches long and the body of the tender is 3 ½ inches long. Total length of the set (including fasteners) is 11 inches long. The wheels for GOLIATH are specially chosen for their dark, smoky look. As large as it is, GOLIATH will still interact nicely with all my other train cars.
Part of a line of traditional floor trains. These trains are slightly larger than, and do not interact with foreign manufactured train sets, such as Thomas and Brio, that require wooden tracks. The cars are connected with a hook and loop system. This permits longer trains to be made up and when played with can make a pleasant “clicking” sound, reminiscent of real railroad cars.
WARNING: Choking Hazard, small parts. Not for children under three years of age.
Like all trains of this size and type, these trains are not recommended for children under three years of age due to the use of small parts, which may pose a choking hazard. Any finishes used are lead free.
I decided to select the Goliath # 5205 locomotive description and present that as a representative example for the description of most of John's railway engines and cars.
John takes lots of nice photographs of his merchandise. In keeping with my recent presentations, I removed John's coloured backgrounds and placed the toys on white.
The 5141 Ice Cream Car
Total length (4" including the fastener).
The actual car length is 3" long x 2 1/8" tall (76 mm x 54 mm)
I like the bright selection of colours for these toys.
# 5101 Coal Car
Total length with fastener or metal eyelet: 4" 102mm
Length x Height: 3" x 1 5/8" ( 76 mm x 42 mm)
#592 Open Box Car
Total length with fastener or metal eyelet: 4" 102mm
The actual car length is 3" long x 2 1/8" tall (76 mm x 54 mm)
# 5223 Soybean Car
Total length (4" including the fastener).
The actual car length is 3" long x 2 1/8" tall (76 mm x 54 mm)
# 5113 Egg Car
Total length (4" including the fastener).
The actual car length is 3" long x 2 1/8" tall (76 mm x 54 mm)
# 5124 Water Car
# 5124 Water Car
Total length (4" including the fastener).
The actual car length is 3" long x 2 " tall (76 mm x 51 mm)
# 5232 Orange Car
Total length (4" including the fastener).
The actual car length is 3" long x 2 1/8" tall (76 mm x 54 mm)
# 5118 Oil Tank Car
Total length (4" including the fastener).
The actual car length is 3" long x 2 " tall (76 mm x 51 mm)
#5122 Livestock Car
Total length (4" including the fastener).
The actual car length is 3" long x 2 1/8" tall (76 mm x 54 mm)
John's most recent toys are still the same shape, but now they have more decals that present the many different variety of cars that one sees if you live near a railroad track.
Now if I might just invite John up here to Montreal to work on those steps!
My steps are just a "bit" larger than these fine toys, aren't they?
And I have some fence work to redo also!
Thanks for dropping by,
and as always,
have a great part of the day or night,
wherever you may be,
Stacey
toysearcher@gmail.com
