Office of Steam Forum for Model & Toy Steam Gas & Hot Air Engines

Still a mystery engine to me . I do agree that it doesn’t look like it was made to be a science demonstration or school education engine. The bogus copper boiler would be superfluous for ‘education’ but does make it an attractive toy. It’s good that the boiler holds it copper luster so well over time. The metal stamped parts and overall components are not cheap-cheap, but appears well engineered. Not too expensive either, so price-pointed to sell as a mid-quality...........
As a caveat; quality electrical components of the late 1930’s have fooled me a few times into thinking a device was of latter vintage........
It’s a shame no numbers on the electric cords or parts. No ghost image of a UL-Underwriters sticker...........

UPDATE — Well, the quality of electrical components in that solenoid engine did fool me! I am now pretty sure that it may be a circa 1939 ‘Hoge Mfg of New & York.”
The electrics sure had the look of good quality , and that made sense as Hoge Mfg was a USA electric toy train maker. I thinks the name is pronounced “hoagy”.
Ebay recently had a Hoge #355 Electric Steamless Engine that sure looked like the unknown solenoid engine in this original topic.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-HOGE-toy-355-electric-steamless-engine-In-Original-Box-/293786476708?hash=item446709e0a4%3Ag%3AxhoAAOSwOQ9figMt&nma=true&si=7qhfRF5MBhKz3QiTeFsXTfyQDAE%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557