1800's Train Switch Model - What is this thing?

LegendsCreek Oct 21, 2014

  1. LegendsCreek

    LegendsCreek TrainBoard Member

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    Hello everyone! I am not sure if this is the right category, sorry if it is not. Back in July we bought an estate and home of an inventor who collected everything to do with steam engines and trains. He even had a steam train that worked on the property before he passed away. We have been slowly going through all the belongings that we stored away when we bought the home and this interesting item was discovered. We listed it on eBay but aren't sure if we will keep it on there, sell it, or keep the item. The historic society wants it and said we could use the donation as a tax write off but it all depends on what this thing is and what it may be worth.

    I am hoping that by joining this forum, I can get some information on this item, and future items that we uncover as we dig through this place.

    We looked up the patent for this item, and it was invented by a RI Senator named Henry Sprague. We have received several emails about the auction, one of which was somebody who said that he believed it to be a show model that the owner would take around to try and sell his idea. We are really at a loss and want to make sure we do the right thing with it.

    Below is info I took from the eBay auction I have going, and some photos that I will spread out over a few posts. Thank you in advance for anything you can tell me about this! Here is also a video of it working. I am not allowed to post a link to the video as I am a new member, but you can copy and paste it yourself if youd like to see. You should be able to get 1080p once youtube finishes processing it.

    youtu.be/rGZdGurOmss

    H.D. Sprague was a RI Senator in 1898, and we believe his brother was a Governor in RI. There is a historic home named after him called the Henry Sprague House in Providence. We have been trying to find out as much information about his as possible, and also trying to find out more about this model. We believe it may be one of a kind and possibly very rare.


    There is parchment nailed to the top of the box with writing on it that has faded over time, but you can still make some of it out. It says James Sheridan, 17 Meeting St, Providence, RI (that is all I can barely make out) . James Sheridan's name is listed on the patent office website as being involved somehow in the patent.

    The 3 pieces of track are mounted to wood, and fit inside the box as shown in the photo. The train itself is very heavy and glides on the tracks as it should. The switch works, but there is a tiny screw or something missing from where the switch attaches to the tracks.



    Was kept in a box, in the attic of an estate and home I recently purchased. The previous owner collected everything to do with trains, locomotives, and steam engines.

    DSC_0558.jpg DSC_0553.jpg DSC_0549.jpg DSC_0547.jpg DSC_0551.jpg DSC_0557.jpg
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 21, 2014
  2. JB Stoker

    JB Stoker TrainBoard Member

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    It appears to be either the original Patent Model, or a copy of it.
     
  3. wcfn100

    wcfn100 TrainBoard Member

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  4. LegendsCreek

    LegendsCreek TrainBoard Member

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    I thought it may have been a patent model, but an eBay customer messaged and said that if it were a patent model it would have some sort of incoming tags on it or something?
     
  5. LegendsCreek

    LegendsCreek TrainBoard Member

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    Yes, I did find that patent link, just wasn't able to post it because I am a new user.
     
  6. wcfn100

    wcfn100 TrainBoard Member

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    Oops, sorry, clicked the picture and never went back to read the whole post.

    You could always insure it and put it on loan to the museum until you figure out exactly what it is.

    Just keep in mind it could be rare and one-of-a-kind but still not worth anything.

    Jason
     
  7. LegendsCreek

    LegendsCreek TrainBoard Member

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    We aren't in a rush to sell it or anything and most likely I will pull the eBay auction if I can't find out more about it. I was hoping the exposure would be enough to maybe get some information on it. 1 person at the auction asked me if he bid on it at my start price of 1k, would I end the auction immediately for him. The other said that he wants it and is waiting until the auction is almost over to bid. I am more worried about making sure this items goes where it belongs than I am about the value, especially being a resident of RI and any historic significance this piece might have to RI.
     
  8. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    The link doesn't seem to show if a patent was ever granted?

    It could be a patent model, or salesman's demonstration model. The latter they'd carry with them, making their rounds to potential customers. Looks to be a variation on a "stub"type switch. If it was ever actually sold to and used by any railroad, would be interesting to know.
     
  9. JB Stoker

    JB Stoker TrainBoard Member

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  10. wcfn100

    wcfn100 TrainBoard Member

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    Yeah, sort of an 'improved' stub where the no matter which way it's aligned, you can't run off the track coming from the frog side.

    I think stub switches were more common that people realize back then. I wouldn't be surprised if some were actually in use.

    Jason
     
  11. JB Stoker

    JB Stoker TrainBoard Member

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    It isn;t a stub switch at all. Look at the pictures. No stubs. The patent has to do with the ability of passage from the frog side no matter what position the switch is in.
     
  12. HOexplorer

    HOexplorer TrainBoard Supporter

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    According to Mr. Sprague those are 'switch springs.' Look for capital letter I. I could imagine that while they made a switch work more efficiently the cost of the springs times all of the country's switches meant money could be better spent elsewhere! Jim
     
  13. JB Stoker

    JB Stoker TrainBoard Member

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    The springs' purpose is allowing passage from the frog side and then returning the points to the chosen position after passage from the frog side. The Sprague switch is still in use today.
     
  14. LegendsCreek

    LegendsCreek TrainBoard Member

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    I uploaded much better photos to my first post if it helps to get better views of it.
     
  15. wcfn100

    wcfn100 TrainBoard Member

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    Actually it is like a stub in the fact that the rails move to make the alignment. Look at "G" in the diagram, that's the 'switch bar', that's the part that moves. It looks like moving the rails then also aligns the points.

    Very interesting.


    Jason
     
  16. wcfn100

    wcfn100 TrainBoard Member

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    Does it work? Can you take a movie?


    Jason
     
  17. LegendsCreek

    LegendsCreek TrainBoard Member

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    Yes, it works, I will take a video and upload it here. The only thing is there is a missing screw where the switch attaches to the rail so I will move the tracks by hand. I won't dare mess with trying to replace the screw myself. I will leave that to the future owner.
     
  18. JB Stoker

    JB Stoker TrainBoard Member

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    No, it isn't like a stub switch at all. It is a point type switch with a spring mechanism to allow passage from the frog side without throwing the switch .

    A stub switch is like this:

    [​IMG]

    Stub switches are cut off square. NO points. There was a theft of a locomotive a couple weeks ago by a nut at a Peabody mine in Wyoming that demonstrated why the Sprague switch is useful- particularly in yards. The nut drove the loco from the frog side of several switches which BENT the points as the wheel flanges passed through and destroyed the switches. The Sprague switch would have allowed passage without destroying the switches.
     
  19. wcfn100

    wcfn100 TrainBoard Member

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    If you look where the spring is, it's on rail 'F' which is the rail used only for when the switch isn't aligned properly and something moves through the frog to the the point.

    Jason
     
  20. wcfn100

    wcfn100 TrainBoard Member

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    I know what a stub switch is and this one works similar as far as changing the route goes. The rails move using switch bar 'G' just like a stub would and pivot about where the points would be in a normal switch. The 'points' here just move into place in response to the rails moving first.



    Jason
     

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