That set dates to 1951. Has the double diesel Santa Fe units with both freight and streamlined passenger cars. Thats probably the top of the line set from 1951. It sold for $31.75 in the Sears catalog. The set was made by Marx and Sears attached the Happi-time logo.
Condition is what values the set now. In very good condition the diesels alone would fetch $60-70. The whole set in good condition with the box I think would sell for over $200. All depends on the condition. If there are lots of scratches or rust present then that would affect the value.
Are you looking to sell?
Thanks for posting, and Welcome to the forum.
Your set was manufactured by Louis Marx and Company (makers of the Big Wheel and Rock'em Sock'em Robots, among other things) for Sears. Sears used to put its name on train sets it sold that were manufactured by Marx. Unfortunately there's only one reference guide for Marx sets and it's a pretty rare book (and I don't have it) so I can't look it up to see what's in it and give you an estimate. What I generally tell people is that a good starting point for a Marx set is $100-$150, assuming it's a set that's made up of a common locomotive and cars, and value can go up from there if the set contains rare items. I know Sears sold a set that had Western Pacific diesel locomotives and a bay-window Western Pacific caboose, for instance. That set would be worth considerably more, since it had a number of uncommon and rare items and it happens to be really snazzy looking too.
As far as age, it's probably from the 1950s. I think Sears used the Happi Time brand during the early '50s and Allstate during the later 1950s and 1960s.
I hope that helps.
A quick search on e-bay and I found this set. This one is in very nice condition. Only part of the set you have.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Marx-21-Diesel-Engine-Santa-Fe-Passenger-El-Capitan_W0QQitemZ320071011072QQihZ011QQcategoryZ19147QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
I see Paul beat me to it and had better reference material at his disposal. :)
I have a similar set (Marx-branded), and I don't think $200+ would be out of line at all. It could be worth more because of the switches and such.
Dave,
I looked it up in "The Toy Train Department" book. Its the book that has the train section from the Sears catalog from the 1950's and 60's. (Strange how you have to put 19 in front of those decades). Doesnt seem that long ago. Anyway that was a heck of a set. The #21 tin Santa Fe diesels, 2 freight cars, caboose and the 3 streamline passenger cars. Alot of track with 2 remote switches and a 50 watt transformer. Sweet!
Ah, I forgot, being a Sears set, it would be in that book. I don't have that one yet either, but it's a lot more attainable than the Greenberg Marx set book. Sounds like a really nice set. I didn't know anyone thought of providing both passenger and freight in one set. Was it O27 or O34?
I'm sure that set made lots of kids happy on Christmas morning that year. Using an inflation calculator, I see that $37.50 roughly translates into $300 today. That was more than you get for your $300 when you buy a train set now!
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