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An interesting entry in the TYCO world of brass track is the TYCO-matic
Remote Switch offerings. TYCO's switch offerings included a Remote Switch dating back into the Red Box Era
of the 1960s. Very similar to offerings in today's HO-scale track lines of many companies, the TYCO's remote controlled
switches, available in both left-hand and right-hand examples, were a switch track section and wired control box. Early
Brown Box Era examples of the TYCO Remote Switch were numbered 910 for a the Left-Hand and 911 for Right-Hand example and
they are cataloged at $5.50 each.
The 1971-72 TYCO catalog presents the 950 and 951 Manual Switch offerings and
a new remote switch is introduced. The TYCO-matic Remote Switch is a different
animal from the 910 and 911 number remote controlled switches. First appearing in TYCO's 1971 product catalog, the TYCO-matic
Remote Switch has many enhancements over the standard remote switch.
This TYCO item is featured in the April 1972 issue of Railroad Model Craftsman magazine's Dispatchers
Report section. The Dispatchers Report detailed new releases in the hobby market.
 TYCO's 1972-73 catalog again includes the TYCO-matic Remote Control
Switch accessories. The retail is up fifty-cents to $6 for either a Left-Hand or Right-Hand version.
Gone from the 1972-73 catalog are the pair of switch accessories, the Lighted Switch Control (No.958) and Switch Machine (No.957), that
allow the upgrade of a Manual Switch to a TYCO-matic style switch.
The 1973-74 TYCO catalog is the final appearance for the TYCO-matic
Remote Control Switch offerings. In 1974, TYCO expanded its basic switch offerings to a larger variety including
curved switches and the TYCO-matic switches and related accessories are gone.
TYCO-matic Remote Switch Left Hand
with Lighted Controller
(No.950)
TYCO-matic Remote Switch Right Hand
with Lighted Controller (not pictured)
(No.951)
Switch Machine (see above picture)
(No.957)
Along with the Lighted Switch Controller (No.958), TYCO's Switch
Machine is listed as providing the means to convert the standard Manual Switch offerings (Nos.952 and 953) into a
TYCO-matic level switch. This accessory carried a $2 retail in the 1971-72 catalog.
Lighted Switch Controller (see picture
above)
(No.958)
This accessory was one of two items that the TYCO catalog states will turn
the ordinary Manual Switch offerings (Nos.952 and 953) into TYCO-matic quality switches. In the image near the top of
this page, the Lighted Switch Controller is the triangular box with the green and red rectangular lights
on it. This item is listed with a $2.00 retail in the 1971-72 TYCO catalog.
Bulbs For Lighted Switch Controller
(not pictured)
(No.959)
Found in TYCO's 1972-73 catalog are a pair of replacement bulbs for
use in the Lighted Switch Controller for the TYCO-matic switches. The two bulbs are listed with a $1 retail and are
cataloged only in the 1972-73 TYCO catalog.
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