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Author Topic: They Don’t Build Toys Like This Anymore | Doll 510/2 Overtype Steam Engine nearly a Century Old!  (Read 142 times)

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They Don’t Build Toys Like This Anymore | Doll 510/2 Overtype Steam Engine nearly a Century Old!
« on: January 29, 2026, 05:13:40 pm »
They Don’t Build Toys Like This Anymore | Doll 510/2 Overtype Steam Engine nearly a Century Old!
The incredible craftsmanship of the Doll 510/2 Overtype Steam Engine. Manufactured in Nuremberg, Germany, by Doll & Co., these overtype steam engines are prime examples of mid-20th-century mechanical engineering.
My mouth has always drooled at those top of the line engines that Doll made back in the day, so beautiful and so incredibly ornate and so complex. I have also often wondered who bought them as they must have been prohibitively expensive to purchase. It was really the golden age of such models wasn't it.

Biggest problem is the heat those vapourisers put out, you can see in the vid that I cover one with tinfoil but even one produces way too much heat. I tried watering down the spirits with water but need to find the correct %.

I've run it often in the past on gas with the gas turned right down and it's awesome just to sit there and watch it tick over slowly but the gas bottle etc is ugly compared to the nickeled vapouriser burner.

Any suggestions?

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Cheers.
Jim

Blue Heelers Model & Toy Steam Engine Room YouTube Channel -
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Re: They Don’t Build Toys Like This Anymore | Doll 510/2 Overtype Steam Engine nearly a Century Old!
« Reply #1 on: January 29, 2026, 05:54:15 pm »
Beautiful example of a great engine, Jim!
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Re: They Don’t Build Toys Like This Anymore | Doll 510/2 Overtype Steam Engine nearly a Century Old!
« Reply #2 on: January 29, 2026, 05:57:05 pm »
G'day Gil, Doll really was the pinnacle of beautiful ornate engines back in the day. Some of their top of the line engines were just so incredible.
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Jim

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Re: They Don’t Build Toys Like This Anymore | Doll 510/2 Overtype Steam Engine nearly a Century Old!
« Reply #3 on: January 29, 2026, 08:11:39 pm »
As I've said before ....

Even old Jensens have something about them that the new ones seem to lack, solid models though they be!

The detail, elegance and operability of the old German engines are very hard to beat and IMO will never be duplicated as production, so will never really be seen again. Early British engines have much the same that could be said about them, and though few in numbers the French made some fine engines 100 years ago too!!

I have a J. Falk of near the same model as your fine Doll overtype ..... It has always been one of my favorite engines!!!
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Re: They Don’t Build Toys Like This Anymore | Doll 510/2 Overtype Steam Engine nearly a Century Old!
« Reply #4 on: January 29, 2026, 08:20:33 pm »
Imagine Daniel being able to go back in time and visit these factories in their heyday and look over the shoulder of skilled workers putting these magnificent engines together.
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Jim

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Re: They Don’t Build Toys Like This Anymore | Doll 510/2 Overtype Steam Engine nearly a Century Old!
« Reply #5 on: 9 hours ago »
I share your admiration for those great Doll overtypes. My 510/2 was the first Doll overtype I acquired. I love it and the Doll overtypes are some of my favorite engines. Thanks for the video.

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Re: They Don’t Build Toys Like This Anymore | Doll 510/2 Overtype Steam Engine nearly a Century Old!
« Reply #6 on: 4 hours ago »
Quote from: Jim on January 29, 2026, 08:20:33 pm
Imagine Daniel being able to go back in time and visit these factories in their heyday and look over the shoulder of skilled workers putting these magnificent engines together.

Sometimes, in the deep dark recesses of my mind, I think that I can go back to times past and see the thing that dreams are now made of!

When perchance I do, it is a journey of wonder and delight!!

Daydreaming, is what I have heard it called, but I think it is far more than that term allows for, in its common definition!?!?
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F. Zappa ... by way of Mary, the girl from the bus.

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Re: They Don’t Build Toys Like This Anymore | Doll 510/2 Overtype Steam Engine nearly a Century Old!
« Reply #7 on: 2 hours ago »
 I have wondered the same thing , about these high end steam toys . I, like you assume these really nice toys were mostly for men with enough disposable income to afford such things , but come Christmas , it might well be under the tree for some rich kid . It would also make a pretty nice birthday present for a well heeled child . You know , my parents were not at all rich , and I didn't get an allowance , or toys throughout the year , but at Christmas , they really came through . If these things were available and I had asked for one , I might have actually gotten it ! Dang , I wish I had asked for one !
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D. E. Jones

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Re: They Don’t Build Toys Like This Anymore | Doll 510/2 Overtype Steam Engine nearly a Century Old!
« Reply #8 on: 1 hour ago »
Quote from: Jim on January 29, 2026, 08:20:33 pm
Imagine Daniel being able to go back in time and visit these factories in their heyday and look over the shoulder of skilled workers putting these magnificent engines together.


That would be nice but while I was back there, I would be buying up as many as I could and
bring them back with me. New in the box with all the paperwork. That's what I'm talking about.
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Tommy

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