"Hand Stand" Switch Stands
They actually throw the turnout points for alignment.
They are made in three sizes .. .. HO-HOn3 - S-Sn3 - O-On3
HO-Hon3 $10.95 . . . . S-Sn3 $12.95 . . . . O-On3 $14.95
(Round . or . Diamond) ***** add $2.00 for frog switch


Online ordering is available here: Shoping cart
Installing "Hand-Stands"

Step 1.
Glue down the tie extension aligned with the tie next to the throw-bar. Make a mark a scale 8 feet from the center line of the track on this tie.
(HO-HOn3 8'=about 1 inch)
(S-Sn3 8'=about 1+3/8ths)
(O-On3 8'=about 2 inches)

Always install the tie on curve side of turnout with the throw rod to the left side of the tie
Step 2.
Centered on the extended tie,
at the 8 foot mark, drill a 1/16 inch hole straight down through the table.
(Try not to lean the drill over ... The straighter up and down you get this hole, the straighter your handstand will be)
Step 3.
On the end of the throw-bar, drill a hole using a #64 (.036) drill bit. This is a little bigger than the rod we'll be using. Make certain it goes all the way through the throw-bar.
(A larger hole won't work. Too much play in the linkage)
Step 4.
Insert the 1/16th brass tubing (provided) down the 1/16th hole you just drilled until about 1/8th inch sticks out the bottom of the table. Not REAL important as long as it sticks out a little bit.
Step 5.
Now ... cut off the excess tube so that it is flush with the top of the table. Not the top of the tie .... but the table. (bottom of tie). You can cut it off flush with the top of the tie and then push it down to flush with the table. The extra little bit sticking out the bottom won't hurt anything.
Step 6.
Temporarily put the "Hand Stand" in place with the small lever at the bottom centered. Place the turnout points in the middle. Take the .033 brass rod (provided) and bend it to the shape shown in the pictures. Start by bending 1/8th inch on the end at the throw bar. Then make the second bend about 1/8th inch away from the first bend. Now position the rod next to the hole in the throw-bar and grip the rod with pliers right at the hole in the "Hand-Stand" lever.

Bend the rod up. Cut it off an
eighth inch up from that last bend.
Step 7.
Curl the rod up and into the hole in the throw-bar. Lower the "Hand-Stand" into place ... positioning the rod to go in the lever hole on the bottom of the Stand. With everything in place make sure the "Hand-Stand" and the turnout are both centered. If they're not ... then lift the "Hand-Stand" up and tweek the rod a little longer or shorter as needed to center.
Step 8.
Now underneath the table....
1. Bend the rod over flat at 90 degrees.

2. Bend it up a little more than 90 degrees.

3. Bend it back the other way.

4. Cut off the excess.
Step 9.
Straight across from this rod, on the other side of the 1/16th inch tube sticking down, (make sure it's straight across with the rod centered and the points above centered) attach the spring-mount post. (drill a #68 hole for a tight fit then push the post in) Put the spring on the two posts. Make sure that the lever above and the rod below both travel either direction over center. (tweek a little here .. there ... till centered)
Step 10.
Check everything for smooth operation both directions and then spike down the base of the "Hand-Stand" in the two holes in the outside of the base. Your done. ...... Click ..... Click .... the little stand throws the switch points and holds them in place with spring pressure. There you have it. A neat looking little switch stand that really works. ........ we call them "Hand-Stands"
Mechanical remote operation
You can use a rod to operate the Hand Stand from the front facia of the railroad.
Flaten the end of the rod and drill a .040 hole that can be slipped over the handstand
shaft that extends below the tabl. Then bend three 90 deg bends following the drawing'

A straightened coat hanger wire is the right size to push and pull easily.
Be sure the first HandStand shaft bend is directly sideways to the incoming rod. The second bend
is straight down...slip on the rod and finally the last bend straight back away from the facia.


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