Help identifying O-scale track type, manufacturer

[lionelsoni]

If you have any curved O34 pieces, you may find them a very useful intermediate curvature, that is, O27 profile but with a curvature that allows you to run O31 cars and locomotives that you would otherwise have to use O42 for.

[martinden]

Lionel began to use the silver-gray ties in 1959, but the complete changeover was not immediate, so you can find 1960 and even 1961 sets that have black ties (or, apparently, a mix of the two in a few cases -- i.e., some sections have gray, others have black in the same set). Brown ties are 1970 and later.

Martin

 

 

[balidas]

The Lionel black ties are from the '40's & '50's.  The grey, or as I call them, silver ties are from the '60's & 70's.

You may find some track that have black ties, 2 holes per tie, smooth tabs on the middle rail but absolutely no markings. Those would be Sakai, a Japanese firm who produced O & HO trains in the early to mid '30's.

[mthmichael]

Yep! That's what it is, Marx track. I didn't pay much for this lot of track. I found it on Craigs list for.. believe it or not $10.00! It was 293 pieces! 70 some were the Marx, the rest Lionel Blk ties made in N.Y. Another Question-  Some of the Lionel has Gray ties and the marking on the side of the rails are upside down, that say Lionel NY? The other Black tie track says Lionel NY on the side of the rails are right side up! Let me know what you think, Thank you.

[balidas]

Yep, sounds like Marx. The 11 1/8 pieces mentioned above will have 5 ties, but you will also see 8 7/8 sections with 5 ties. That would be their 034 style track.

As mentioned above, the tabs holding the middle rail are crimped, like the outside rails.

When you check the track pins, you may find  that some of them are nails with the heads cut off. I've pulled a good many of those out of my track.

[lionelsoni]

From your description of the lengths, I infer that you have O27-profile track..  If so, the ties should be about 2 inches long.

I agree that your track sounds like Marx.  Look at the rail flanges.  The Marx flanges should be folded down under the rail, whereas Lionel would be folded up.  Look at the rail web.  The Marx web should be knurled, whereas Lionel would be smooth.

The length of a straight meant for use with O27 curves should be about 8 7/8 inches.  A straight meant for use with Marx O34 curves should be about 11 1/8 inches.  Marx was a little sloppy about these lengths however, even among the rails of an individual piece.

[rtraincollector]

sounds like marx as they had a tendency not to mark there track

[mthmichael]

I purchased a lot of O-scale track, and with it is a bunch of unmarked track, it looks like Lionel except the ties are a little bit wider and the connecting pins are smooth, unlike Lionel where they have like a little nub at the end. The ties also have two holes apiece, Lionel has one per tie. There are the 9inch (approx) pieces like Lionel also there are long, over 11 inch pieces, which are nice! Please help.