It’s very rare to get scribed numbers on models they are usually either moulded or stamped they don’t look original to me they look more like someones licence number! But I could be wrong just a thought.
Some thoughts about identification...Tenshodo Big Boy 4 8 8 4. 4002
Some of you may have heard the terms " Hens Teeth ' and " squeezing blood from a turnup " well, thats what one gets it seems when asking questions about anything OLD but more specifically about early Tenshodo Brass Model 4 8 8 4 Steam Engines.
The question is having to do with my engines serial number identification...does it have one and what does it mean?
Apparently it's a very simple yet hard for anyone to say in words, discription of the perverbial meaning as such for this particular engine.
My Tenshodo is a UP 4 8 8 4, # 4002 dual can motored engine. On the brass panel of the cabin
is stamped and painted over a three digit number ( 101 ).
I have been to more than a few websites looking to find an answer and have come to a conclusion, right or wrong here is what I found with the persistence of a few out there telling me to check it out with no more detail than to make a comparrision between my engine and the ones I will see.
Knowing a bit of the history beginning sometime in the early part of 1950, Tenshodo built as stated " The Rolls Royce quality of Locomotives of their time " refering to the extreme detail and perfection to not only look but acual opperation as to the REAL engines with great acuracy. Tenshodo also hand stamped some of their product with a number validating the series built by seccession ( 1, 2, 3 etc. ). One of the engines I say was classified as a 1958. The number stamped on the cabin back plate was simply a ( 1 )...on anotherr engine appearing to be a 1960 model was stamped with a ( 9 1 ). There was a third sample, if my memory serves me date a 1961 the stamped number was ( 1 3 0 ).
All this seems rather fundimental but there appears no way to distinguish which batch of any year group they represent.
Later models 1963> either had no marking or simply labels.
Confused? Me too! What I suupose it comes down to is engineering, during specific years, what motors were used, how many, were the driver sets aticulated or fixed. There really does not seem to be any detail of this information in a single page or book discription though most seem to hint there is, I just have not found it.
The reason for wanting to know this is as many others too would need to know...for wanting to run the train on a track and not damage it for being ignorant of the correct procedures. There is no luxury if failure is the result.
It is interesting thinking that my engine could be 65 years old, but just knowing that is not a satisflying result without substantiated proof...like most things we humans make and can place our hands on this is not about " look at what I have got " I am trying to educate myself and become aware to the things that will preserve it, with this ancient of the model railroad designs something I can share with my family and anyone willing to ask about it. Plus I just love trains and this one mostly due to the Union Pacific revitlizing the 4014 and my interest in the BIG BOY with my childlike excitement. By the way, I'm 70 years old.
The question is having to do with my engines serial number identification...does it have one and what does it mean?
Apparently it's a very simple yet hard for anyone to say in words, discription of the perverbial meaning as such for this particular engine.
My Tenshodo is a UP 4 8 8 4, # 4002 dual can motored engine. On the brass panel of the cabin
is stamped and painted over a three digit number ( 101 ).
I have been to more than a few websites looking to find an answer and have come to a conclusion, right or wrong here is what I found with the persistence of a few out there telling me to check it out with no more detail than to make a comparrision between my engine and the ones I will see.
Knowing a bit of the history beginning sometime in the early part of 1950, Tenshodo built as stated " The Rolls Royce quality of Locomotives of their time " refering to the extreme detail and perfection to not only look but acual opperation as to the REAL engines with great acuracy. Tenshodo also hand stamped some of their product with a number validating the series built by seccession ( 1, 2, 3 etc. ). One of the engines I say was classified as a 1958. The number stamped on the cabin back plate was simply a ( 1 )...on anotherr engine appearing to be a 1960 model was stamped with a ( 9 1 ). There was a third sample, if my memory serves me date a 1961 the stamped number was ( 1 3 0 ).
All this seems rather fundimental but there appears no way to distinguish which batch of any year group they represent.
Later models 1963> either had no marking or simply labels.
Confused? Me too! What I suupose it comes down to is engineering, during specific years, what motors were used, how many, were the driver sets aticulated or fixed. There really does not seem to be any detail of this information in a single page or book discription though most seem to hint there is, I just have not found it.
The reason for wanting to know this is as many others too would need to know...for wanting to run the train on a track and not damage it for being ignorant of the correct procedures. There is no luxury if failure is the result.
It is interesting thinking that my engine could be 65 years old, but just knowing that is not a satisflying result without substantiated proof...like most things we humans make and can place our hands on this is not about " look at what I have got " I am trying to educate myself and become aware to the things that will preserve it, with this ancient of the model railroad designs something I can share with my family and anyone willing to ask about it. Plus I just love trains and this one mostly due to the Union Pacific revitlizing the 4014 and my interest in the BIG BOY with my childlike excitement. By the way, I'm 70 years old.
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Have you tried to get in touch with Tenshodo in Japan they might have the answer here is a link
www.tenshodo-global.net
Model Trains | Tenshodo
www.tenshodo-global.net
Thank you.Have you tried to get in touch with Tenshodo in Japan they might have the answer here is a link
Model Trains | Tenshodo
My type O...my engine as you might see reads ( 1 0 1 ) as I mentioned others have stated that the number die stamped on the cab could be a series number but no one has yet stepped up and deffinitively stated beyond any doubt that it truely is as such. I have seen early models with single digits and paired numbers, one particular showed a ( 1 3 1 ) another with a single ( 1 ) and a different one with a ( 9 ).
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