I purchased a set of Marx passenger cars that need a cleaning and some spit and polish.What do you use to clean the car and then shine it up so the dull red color will stand out?
Does anyone know exactly what year this particular model/design was made? I always see a range from 1934 to 1954, but that’s a wide swing.
I’m not a Marx collector, but I have cleaned up several lithographed Lionel freight cars. I used a good automotive liquid wax, applying it with Q-tips, a small area at a time. It removed the grime and did not damage the paint.
Wouldn’t wax cover the grime?
I use Ivory liquid hand soap, not dishwashing liquid, diluted with water in a spray bottle. The spray action helps loosen the grime and makes it possible to use less abrasive scrubers. Most often a soft cloth, sponge or soft toothbrush is all I need to clean most grime from both lithographed and painted tin or plastic parts. But unless I’m trying to remove the paint that’s as far as I go. I like scratches and other defects. They tell stories! [swg]
Becky
I agree. I’ll just use some mild soap and then top it off with some automotive wax.
If it were just wax, as in the kind of thing you put on linoleum, yes. But notice that I said automotive wax, which contains cleaners. That’s how it gets the grime off your car as it polishes.
Good to know. I’ll give that a try too!
Becky
Marx Commodore Vanderbilt cleaned and waxed with mothers polish.
Loco purchased at antique store $18
Tender purchased on ebay $20
5 passenger cars purchased on ebay $41
Total cost for Marx Vanderbilt trainset $79 fun factor…priceless 
Mother’s Mag Wheel polish when used gently can improve the look of many a painted item. I’ve used it to clean and polish all kinds of antique painted metal items I’ve restored including some trains. The nice thing about the Mother’s Mag Wheel Polish is it’s a light polish with some wax in it. After cleaning and polishing a lite buffing with a soft cloth will bring out the shine and leave a protective wax coating.
Always try it in a test area first to see how it reacts with your particular item.