scratching head here, When did Lionel make a n scale train engine?

[rtraincollector]

My latest find on ebay http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220867763495&ssPageName=ADME:X:AAQ:US:1123

I asked seller to provide a pic where the engine says Lionel on it als for measurements of the engine L,W, & H.

[gunrunnerjohn]

I see nothing except his claim that suggests it's really a Lionel, I tend to doubt it.

 

[rtraincollector]

thats why asking as I never knew Lionel to do any n I know they did G, HO, S, O and Standard Gauge but never n to my knowledge so it must really be rare if it is :)

[balidas]

No not Lionel, more likely European, perhaps Marklin.

[stebbycentral]

Not only that, it's not "N" scale.  Per the ruler laid out for reference, the combined length of the engine and the tender is 12 inches, that scales out to 160 ft. long in N.   According to steamlocomotive.com the average wheelbase of a Mikado locomotive and tender was between 65 - 77 ft.  This has to be an HO scale model.  Based on the slot style couple I would agree it's European.  Not likely to be Marklin though.  Marklin made AC equipment, and it would have had a center pickup shoe, just like a Lionel.  This engine appears to be DC.

[rtraincollector]

I was figureing it was HO

[DMUinCT]

Your looking at an "HO Gauge"  "Mantua" Mikado from about 1950.  (Mantua Metal Products Co., New Jersey)

[rtraincollector]

I figured it was another nut trying to use the lionel name as we all know Lionel means its expensive lol NOT!!!

[TrainLarry]

It seems to be a Tyco/ Mantua undecorated Mikado kit from the so-called "Red box" era of the early 1960's. The kit was available from 1963 to 1967. The sellers' notation of newspaper from that era in the box seem to confirm this. Note the front truck is missing, and the rear coupler seems to have been changed. See here at the bottom for the kit, #K208:

http://tycotrain.tripod.com/redboxerasteamengines/id7.html

See the catalog advertisement for it here, upper left corner:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2342/2246927154_ee3ca1b3c7_o.jpg

With its open frame motor, it could run on either 2 rail AC like Gilbert/ American Flyer, or DC.

Larry

[DMUinCT]

A little more research:

Mantua Metal Products was founded in the 1930s by John Tyler and maufactured train kits in "HO Gauge".   Later in life he marketed ready built trains under "Tyco" (Tyler Company).

The Die-Cast Mikado is shown in the 1953 catalog with the front mounted brass bell and 8 wheel tender. it was powered with the Pitman DC71 permanent magnet, 12 volt DC (only) motor.  It is shown in the 1955 catalog with the 12 wheel tender.   I looks like it remained in production for more than 20 years.

[Train-O]

Thanks Don,

I thought Tyco was from overseas.

Ralph

[Andrew Falconer]

Lionel offered some small scale non-powered diesel miniatures for a while that look like N Scale models. 

There are Hallmark Lionel ornaments that are close to N scale in size.

Andrew

[Texas Pete]

If the hook and loop coupler is any indication, that is a Mantua HO locomotive.

Pete