Cox Dockside Accessory

[cheech]

The above pictures are two accessories i recently acquired with no instruction.  They are Cox Toys. They are out of business, apparently. Going to a collectors website, they offer the following descriptions. They were offered separately and as a set with "Tracks" "Trucks"....Does anyone know of this item?  Specifically, is it AC or DC? i recon DC but then, how do you get it working with AC TMCC environment?  Thanks in advance

DOCKSIDE CONVEYOR

Cat No: 6232-3

Descripton:  As an Accessory available separately, the Dockside Conveyor is found first among COX's Trainscape Accessories in 1976.  This blue motorized Conveyor used a black vinyl belt that could transport the 20' Containers, Crates, and Oil Drum Pallets.  As it was an electrically operated item, the Dockside Conveyor would have to be wired to the Accessory terminal of a Power Pack for proper operation. The Conveyor was controlled with a black plastic box that had a small level on its base.  In the 1975 catalog, the Dockside Conveyor is shown with a pair of red wires coming from it and going into a typical train block or switch control unit.

Catalog Appearances:  1976

 

GANTRY CRANE

Cat No: 6233-3

Descripton:  This large blue overhead Gantry Crane was the centerpiece of COX's Dockside Trainscape items.  On one end it featured a claw on thread that could be lowered to grasp a Container or Crate.  COX also produced the Gantry Crane in a yellow color, in addition to blue.

Catalog Appearances:  1976

[philo426]

Would this be the company that makes the gas-powered planes?

[cheech]

DON'T KNOW.  THE SITE I VISITED WAS ONLY ABOUT MODEL KITS FOR RAILROADING.

[3railguy]

Cox made gas powered planes and cars for the masses and got into model railroading in the 70's. Most of their trains were made by Athearn and they put their logo on it.

I don't recall this accessory but if it is motorized, it most likely uses DC. You can test the accessory with a car battery. If this is the case, you'll need to either rectify AC current with a bridge rectifier (available at Radio Shack) or use an HO set transformer. An HO set transformer is probably better since the DC is often filtered with a capacitor.

[02camaro]

Nostalgia...this brings back memories.  I can't help you with the conveyor, but the gantry crane was part of my first train set.  It was a Rock Island GP20 set with an oval of track and two switches to make a passing siding.  The crane sat on a tan or gray plastic loading dock base that had tracks for moving the crane back and forth (by hand).  I also remember it came with several crates and semi trailers for use with the crane.

Unfortunately, like most first train sets, it got lost along the way - wish I had it back now...