2 comments about Early American Locomotives (Trains).

1. I purchased this book over 20 years ago. This is a fantastic book of Steam Engine engravings. You won't find a better collection (at least I haven't.)



2. This book is a collection of engravings from the 19th Century, each with minimal history. It is an absolute gem , a cache of information about locomotives from before the era of manufacturers photographs. Engravings were used as illustration in sales literature and publicity material, and so a wide variety of locomotive types are depicted covering more or less 1800-1900. The accuracy of the engravings is superb-in some cases it is possible to scale from an engraving to determine pipe sizes, nut bolt diameter etc. For the price this book cannot be beaten.

2 comments about Collectors Guide to Diecast Toys and Scale Models: Identification & Values (Collector's Guide to).

1. I must say that I really regret buying this book. After waiting anxiously to receive it I was, upon opening it, almost immediately disappointed. It turned out to be an alphabetical listing of companies which produced die-cast models, with a brief (1 paragraph in some cases) description of company history. While it does list each model produced by the various companies and offer a valuation, it fails to describe the models in any detail. Therefore, a prospective collector has virtually no useful information to go on. It doesn't even tell you the various colours the models have been released in, or any details which might differenciate one model from another.

   As for photos. This is another area where this book falls down. Very few graphics; once again - a real let down.

   All in all, a very poor showing. Save your money and buy a different book!




2. This book is not a complete listing of any single make of diecast car (although it does come close for a few makes) but rather a list of all diecast manufacturers that have ever existed with a representative sampling of prices and photos.

4 comments about Collector's Guide to Housekeeping Toys 1870-1970 from Metal to Plastic: Identification and Values (Collector's Guide).

1. I purchased this book entirely out of curosity. What a wonderful decision! The book brought back many nostalgic moments. I was really surprised at how many of the toys shown were once part of my 1940's childhood - and some of them even made their appearance on the cover, although I didn't notice that until the book was delivered. I thoroughly enjoy this book. It is a really good history of housekeeping toys in the USA. The photos and captions for the items are supurb. The layout is wonderful. This book is really an awesome source of info for collectors - or anyone just wondering what kinds of toys we kids used to have. The plastic housekeeping items of today just don't measure up to the older toys that were once produced. I'm glad that I've still got many of my tin litho playthings. Thank you, Margaret Wright!!!



2. One of the reason I love Collector Books is that they have wonderful niche books that just no one else covers. Take this latest toy book, Housekeeping Toys 1870 - 1970. This paperback edition covers, what else, those play toys that simulated domestic activities such as cleaning and cooking. What immediately strikes you as you read the book is the many wonderful metal toys they USED to make as opposed to today's dull plastic toys. Those toys featured fantastic graphics that today's stickers on plastic just cannot match.
   
   The book is arranged by type of toy including stoves and ovens, kitchen ware, bake ware, cleaning items, wash day, tableware, and more. Each item pictured includes detail about the item such as the year it was produced, the manufacturer, the dimensions, and a price range on the toy.
   
   The metal stoves include late 1800's and early 1900's wood-burning type ovens and goes right on up to the famous "Easy Bake Oven" of the 1960's. You might be surprised to find out that the Easy Bake oven was not the first electric toy oven. In fact, there were toy electric ovens dating back to the 1920's!
   
   The section on household furnishing is a true trip down memory lane. These toy kitchen cabinets and refrigerators came stocked with miniature toy versions of name brand products such as Cheez-It crackers, Lava soap, and Kellogg's corn flakes.
   
   The section on tableware features fantastic graphics with characters such as Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Krazy Kat, and Snow White showing up on tea sets, china sets, platters, and more.
   
   The book features brilliant, full-color photography of each and every to in the book, and it is just shy of 300 pages. While it may not be completely comprehensive (and what collectible book is?) it is extremely well done and does included a detailed bibliography. A niche book but a fantastic one! Written by Margaret White.
   
   Reviewed by Tim Janson



3. Great Book! Enjoying it tremendously since I collect children's toys!!!



4. Margaret White's COLLECTOR'S GUIDE TO HOUSEKEEPING TOYS 1870-1970 organizes its chapters by type of housekeeping activity - cooking, wash day, tableware, cleaning and more - and adds color photos of each item, along with values. The photos, organization and latest values make this a winner.

No comments about Greenberg's Guide to Lionel Trains: 1901 - 1942, Volume 2: O and OO Gauge.

No comments about Guide to Toy Collecting (Collector's Series).

1 comments about Doll Furniture: 1950s-1980s Identification & Price Guide.

1. This is a great book for anyone looking to purchase doll house furniture from the 1950s-1980s. The chapters are by Doll Furniture Maker.

   Many photographs are in color, and include approximate dates they were made/sold. The book includes an index with price guides (but remember the prices are from 1997).

   Also has a nice chapter on the tin kitchen playsets.

   The only flaw in the book is that it does not deal in the plastic furniture (that came with the tin lithographed doll houses) -- I had to use Tomart's Guide to learn about those.

No comments about Marie Osmond's Collector Dolls: The First Ten Years.

No comments about INDIANA JONES AND JAMES BOND Action Figures book.

No comments about Kenton Cast Iron Toys: The Real Thing in Everything but Size.

No comments about Toy Cars of Japan & Hong Kong.