Lionel 3444

[trains2353]

I have access to a nice Lionel 3444 "cop & hobo"car. But it has no lettering on the sides. Possible variation?

Thanks for any info in advance!

[KRM]

Not from what it tells here.

http://www.tandem-associates.com/lionel/lionel_trains_3444_operating_car.htm

 

[trains2353]

Thanks.

Yeah, that's what I'm finding. So I guess I'll pass. Maybe parts only.

[trains2353]

Here's a pic of it:

http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL1001/4368153/24755763/413133000.jpg

 

 

[KRM]

My guess is it is a reissue MPC Maybe. Seem they released it many times in many ways over the years.

 Does it have the post war Bar-end trucks?

[cwburfle]

Tandem Associates provides a great resource, but none of the guides are going to have every variation or factory error.
I don't think I could tell anything from that photograph. I'd have to see it in person.
It's possible that it's a factory error.
It could also be something that someone put together from parts.
Someone could have stripped the lettering off.

If you like the car, find the price to be reasonable, and have the cash, then buy it.

To me, if the car looks to be a legitimate factory piece, it would be worth about the same as a lettered one in like condition. I would not pay a premium for it.

 

[trains2353]

Didn't look at it in person yet. It's on craigslist. I've delt with the gentleman before. Always got good stuff from him. I contacted him and he apologized for not showing the side with the lettering. One side has it, the other doesn't. No signs of anything on the missing side. Factory error? I'll offer $20 and see what happens.

 

[KRM]

They made a UP without much marking,,,,,,but I kind of like this one, 

[cwburfle]

One side has it, the other doesn't. No signs of anything on the missing side. Factory error? I'll offer $20 and see what happens.

 I have a number of items that are decorated on one side only. May be factory, or may have been put together outside the factory. There really isn't any way to tell.

I don't think any of them are in the books.
The one exception are the 2041 Rock Island ALCO cabs (1969) which are listed in the guides. I have seen them misidentified as unlettered 231 Rock Island Alco cabs. I seriously doubt they left the factory mounted to chassis, because Lionel had lots of lettered 2041 shells in the early 1970's. They were cheap and plentiful.
I happened to mention the unlettered shells to Carl Shaw on one occasion. He claimed that the shells were taken from their warehouse.

[trains2353]

When I pick it up after the snow gets cleared here is PA, I'll report back here.

[trains2353]

I bought the 3444 and got it for $10. Works very nicely. There are no marks of anykind that there was ever anything on the unmarked side. Of course, we will never know for sure. Could have been late Friday going home time production. I like it.

http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL1001/4368153/24777478/413451892.jpg

http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL1001/4368153/24777478/413451893.jpg

http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL1001/4368153/24777478/413451894.jpg

http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL1001/4368153/24777478/413451895.jpg

[cwburfle]

Looks like a nice car. I don't see any signs of the lettering being removed, so you probably have a legitimate factory error.
IMHO, you got one heck of a bargain.

[trains2353]

Thank you! I think so too.

Off the 3444 topic, but I recieved 5 staight Super O pieces of track. One question, what connects the center rail from one track to the other? Not familiar with Super O track. Looks neat though.

[cwburfle]

Little copper clips join the center blades.
Sometimes they are stored by pressing them onto the center blade somewhere along the track. Look carefully.

[trains2353]

I wasa given 6 Super O tracks which I may use for for small O layout under construction. It looks like real nice track! Not much arround anymore I guess.

[rickoshay]

Lionel introduced their Super O track in 1957 and sold it through the mid 1960's. You still can find it at train shows and it's always available on ebay. There is still a good deal of the track and accessories out there. You can expect to pay between $1-$4 per section depending on condition and the bus bar center rail connectors generally sell for 50 cents a piece. I recommend staying away from the really rusty stuff. There is a following for this track system and a pretty informative Yahoo maillist which is moderated by Mike Spanier.