I went to a yard sale today and i bought a 1950 marx train set.it has a shell tanker,a c&o gondola, a green box car, a santa fe caboose and two santa fe f7 diesels ( one powered one non-powered). It is in its box. Anyone have and ino about this set? O yeah on more thing…It Works!!!
There should be a set number on the box. Use it to do a search for information.
Marx Trains
How would you like to have a genuine collectible train at bargain prices? The Original Marx trains are just that: antique electric trains at low cost. Though they have not been made in many years, they are available and they can cost less than their modern counterparts. You get an affordable train and a classic old-time toy. As an ironic twist, Marx probably sold more trains than anyone else.
Louis Marx was a genius, when it came to making toys. His expertise in tin lithography was notable. The Marx company made myriad different tin toys. Louis Marx also got into the train business. Initially, he sold the Girard Company’s “Joy Line” for commission. Then, he had Girard make trains especially for his own company. Finally, Marx acquired Girard and started producing everything under the Marx name.
Back in the 1930s. Electric trains were toys. Scale models were scarce. Marx trains were more toy than model. They were small O Gauge trains, packed with O27 track. Stamped metal and tin litho locomotives came packed with an assortment of four-wheeled, tin-litho cars. Marx’s trains were a bit smaller than Lionel or American Flyer, and they certainly sold for less. That was part of their success. A Marx train could be had for a fraction of the cost of those by larger makers. To boot, Marx trains were built to last. Though cheaper in cost, they were sturdy! Many collectors aver that it is easier to get a Marx train running than any other brand.
Part of the genius of Louis Marx was his urge to make things cheaper, yet maintain quality. He worked to improve his toys while cutting costs. This meant a lower price for customers, which meant more sales. One part of this was the Marx motor, an open-frame motor that was the basis of all the company’s trains. Variations were few and subtle. A standardized motor made it easier and cheaper to make trains. It helped that this same motor is one of the most reliable ever made. Marx had his engineers improve i
unionpacificchuck, there are no words to adequately impart the joy I have experienced by your bringing this topic up here instead of over on the Classic Toy Trains forum; would you care to impart an opinion on the singular fact that stupidity should be painful?
Marx didn’t make an F7. They made an FT (in tinplate), the #21 Santa Fe AA was introduced in 1950 to compete against Lionels Santa Fe 2333 diesels. In 1952 Marx released a plastic bodied diesel similar to an EMD E7. #1095 was a Santa Fe AA unit with simulated 6 wheel trucks (there were actually only 4 wheels per truck with the outline of a center wheelset). A B unit wasn’t offered until 1955. The Marx plastic E-7’s dominated the large plastic diesel production for quite a long time (1952 through 1974). They were available in the Santa Fe, New York Central, Union Pacific, Rock Island, Allstate, Western Pacific, New Haven and Penn Central roadnames. The Santa Fe, Rock Island and New Haven roadnames were the most popular. A Santa Fe AA combination can be found for $25 to $50 and the matching caboose for $10.
Cool! What did your dad pay for it? Got any pictures?[tup][tup]
Only if 100 people ask for them.
Right?
loather i will send YOU some picture but for the rest of you keep dreaming!!
I don’t want any pictures; I am dreaming of you with a sign around your neck that says, “Forum Leper”!
No one is dreaming…cause they know you’re full of ***. [(-D]
There ain’t nothing to take pictures of son.
Just checked my E-Mail. No pics yet.[:-^]
unionpacificchuck, loathar’s cited response indicates that he ain’t holding his breath!!!
When I dream I guarantee you, you are not in any way, shape, or form involved.
But keep making up your bogus posts; we find them amusing.
His post count is up to -19 now.[(-D]
[:)]
Another case where a wonderful company that produces a quality product gets tossed around and then destroyed after the founding family retires. Too bad for those of us who liked their products.
Great site Smoke - Thanks
My dad got a Marx train in around 1942. At Christmas I was home and my brother and I got out his old train with the idea of getting it running. I was able to take it apart and cleaned out all the gunk. Then I lightly lubed it and managed to get it back together. We put it on the track looked at each other and turned on the power – it ran[:D], quite well too. It hadn’t run in about 20 years. When our dad saw it running he was thrilled.
I forwarded the site to my brother; I’m sure he’ll enjoy reading about it too.
Aggro got that right for sure!!! After the last fiasco created by upchuck, NO ONE is going to believe him even if he claimed that night was dark!!! Better not let daddy find out you were touching his stuff again![(-D]