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Author Topic: Popular Science Institute - ABC Steam Engine  (Read 3639 times)

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Popular Science Institute - ABC Steam Engine
« on: April 01, 2025, 02:01:05 pm »
Beautiful afternoon here in Brooklyn...

  Has anyone heard of the 'Popular Science Institute and an
ABC Steam Engine with accessories?  As a kid in the 1960's
and into the 1970's we subscribed to Popular Science.  I
looked online but, no joy.  Hopefully, this link works.

https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/3324/366462/201455577_1_x.jpg?quality=80&version=1741824948

Wayne
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Re: Popular Science Institute - ABC Steam Engine
« Reply #1 on: April 01, 2025, 03:28:29 pm »
That engine mounted on the plank looks like a typical product of Nuremburg from between the wars..... Bing, Doll, Falk or etc.
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Re: Popular Science Institute - ABC Steam Engine
« Reply #2 on: April 01, 2025, 04:33:50 pm »
It's not an original workshop set, at least three of the tools look like Hess pieces and the engine is as Stoker said by another German maker

Dave
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In a world of small engines every man is a giant

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Re: Popular Science Institute - ABC Steam Engine
« Reply #3 on: April 02, 2025, 10:01:40 am »
Good morning from sunny Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn


As to the replies...
True, the engine looks German.  And 'Hess'?  As in 'Hess' trucks for Christmas?

Still, it has a look beyond homemade.  And the badge also looks legit.  The question
stands did the Popular Science Institute have this made to order?  And if so,
to what purpose.

Just a little curious,
Wayne
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Re: Popular Science Institute - ABC Steam Engine
« Reply #4 on: April 02, 2025, 10:39:05 am »
I'd have to agree with your observations and curiosity.

Just who put this together, when and for what purposes?

Seems more than simply a one-off sort of set-up!?!?
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Wisdom is the domain of the Wis (which is extinct). Beauty is a French phonetic corruption of a short cloth neck ornament currently in resurgence..."
F. Zappa ... by way of Mary, the girl from the bus.

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Re: Popular Science Institute - ABC Steam Engine
« Reply #5 on: April 02, 2025, 04:19:11 pm »
Link here to Hess toys, I have a few Dynamobils and some accessories, they are interesting vintage toys in their own right:
https://www.hesstintoys.com/

Dave
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Re: Popular Science Institute - ABC Steam Engine
« Reply #6 on: April 02, 2025, 05:36:53 pm »
I would speculate the ABC Popular Science Institute tag is unrelated to anything on the board and likely placed there by the creator of that display.

There are no ABC toy steam engines although some of the uninitiated have mistakenly called Marklins with the 3 way make up water valve ABC which was on the boiler right above the valve. Each letter designated one of the 3 positions for the valve.

There was however a model steam engine called ABC and it was cast right into the base.

Below is a picture showing 2 steam engines and the drawing clearly says ABC Products Incorporated, West Los Angeles, California.
The drawing is for the engine on the left.

Gil




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Re: Popular Science Institute - ABC Steam Engine
« Reply #7 on: April 02, 2025, 07:45:25 pm »
I won this about a month ago

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Nick

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Re: Popular Science Institute - ABC Steam Engine
« Reply #8 on: April 02, 2025, 08:11:53 pm »
That actually looks pretty cool Nick. I'd love to see it hooked back up and running!
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Re: Popular Science Institute - ABC Steam Engine
« Reply #9 on: April 02, 2025, 08:15:08 pm »
Nick, I thought you might have one of those.

Thanks for posting.
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Re: Popular Science Institute - ABC Steam Engine
« Reply #10 on: April 02, 2025, 08:30:34 pm »
Quote from: Stoker on April 01, 2025, 03:28:29 pm
That engine mounted on the plank looks like a typical product of Nuremburg from between the wars..... Bing, Doll, Falk or etc.
It’s a J Falk, note the brick pattern, row of long, row of short, etc.

This is definitely something put together later by someone else with Hess accessories
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Nick

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Re: Popular Science Institute - ABC Steam Engine
« Reply #11 on: June 30, 2025, 07:45:18 pm »
Sold for $140 at auction, don’t know why it brought so much on eBay tonight…

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