Model Train Journal

Hello O scale world

Fred Icken is an icon in the history of O scale ...but he did have a learning curve . Icken's early work 1927-29 ...is rather basic . 1930 Barker joins Icken and the goal post is raised considerably. The I-B marriage only lasted till April 1931 ...but the positive up swing would continue on Fred Icken's solo career.

I was very fortunate to find an Icken - Barker (I B ) K 4 1930-1 ....... and a Icken K4 1931 -2 era ... so double heading for fun ... please see link for video and more photos .

Cheers Carey

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/topic/fre ... 8941143232

Interesting!
I suppose the earlier one is the first Icken. Talk about a nekkid boiler.
The other one looks pretty good.
I notice sod-cutter flanges...suitable for tubular track....but 2-rail pickup?
Interesting history.

rex desilets wrote:Talk about a nekkid boiler.

I thought the same thing, despite its nice provenance, it does not appeal to me.

rex desilets wrote:I notice sod-cutter flanges...suitable for tubular track....but 2-rail pickup?

Outside third rail on code 190 rail probably.

J. S. Bach wrote:<snip>

rex desilets wrote:I notice sod-cutter flanges...suitable for tubular track....but 2-rail pickup?

Outside third rail on code 190 rail probably.

Looked again. Yep, outside 3rd rail pickups.

I like both, the earlier Barker-Icken would detail up nicely too, though I know Carey you're a preservationist and that's good.
Once you get past the flashlight bulb headlight and all the boiler "nekkidness" the proportions aren't bad. The second version is definitely an evolutionary step up detail wise.
Neat video's.
Do both of these have un-insulated drivers?

The only Icken I have seen up close looked a lot like Scale Craft.

The bevel gear driving the crown gear is bizarre. The driven gear should also have been a bevel gear. As it is, the contact is only on the edge of the crown gear. You can already see serious wear, on the bevel gear teeth.

I've seen cheap post-WWII toys with pinion and crown gear sets. The crown gear will be stamped from sheet steel, so the teeth are quite thin. They work, but they're not considered quality gearing.

I find them very fascinating...with their obvious vintage character and construction. They would make my old friend Henry Keroack smile to excess were he still alive. Nice stuff Carey!

Robert

Hello all ...

drivers insulated ....no ... Paul Egolf was one of the first in 1933 to use a 2 rail O scale system .

Unfortunately both these engines had been recently "helped" by some fresh paint ...."love it or leave it" is a current theme ..is also applies to early and rare pieces ...it is only original once ... rumor has it Kitty Hawk would fly much better with a small jet also ...but that would be cheating ...

I'll try and respect the originality of the piece as much as possible .....in time if I can upgrade with a better ...more original piece great..... then the secondary item is available to the next collector who may share my opinions ..or wish to further "help" the item for it's next Century in life .

Coming from a family of antique collectors .... originality is where it is ...

Pre Barker ...1927-8 Fred Icken was turning out some rather "interesting" tinplate conversions ... some of you rivet counters would call "crude"... Icken was also acting as an agent for Paul Egolf during some of this time .

Barker arrives Jan 1929 , a machinist ...and ups the whole game ... the first Icken Barker piece is an American ...a bit odd looking but it was a start .. any one ever see one of these ?

It is easy to state Fred Icken was a master builder looking at his late 30's -50's pieces .....but it was a many year learning curve to get to that level of expertise .

Cheers Carey

Carey Williams wrote:rumor has it Kitty Hawk would fly much better with a small jet also ...

So do pigs and with a better outcome - bacon!

Cannot resist. You can find my Scale Craft K4 collection in my Pacific thread, among other places. I am probably needlessly soaking up bandwidth here, but I find the Scale Craft a worthy subject. Unlike Carey, I sort of update mine, with insulated drivers, center driver flanges, better rivet detail, maybe even lost wax castings in some places . . . but I have preserved one in its original state, complete with alligatored paint. Herewith, again - Scale Craft:



This one, I believe, is the preserved model - I think I 2-railed it. For sure if the center flange is there!

Hello all ..and Bob

Nice Scalecrafts ....great 17/64ths ..

there are 100's of Scalecraft survivors.... so improve as one sees fit ...... items that are truly rare handful made or one offs ...are in a different category.... it come from being a tinplate collector since the ripe age of 9 ..... Lionel 18, 19, &190...in common green thousands upon thousands were made ..and survive ...do as you wish with them ...18, 19,190 with knobs on roof from 1910 only ...perhaps 100 survive respect the condition they are in, basic cleaning and leave original .... ..
everything is only original once
no preaching just my views .

Cheers Carey