MY LATEST COLLECTION

Julius and Milton Forcheimer made toy trains
in Nurnberg Germany until1923. They moved to the United States and made toy trains from 1924 until 1933. They named their company Dorfan after their mothers Dora and Fanny. Dorfan cars are rare and hard to find. These 3 cars are worth about $60. I bought them for $15 for all 3 on E-BAY. I am now looking for a caboose and an engine. Dorfan engines were made of a Zinc alloy. Over time impurities in the castings expand and cause the train body to crack and fall apart. It is rare to find a Dorfan engine still together and even more rare to find one that runs. When you do find one it is very expensive. Some day I will have a complete "WORKING" set.

Wa Hoo it works perfectly

CLICK ON THIS VIDEO TO WATCH MY 1930s TRAIN RUN.

PCC FLEA MARKET

On Sunday I went on a new adventure for me. I went to the
flea market at Pasadena City College. I joined Dan, who works in the machine shop at my job and his brother Mike. We went out to breakfast first and then off to the college. The flea market at PCC
is about 350 vendors selling Antiques and collectibles. It was like going to 350 Antique stores all in one day. Dan collects arrowheads, Mike collects Antique radios and reel to reel tape recorders. As you can see I collect Antique toy trains.

Today I bought a Commodore Vanderbilt Engine, tender, gondola and caboose made by Marx. I paid $40.00 for the set. My collecting book lists this set from $70.00 in the worst condition to $300.00 in Mint condition. It's condition is about the $150.00 range. It works perfect both forward and reverse. This set was made between 1937 and 1942. Not bad for 72 years old.

LETS GO SHOOT SOMETHING

Finally I did something other than toy trains and cars. Chuck and I went out to Oro Grande and found a spot in the middle of nowhere where we could shoot our guns. I had not shot my gun for years. The last time it jammed and shot out of the side. I tried to get Chuck to stand on my right but he did not fall for it.




While we were there I had to look around for a
possible gold site. There were some suspicious
diggins out there.






Chuck shot his 12 gauge shotgun. He had me try
it. I had forgotten what a kick they have.







I think we will be back here with more ammo real soon.

More pictures

Check out the new pictures in my Monorail Blog. I have been real busy and have added Thunder Mountain.

Back to the train room

Finally I have been working in my train room. Here is the new splash mountain ride I added to my Disneyland section. The log really moves all through the mountain.

BACK TO SOME MAN STUFF

My truck was leaking gas. Chuck came over and helped me take the bed off. There was a crack in the gas tank. A little fiberglass patch and it was back on the road.

Wow did I do that?

I had never installed wood flooring before. It looks so good that I want to put wood flooring in the living room. This is too much pink for me. I need to get back to the garage for some man stuff.

New floor for an old room.

I did some painting inside the house. I painted the craft room pink. Then I ripped out the old carpet that was 19 years old. Here I am installing new wood flooring. I think it makes the room look a lot bigger, don't you?

HOUSE PAINTING

As you can see I have been busy painting the house. Soon I will dig a big hole and put in a fish pond to the right of the craft room.

Pictures from my trip to Mexico

The first picture is the plane we flew in from Phoenix to Guaymas Mexico. The second picture is Kevin Clark and I in front of Ducommun Aerostructures in Guaymas. The third is the beautiful marina that was outside my balcony window at the hotel. We stayed in San Carlos.

Greetings from mexico

I am in Guaymas Mexico on a buisness trip for Ducommun Aerostructures. I am overseeing the paint process for 737 Boeing spoilers. I will have great pictures to post when I get back and a great story to tell. Bye for now..............Alan

We had a great time

Jerri bought a lot of good stuff at the stamp store and scrapbook stores. I found some carnival ride cut-outs that I can use on my train layout. This is a Lionel train that was made in 1971. I bought it in an Antique store in Las Vegas. We always have a good time when we stay at Primm Nevada. There is three Casinos there. The rooms are only $32.00 a night and yyou can eat prime rib dinners for only $7.99.

Fun at Primm

Here I am sitting in the Monorail that will take us between casinos at Primm.







Here is Jerri waiting for the Monorail doors to open.










This monorail is going to take us from Buffalo Bills Back to Primm Valley Casino.

Vacation time

Jerri and I spent almost a week at Primm Nevada. We made several Trips into Las Vegas to Stamp stores, Scrapbook stores and Antique shops.

Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday we finally pulled the motor out of the bronco 2. After our family Easter, Stephen Chuck and I got together and went to work.

Stephen is washing the grime off of the starter.

This is me removing the torque converter nuts.

Stephen and Chuck attach the hoist and start to lift the motor.

Stephen and Chuck almost have it out. Who forgot to detach these wires? Alan!

Here it comes. It is finally out.

Bronco 2

On Saturday stephen and I worked on the Bronco 2. We are trying to remove the motor. We wan't to replace a cracked head and put a new oil pump in it. We got a lot done and plan to have it out the next day we have a chance to work on it.

Snow day

Last weekend it snowed for about 2 hours. I was going to work in the garage. Not today! It did not melt until the next afternoon. It was pretty (pretty cold).

I made it

It took me almost 2 months but I made it. Today was the first time I drove the escort to work. I put a new motor in it and it worked. I held my breath for 67 miles. What a ride. It works like new. Maybe I should wash it now.

Here I go again

I just barely finished putting a new motor in the escort. Now I have this Bronco 2 to rebuild. It has a cracked head just like the Ranger did. It also needs a new drivers window, new electric window regulator and new windshield. I am going to pull the engine out and go through it. It has mixed water with the oil. It looks like chocolate milk inside. It runs on about 4 of it's 6 cylinders. After I get it running I am going to convert it to 4 wheel drive.