Center Street Series Kits

Brown Box Era HO-Scale Trains

Center Street Series Building Kits

Center Street Building Series Kits

Introduced in the 1981 catalog, TYCO's Center Street Series of kits marks the third variety of layout buildings the company offered. First came the Lighted Building Series from the early '70s; followed by the TYCOKITS from the mid '70s; then the Center Street Series in '81; and finally the Contemporary Series in the mid '80s.

Initially, the Center Street Series was made up four kits in 1981. An additional four came along in the 1982 catalog, finishing the group. During the mid '80s, a "B" desgination is added to the kits. This was done when a 'Free Light Kit' was added to selections from this series.

A picture of the original four kits is found in the May 1981 issue of Model Railroader magazine. The magazine's then-Associate Editior Andy Sperandeo attended the HIA (Hobby Industry Association) Show in Atlanta, Georgia and reported on new products. TYCO's Center Street Series initially group was found at the show.

Center Series Barber Shop

BARBER SHOP

(No.7771)

(No.7771-B)
(1982-1992)

The Barber Shop kit was molded in five colors and when constructed measured 3 3/8" x 7" x 4 3/4" inches.

Center Series Drug Store

DRUG STORE

(No.7772)

(No.7772-B)
(1982-1992)

The Drug Store kit was molded in five colors and when built had measurements of 3 1/2" x 7 1/4" x 4 3/4" inches. Though not confirmed, it appears that TYCO may have offered this kit under the name Super Market. Examples of the instruction sheet for a Super Market kit have been seen and they carry the stock number 7772. Though never cataloged, the Super Market appears to have been included in some promotional train sets from the 1980s. Review the Promotional Train Sets page of this website for further information.

Center Series Furniture Store

FURNITURE STORE

(No.7774)
(No.7774-B)
(1982-1989)

This kit was molded in five color and when built measured 2 1/4" x 6 1/2" x 4 1/4" inches.

Center Street Series Used Car Lot

HONEST SAM'S USED CAR LOT

(No.7796)
(No.7796-B)
(1981-1992)

This kit was molded in five colors and had measurements of 2 9/16" x 4 1/8" x 7 11/16" when constructed. As the two above pictured packages verify, this TYCOKIT survived the Brown Box Era and was also sold in the short-lived early '90s Blue Box.

Center Street Series General Store

GENERAL STORE

(No.7798)
(No.7798-B)
(1981-1992)

The General Store kit was molded in five colors and when built had measurements of 3 3/8" x 3 9/16" x 5 15/16" inches.

Center Street Series Fruit Store

JOE'S FRUIT STORE

(No.7797)

(No.7797-B)
(1981-1992)

This kit was molded in five colors and when built it measured 3 3/8" x 3 9/16" x 5 15/16" in size. Above are examples of the Joe's Fruit Store package, both the original offering (No.7797) and the offering that included a free light kit (No.7797-B).

LOEW'S MOVIE THEATRE

(No.7799)

(No.7799-B)
(1981-1989)

This kit was molded in six colors and the model's size when built was 2 3/8" x 5 1/2" x 5 11/16" inches.

Center Street Series School House

SCHOOL HOUSE

(No.7775)
(No.7775-B)
(1982-1989)

The School House kit was molded in six colors and the model's size was 5" x 8 1/2" x 6 3/4" when constructed.

IHC Center Street Series Logo

IHC General Store

<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif>IHC-International Hobby Corporation cataloged all eight of TYCO's Center Street Series kits after TYCO's departure from the model train market in the early 1990s. IHC retained the same product numbers used by TYCO, adding a "4-" to them. For example, IHC listed the "Movie Theatre" as "4-7799." IHC has also added to the names of the kits. The "General Store" was "General Store and Finance Center" from IHC. There is no change in the kit, these buildings always generally featured more the one business. IHC has simply listed both businesses when applicable. The company has other kits that were among the TYCOKITS offerings, these have also been seen listed under IHC's Center Street Series.  IHC is no longer in business and these kits are currently not available.</FONT></DIV>