The Flap over flaps

e*Train Issue: Apr 2003 | Posted in: 1970-now Modern Era, Collecting

By Bob Mintz

While I was recently inventorying my collection, a discussion occurred on the Toy Train Mailing List (TTML) over the current value of boxes’ end flaps.

With this in mind, I started paying more attention to this infrequently discussed topic.

Many of my Postwar End flaps, flapped off, for no better choice of terminology.

But I did discover several more recent anomalies and will give you examples of each and you now will have the definitive guide to flaps.

1) Modified description and SKU numbers on one end and a totally different description number with no SKU number on the either end.

The Chicagoland Lionel Railroad Club (CLRC) put out one of its’ club cars # 6-52148 with another suffix of the car number as 52148-558. This is all very well and good, except the flap on the opposite side of the box mentions “6-52223-565”.

2) Different description numbers at either end with same SKU number:

This one is a little more interesting. Here we have the Trainmaster Powermaster # 6-12867 clearly marked on one side, yet on the other side, the SKU is the same but the product number marked includes an extra digit, this time 6-128687.

3) The color process misprinting:

Sometime during the multi-color processing, a shifting of the paper occurs and one color may overlap another, as it does here with 6-52160

4) Different SKU and product numbers on the same end:

Not even in the ballpark.
The SKU number (6-26220) and the item number (6-26214) are not even close, as it is a variation of a variation of a variation.

5) Product label put on wrong end of box:

Usually, an orange generic Lionel box is used and labels are placed on the left side of the box if you are looking at the box plasticine window up.

Here are two examples of the same boxcar, in this case Christmas Vapor Boxcar (6-26228), one label is on the left, the other is the right. These were purchased from the Lionel website on-line.

6) Different spelling on two different boxes of major train related person:

Yeah, even poor Tom McComas got hosed on this one. Tom had Lionel make a special “7474” issue car for his company’s “I Love” series. Not only did another box misspell his name, but the correctly spelled version is missing the embellished description details of this extremely rare variation.

7) Close but no cupie doll; same owner, different business:

Well, Richard Kughn does own both Carail and Madison Hardware. I was trying to match the box to go with this item, and just couldn’t find it.

I didn’t recall a flatcar with piggyback vans and the Carail logo. I checked both TM and Greenberg guides, and both said that #52187 came with Madison Hardware vans.

When I opened the box, lo and behold, look what fell out. Four of the correct labels. What’s up with that???

So next time, pay more careful attention to the poor misunderstood end flap.

Shop Amazon and Help TCA

TCA members who shop at Amazon.com can have each of their normal purchases generate a modest payment to TCA! And it won’t cost you anything!

The Train Collectors Association is now a participant with AmazonSmile, which is a special website operated by Amazon that lets customers enjoy the same wide selection of products, low prices and convenient shopping features as on Amazon.com.

The difference is that when customers shop at AmazonSmile (smile.amazon.com), the AmazonSmile Foundation donates 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases to the charitable organizations selected by customers.

The process is simple. Just search for and select Train Collectors Association when you sign up and shop at smile.amazon.com.

You use your regular Amazon.com username and password, but when you log in to smile.amazon.com, you’ll see that you are supporting TCA with your purchases:

Note that if you just log in to the regular amazon.com, this benefit does not operate.

There are no costs to either you or TCA, but TCA benefits!

This is a great way for TCA to earn extra cash to offset costs, so sign up today to help support TCA.

* Note: TCA is not a party to any of your Amazon transactions, and does not endorse any products or vendors.

Helping TCA with your ebay purchases when you use PayPal

If you’re an ebay user and have a PayPal account you use to make payments, you can designate a donation for TCA when you’re checking out — any amount, small or large.
If you’re a regular seller on ebay, you can pre-designate a percentage of your sales to be donated automatically in your name to TCA as long as the purchaser pays with their PayPal account.

In both cases, you will receive a donation receipt from the PayPal Giving Fund, and enjoy applicable tax advantages.

How to do it:

Click on the image above, or use this link. This will take you to ebay, where you will see the following page (log in to ebay if you are not already):

This offers TCA as an option. Click on the “Add to My Charities” button where indicated with the red arrow. Thereafter, when you make a purchase, at checkout you will be offered the option to make a donation to TCA in any amount of your choosing. Small amounts add up, larger ones are great! It’s always up to you!

The option will appear at the lower part of your checkout page, something like this:

If you’re a regular seller on ebay, you can allocate a portion of your sales proceeds to be donated to TCA. Look at the green arrow marked “Optional” above to see how to do it. Details on how ebay calculates the donation may be read here. This is a wonderful way to share the financial benefits of your hobby with the organization that promotes it!

An added benefit to TCA is that these donations are not subject to normal processing fees, so that makes your donation work harder!

* Note. TCA is not a party to any of your eBay transactions, and does not endorse any products or vendors. PayPal issues the receipts to you for your donation, not TCA.

The Flap over flaps

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