Trolley Freaks on eBay

[Kenneth Josephson]

Bob Rathke wrote:

> This auction will be interesting to watch.  I think I still have a
> couple dozen of these maps in a box somewhere.
>
> I love the descriptions on ebay.  Most of them shout "rare", but this
> one says the map is from the 1950's, and is a "nice, early example".
> "Early" what?  The 1950's were getting into the "late" days of PRC,
> and I recall that PRC was still distributing these maps right up to
> the time of the PAT acquisition in 1964.

I love watching people try to date these maps or sometimes describe
hardware. I've been looking for one of those old outdoor weatherproof
light switches with the brass "plunger" that looks like an upside down
golf tee. I typed in "vintage switch. "Vintage Westinghouse Trolly [sic]
Switch" came up among the listings. It turned out to be a controller. no
one else bid on it. Scott Greig later identified it as a NSL piece,
based on the type, the way it was wired and the haze of green paint
across the top and on one side.

I paid less than half of what these things go for at rail swap meets. I
was very lucky.

On the other hand, the days of finding a Pittsburgh, Milwaukee or
Chicago traction artifact in a Florida or California antique shop for
next to nothing because of the lack of local interest/appeal are over,
thanks to eBay.

Ken J.

P.S.- So who has a vintage outdoor light switch for me?