1931 COCA COLA TINPLATE AMERICAN FLYER WINDUP VERY RARE LITHO ROOFS DRINK COCA COLA IN BOTTLES PURE AS SUNLIGHT Start Price USD 7,950.00 Current Price USD 7,950.00 Time Left - Bid Count 1 Buy It Now Price USD 9,950.00 Reserve Price - Start Time Thursday, August 28, 2008 End Time Thursday, September 04, 2008 Location Chester, VA See more about '1931 COCA COLA TINPLATE AMERICAN FLYER WINDUP VERY RARE' Description THIS IS A CLASSIC THAT IS EXTRAORDINARILY RARE.  I have been collecting trains for decades and I can guarantee you that most train collectors do not even know this train exists.  In 1930-31, Coca-Cola served in bottles was still a new idea.  It had been a soda fountain (syrup and seltzer water) drink up until about 1895 and the concept of selling the product in bottles still needed to be advertised in 1931.  A Coca-Cola Bottler, probably in Missouri, contacted the American Flyer Train Co. and got them to put an exclusive train set together.  The set is tinplate, and lithographed in beautiful orange, green, yellow, and black with splashes of other colors.  It was made in good quantities WITHOUT the Coca-Cola lithography, but only a VERY FEW sets have surfaced that read  "DRINK COCA-COLA IN BOTTLES"  and "PURE AS SUNLIGHT", readable from the same side, but on the other slope of the roof.  The words "COCA-COLA" are in the familiar Coca-Cola script in light yellow with a black edge around each letter, and the words "DRINK" and "IN BOTTLES"  are in black block letters which stand out very nicely on the green roof.  "PURE AS SUNLIGHT" is in light yellow block letters with a black border around each letter.  For a PreWar train collector, this can be the highpoint of your collection.  For a Die-Cast Windup American Flyer collector, your collection is not complete until you acquire a couple of these Coca Cola cars.     For all you Coca-Cola Collectors, you can check these cars out in Petretti's Coca-Cola Collectible book under the toys/trains page.  The current train collectors market probably exceeds the Coca-Cola Collectors guides in value.  The train guides, if they even mention these cars, usually say "NRS" (No Recorded Sales).  This is an indication that they are so RARE that a value cannot be derived by the publishers of the pricing guide.       On the technical side, I will tell you that this is American Flyer car #519 but the RARE version, with the lithographed green roofs.  The locomotive is technically a type XII (twelve) with the markings 'AF' under the cab window.  A similar type XII casting has "AF 10" under the window, but the correct loco for this set only has "AF"  under the window.(American Flyer).  Please note that this loco does not have the spring in its works but it does have the original tinplate wheels and side rods.  The wind up clockwork frame, gears and wheels are rusty, but they are all original.  The Tender (Coal Car) is American Flyer #120 lithographed in orange and black.  The fake reversing light sitting on top of the coal load, is lithographed also, and the sliding coupler is in tact.  The tender is scratched and shows signs of years of play, but it is correct and in Good condition.  Speaking of couplers, each car should have a HOOK coupler on one end, and a LOOP coupler on the other end.  Both cars have the LOOP coupler, but both are missing the HOOK coupler.  This set would have originally come with a third "Baggage Car" but that car is NOT included.  You are bidding on the LOCO, (missing the spring, but displays beautifully), the #120 Tender, and TWO, count em, TWO EXTRAORDINARILY  RARE #519 "DRINK COCA-COLA IN BOTTLES" passenger cars.   I searched 12 years before I came across my first Coca-Cola American Flyer Car.  I first learned of its existence at the Museum of Coca-Cola Collectibles at Elizabethtown, Kentucky.  This Museum has over 80,000 Coca Cola Collectibles of indescribable value. It is a must see if you are near Elizabethtown, KY.  Owner Jan Schmidt had one lone passenger car.  I acquired the correct loco and tender for her and she added them to her collection, and then I spent the next 12 years looking for one of those rare Coca Cola cars.  My collection is now complete, and I have these pieces to offer for sale.  Please understand that I have a very high starting price, but NO RESERVE.  I will even throw in the loop of track (very rusty) that would have come with it.  It has the wedged (sloped) railroad ties that hold the two rails together.  I hope you enjoy looking at these RARE pieces as much as I have enjoyed describing them to you.  Only serious bidders please.  Ask your questions before you bid.  Additional photos can be taken if you want to see something specific.  We will only ship to destinations in the United States.  We accept Money Orders only on this auction.  Sorry, NO PAYPAL.    Insurance will be required based on the value of the final selling price.  Insurance and postage will be computed once the destination is known.  I am a member of the TCA (Train Collectors Association) and Past President of the Virginia Train Collectors.  Bid with confidence as I have a 100% Positive Feedback history on almost 500 transactions.   Thanks for looking at our auction and have a great week.   Place a Bid!