Hello everyone, I’m new to the forums but a long-time CTT subscriber. This weekend I inventoried my postwar Lionel pieces. Among them is a 6560-25 Bucyrus-Erie work crane with an original box. My crane has solid cranks and bar-end trucks, the combination of which isn’t listed as a variation in the Greenburg price guide. Maybe I’m off base, but I think that having a box adds credibility to it having come from the factory this way: if the owner kept the box, they probably took care to preserve the contents in original condition. I know it’s possible, but is it likely that someone “married” parts to create this crane? Why would they do it to a common piece like this? It’s not like someone tried to pass it off on me as an exotic variation. I bought it years ago, for an average price as compared to the price guide. I’m just wondering what to make of this. Thanks.
Not all variations is listed in the price guide. You need something Like David Doyle Standard catalog of LIONEL TRAINS 1945-1969
You have 6560 type 1 “the first several thousands were equipted with part no. 484-1 bar ended trucks”
RT is correct for the 6560. As for the 6560-25 it is listed as bar-end trucks with two boxes they could come in.
Seems like the closed crank should not be on the 6560-25.
(Red Cab, Numbered 656025 - Molded red cab, open hand cranks and bar-end trucks. Has the hard-to-find ‘656025’ numbers on the frame. This is a one-year-only item from 1956 and is hard to find in collector condition.)
http://postwarlionel.com/freight-cars/crane-cars/6560-bucyrus-erie/
Tamden site links
6560
http://www.tandem-associates.com/lionel/lionel_trains_6560_operating_car.htm
6560-25
http://www.tandem-associates.com/lionel/lionel_trains_6560-25_operating_car.htm