RESTORED 1941 8 1/2 “FIRST SET WITH A WHISTLE” A.C. GILBERT ERECTOR SET

Description

06-27-2022 (date I bought it) 1941 8 1/2 “FIRST SET WHITH A WHISTLE “ AC Gilbert Erector Set with more modern CAD and TIN PLATING
$$$$$ VERY ORIGINAL CONDITION BOX AND MOST PARTS also - VERY RARE WHISTLE $$$$$$$
This set was in average shape for a set sold in 1941, Much of it has been well cared for since it was so nice. Most of these sets go to children who quickly on Christmas day pull all the parts off of the cardboard layout panels and throw all of the packaging materials away.
THIS IS A RARE CASE WHERE THE PLATING IS nice CAD FOR MOST PARTS AND TIN (which turns kind of black) FOR THE A, B, AND C GIRDERS.
RARE YELLOW CARDBOARD BOTTOM LAYER AND BOILER LAYER (correct color for 1941 set) AND HAS AN ORIGINAL HOUSE BOX!
The set is 100 % COMPLETE NOW After I have inventoried it, made it complete, and laid it out per the layout diagram.
This is the perfect Christmas, birthday or anniversary gift!  Get it for your child or perhaps dad or grandad had one when they were young!  Or buy this for someone very special in your life to just proudly display like I have had done with my 55 sets for many years. What else can you buy that is 81 years old that still looks like this? Certainly not 99% of all the things produced back then, including cars!
This will be one of the about 99 sets I’ve sold in the last 2 years. I have sold 8 sets in the past summer to one buyer!!! All perfectly restored and complete! Some are even stripped, bodyworked and painted with DuPont automotive paint! Some sales are not on EBay. I have many repeat customers that I build special sets for, including a big set’s box that I painted bright yellow!
Most of my pre- Christmas sales are people getting sets for loved ones, who had a set long ago, and they knew getting a COMPLETE ONE for them would make the best Christmas present to bring back fond childhood memories! (Buying someone an INCOMPLETE SET for a Christmas present doesn’t seem like a very good present, so READ ON!!)
It is:
1) inventoried.  (Per Greensburg's guide to erector sets) 100% complete down to every screw and nut.
The inventory is when you check each part against an inventory sheet to make sure it's there, and add it, if it is missing. This inventory sheet came from the book "Greenberg's Guide to the Erector Sets Vol 2" (ISBN # 0897780752)
It has no missing parts, it's 100% complete.  Over probably 600 parts in total.
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2) organized
Laid out and parts wrapped just like it would look when new.
The organizing includes attaching most of the parts to the cardboard and the large MN baseplates. In this case, RARE YELLOW REPRODUCTION CARDBOARD, FOR 1941!
(You should easily be able to sell this set in a few years as Erector Sets get even more valuable and make quite a bit of money! A 81 year old anything is always collectible)
Date is from the type and style of the motor/transmission.
Steel parts are NORMALLY Nickel (NI) plated in this year range.  NICKEL PLATING GETS TINY RUST SPOTS, SO DIFFICULT TO FIND IN GREAT CONDITION. I have restored many NI sets and u can shop thru my current eBay inventory and find some. I don’t build BAD SETS with rusty parts, so I built this set with very nice CAD PLATED and TIN plated girders (turn a bit black). This set has plating that is good and is durable to last all these years. There is no rust on any of these parts.  I try to go through all of the parts and replace any that need it.  In this set I replaced not too many parts because of looks, mostly because it was missing.
This set was shocking to me when I got it.  When I looked at the photos it looked 100 % complete and I know my parts. It was missing more then a few parts. If you don't spend the kind of money I'm asking for this set, you're looking at potentially half the parts missing even though they say it "looks complete, (sold as is!)" This is the way sets will be that say they're "mostly complete" but they "don't actually have an inventory sheet" that's not checked off like I do with this set. Beware!  You get what you pay for. The most expensive 8 1/2 sets for sale sometimes on eBay are not inventoried like mine is and are listed for close to the same price - or even more!!- then mine is!
Condition:
Metal:
The set’s CAD plating is in good shape. All of the TIN plating is in pretty good shape for its age. Some of the shine is worn off some of the parts. The TIN parts are a little black from normal aging. I have cleaned and protected all the plated parts so they can last a long time again. The discoloration is mostly caused from aging plating, not use. This set does not appear to be played with very much (not much scoring in the plating from screws or nuts being rotated)
The brass and bronze parts:
These parts are all original style. The brass plating on this set is average to good condition.
All have the proper set screws in them.
Screws and nuts:
The screws and nuts have been inventoried-counted and all of them are correct quantities per the inventory sheet. (this is extremely, extremely, extremely rare!). Some are perfect modern plating reproductions.
Tools
This set is complete with all of its tools. All are in great condition. It is rare to find a set with all of its tools. This set has a rare perfect condition P33 screwdriver.
1 P33 screwdriver
1 MM Wrench
1 MW Nut holder
Motor:
The A49 electric motor and transmission are in great shape. This assembly operate like new. I have replaced the old cracked unsafe original one u will find on these very old sets with a new modern one. The motor paint is original and has some small typical scratches, but looks very good. The transmission has been stripped and repainted red. The motor has a new reproduction core label.
The motor has the rare WHISTLE attachment, and it works.
NOTE: You must put a P 13 gear on the end shaft of the motor and then press the lever to allow it to make the terrible grinding sound that they somehow call a whistle!, Lol.
I HAVE ALSO INCLUDED A RARE WOOD BLUE HANDLE. These handles can be put on the P 24 crank, the motor transmission lever, and the whistle lever, but these knobs are made out of wood and they tend to split. Some glue required sometimes. Also, do not leave the handle on the transmission and try to close the box lid.
See photos.
Painted parts:
All of the base plates MN, MF, MD and MY are the original silver paint and I have cleaned them and they look pretty good for their age. All of the red parts have some minor paint flaws. See photos. (AC Gilbert did not prime any of the steel parts before painting.) The MCs are the original yellow. The Ws are the original Black. See photos.
The MX house is in very good condition. It is the rare 4 window door design only found in really old sets. It is in a rare good condition original box. See photos.
Axles:
All are in great shape. No bends.
Labels:
The label for the part number T boiler is original. The inside of the lid has a decent big label for being 81 years old! The “FIRST SET WITH THE WHISTLE ‘ label looks nice! The label on the outside of the lid is also a nice original. The motor core label is a new reproduction.
See photos.
Manual:
The manual for the set is a rare very nice condition original with a 1948 copyright with the typical folds and tears, but great condition for its age. See photos
Case/box:
The case is in average condition. It has both of its latches and they are in working condition. It also has the rare brass corners found on these earlier sets. The case has some scratches and some dents in the lid. See photos.
MJ electromagnet:
The MJ magnet has original long wires in good condition. I have tested it, and it works. See photos
Reproduction parts:
The following reproduction parts have been used in the restoration of this set.
Cardboard layout layers:
bottom
boiler/magnet
Also:
AJ flag
P 34 hank of string
Motor label
This makes a great collectors item or a wonderful way to build with your son or daughter or grandchildren and give them some time away from the TV, video game or computer.
WHAT A GIFT! You will not be disappointed with this set! It is one of the most collectible sets typically sold on eBay (being a 1941 that is 100% complete!) and not the most expensive!
Please look carefully at the photos (I provide the maximum 12 photos- taken with a new iPhone ) as they are a better indication of the items condition than my descriptions. Feel free to ask any questions BEFORE bidding. I am not a business, therefore this item is being sold AS-IS. No returns. Payment is due within 7 days of auction end or item will be relisted.
I usually ship within 5 business days of payment. Tracking info will be uploaded to eBay and an e-mailed will be sent to the buyer. The shipping charge reflects the fact that this is a HEAVY item and requires special packing. It usually cost me about to ship one of these biggest sets but I have set the shipping to only to get good shipping ratings! Shipping charges can be avoided by picking up the item in Allen TX but it must still be pre-paid for thru PayPal. Bidding on the item constitutes acceptance of the shipping charge.
Lower 48 states ONLY !!! PayPal ONLY !!! Thanks for looking and happy BIDDING !!!
Proud Member of the A. C. Gilbert Historical Society. Come join us at acghs or just look at the fun pictures and information.