TRAIN TIME: Karl Bub Nuremburg German House with Steep Roof

I really thought I was almost through with my European stuff. Nope. Not yet. I keep finding photos of things that haven't gotten posted yet. Case in point: I have two Karl Bub houses and have only posted one of them. I have as well as an Issmayer piece and a Jep train set - all of which will be posted here hopefully within the next week. The Karl Bub house pictured below was posted back on 26 Nov 2019.The seller listed it as Pre-War and that's how it was posted but it may be Post-War. TBD

Next is the second Karl Bub house. As is usual with me, I more than likely got distracted and totally forgot to post this back in 2019 when the photos were taken. This piece was also listed as Pre-War by the seller, but again, as I don't have any reference materials on my German tin, I can't say for sure. There's a nub on the base that I'm assuming accommodated a post of some kind. It measures: Base: 5" (12.7cm) W x 4 1/4" (10.79cm) D x 3/8" (0.9525cm) H House: 4 5/8" (11.74cm) W x 2" (5.08cm) D x 3 1/2" (8.89cm) H The piece is 3 7/8" (9.84cm) H overall. Enjoy! Opa Fritz

TRAIN TIME: Ian Logan Associates Ltd - The Fleece Inn, Bretforton, Worcestershire - English Biscuit Tin

The west (left) side of the Hornby layout has a small farm scene and while I really enjoy this scene, it was difficult has heck to find a small tin-litho English countryside looking house in exactly the style I had envisioned. This particular house came up on fleaBay and it pretty much had the right look and right size, so I snatched it up. This style of cookie/biscuit/candy/sweets tin is common both in the UK and here in the States and in the past the blog has featured quite a few of these. The common design feature among them is a lid made to represent the roof and the roof nearly always has the same basic shape.  

After looking on the bottom of the tin, it appears as if this might be a stylized version of a historic inn in England. Under the base is the following:

Ian Logan Associates Ltd

The Fleece Inn, Bretforton, Worcestershire,

The National Trust Made in England

Here's a photo culled from the inn's website of the real Fleece Inn. It's an 'L'-shaped building and is much larger than the tin version.

Check out the photos on their website at the following link: https://thefleeceinn.co.uk/gallery/

What a gorgeous place!! WOW!

Photos on their website show they offer a range of souvenirs so I wonder if this was a specially made souvenir sold at the Fleece Inn?

What's nice about this piece is that not only does have that English countryside charm, it also the right size for the location on the layout. In addition, there are no markings on the tin to show that it's an inn, or pub, or any other kind of business, so it can be used as a house quite comfortably.. The tin measures 4 7/8" (12.38cm) W x 3 1/8" (7.93cm) D x 3 3/4" (9.52cm) H

Enjoy! Opa Fritz

TRAIN TIME: Dellona Cream Caramels Coin Bank / Tin-litho Building

I was trolling fleaBay one day and came across this charming and gritty tin-litho house. The timing couldn't have been more perfect as the 2-rail Hornby layout was still in its beginning stages. This tin-litho house/coin bank measures 4 7/8" (12.38cm) W x 4" (10.16cm) D x 5 1/2" (13.97cm) H, has a door on the side wall that opens and is lettered:

Dellona Cream Caramels

Dell's Confectionery Works Ltd

Kentish Town London NW

I have no clue as to whether this is Pre-War, Post-War or...? A quickie search of the Internet turned up bupkis in regards to the business so it would be interesting to know a little more about it. Enjoy! Opa Fritz

Here's where the house currently resides on the layout. The raised platform still needs detailing

CIRCUS TIME: A Preview of Our Next Series

We're not quite through with the European train toys but hopefully by next week sometime, after a delay of 13 years,  the Circus will come to Toys and Stuff. Enjoy! Opa Fritz

TRAIN TIME: Märklin Pre-War Tin-Litho Tunnel

Here's a gorgeous Pre-War Hunk O' Tin from Märklin. I bought this as much because it's a beautiful tin piece but also because it reminds me of Germany. If you've ever driven those narrow, winding roads through vineyard country along the banks of the Mosel or Rhine, you know exactly what I'm talking about. The tunnel measures 20 1/2" (52.07cm) L x 9 3/4" (24.76cm) W  x 12 1/2" (31.75cm) H. At the end of this post are some pics of how all these German structures were set-up a year or so ago on the train board. Enjoy! Opa Fritz

For maybe a year or so, I set up my German buildings into a little German Town. There are several cities here Stateside whose architecture was heavily influenced by German immigrants - Milwaukee (my home town) was certainly one of them.