Heat stamping is usually done on plastic and castings, such as on steam engine castings. The process leaves a slight indentation in the material, as the heat slightly melts the material. Rubber stamping is done on all surfaces, and leaves no indentation.
Some items came only in sets, and others came in sets and also were available for sale alone, hence available for separate sale. Also, some items that came in some sets did not come in individual boxes, but if purchased for separate sale, came in a box. Any item that has a box is always worth more, but the condition of the item as well as the box determines the final price. Note also that any price guide is just that: a guide. The guides are averages taken from prices obtained at auctions, meets, etc. It does not guarantee that you will get the price in the book if you sell your item, as selling prices are considerably lower.
Larry
Hi this kinda intrigues me as in the " standard catalog of LIONEL TRAINS 1945-1969 gives like 9 variations and they all say " injected molded plastic frame " so in this case if heat stamped it would be felt rubbing your fingers across it and rubber would be basically smooth.
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
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Rubber stamping is just like seeing "Payment Received" stamped on a paper invoice. It leaves no physical impression on the paper, and so it is on our trains. Heat stamping is like getting a document notarized and the notary stamps the document with an impression that you can physically see and feel, and so it is again like this on our trains. If it is rubber stamped, the stamping will feel completely smooth. An impression stamp will leave a physical impression that you can see and feel. Rub your finger over the area in question. If it is as smooth as the surrounding area, it is rubber stamped. If you feel an impression, it is heat stamped. Look at it under a magnifying glass if you are still in doubt.
Does your 6560 frame have the Lionel Lines & weight markings to the left of the frame, or just the number alone? If it only has the number by itself, with no other markings, and has all indications of rubber stamping, then it should be a frame made by MPC, and not a true Lionel frame. I have every variation of 6560, except the Red Painted Cab version, and they are all HEAT STAMPED.
If your set is Sears from 1957 it would /should be set# 9642 containing the following:
2037 loco; 6026w tender; 6112 gondola w/canisters; 6014 or 6024 boxcar; 6111 flat w/logs; 6025 Gulf tanker; 6560 Red Crane car; 6119-75 grey work caboose as the components. Valued at $175 very good - $350 like new, from Greenberg's uncatalogued set book.
The early versions of the 6560 had trucks attached with binding head screws, and either came without any stamping at all, or just the weight info minus the 6560 stamping. The cabs came in Red/Orange, painted red, or molded red, molded grey, and all having the smoke stack. Later versions came with 1002-6 truck mounting clips, and followed by rivets, bar end trucks. Around 1959 they came with AAR trucks. If the couplers have a tab sticking out, it dates it to 1955 or later.
The one I have without the number is on a 2460-5 frame, and a later AAR truck version is on a 6560-5 frame. Flip yours over and see what number frame you have. Also, does the Lionel Lines on frame feel the same as the number. The left side should have Lionel Lines over WT-375,000-2-18NH.
Ok, you have a 1955-1958 issued crane car. With the complete stamping on both ends of the car, it is definitely HEAT STAMPED, but very light stamping, so that it feels smooth. There are no known versions that were ever rubber stamped from the Postwar era, from 1955 to 1969. As far as the frame number, it is hard to see, as the number is under one of the truck assemblies, and not in plain sight. You will most likely find it is 6560-5.
A few years ago, I became fixated on the variations of the 6560 and started to collect them. There is one for sale on eBay for $250, with a black cab w/smokestack, but in my opinion it was made from a 282 Portal crane cab, affixed to the 6560 frame. All the books I have mention that a BLACK CABBED 6560 was never documented.
Forgot to mention about the work caboose.......Orange is 6119-25; Brown is 6119-50; Grey is 6119-75; Red cab with grey tool compartment is 6119-100. 99% of the work cabooses being sold on eBay are listed as 6119's, and are truly 6119-100 cabooses. A 6119 is only blackened frame, and red cab with red tool compartment.
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