lionelsuperotrack
That is it but...mine has two track connectors as a controlling block..I see the switch as I described it....It appears that.yours should have two separate track connectors.There should be a second one with a single prong to fit under the track.
Nothing is more fairly distributed than common sense: no one thinks he needs more of it than he already has.
mersenne6 If you really like Marx there is a Yahoo group for both the original and the New Marx and there is a thread over on the OGR forum titled "Show Us Your Marx" in the tinplate section. The Yahoo groups have a number of very knowledgable posters as well as good photo archive. The OGR group has some interesting comments and some neat pictures as well. The other thing to think about is the CD The Definitive Guide to Marx Trains by Hiteshew. It is very well done (disclaimer - I have no connection with Mr. Hiteshew or the production of the CD). It is limited to Six-Inch Tin and the Joy Line trains but it is my understanding that there are plans for additional discs on other aspects of Marx.
If you really like Marx there is a Yahoo group for both the original and the New Marx and there is a thread over on the OGR forum titled "Show Us Your Marx" in the tinplate section. The Yahoo groups have a number of very knowledgable posters as well as good photo archive. The OGR group has some interesting comments and some neat pictures as well.
The other thing to think about is the CD The Definitive Guide to Marx Trains by Hiteshew. It is very well done (disclaimer - I have no connection with Mr. Hiteshew or the production of the CD). It is limited to Six-Inch Tin and the Joy Line trains but it is my understanding that there are plans for additional discs on other aspects of Marx.
Thanks. I am familiar with the Marx group and they provided the function piece of the puzzle in general terms and from that I figured the actual wiring without frying it. I have the CD but my computer is also a collectable, and refuses to cooperate, which is why a hard paper copy would be nice. The customization of Marx equipment is amazing..from the photos I have seen..some very talented guys, and of course, our friend "Penny Trains" here. I winced when I took my first cut with a metal shears to emulate what they make look easy. It's fun, although I recently had to "redo" a Paya Trolley conversion do to the original frame being too thin, it tended to rack under load. #$%@ ! I am in the midst of "Take # 2,,..Paya Trolley Conversion"..How these guys get such crisp custom paint jobs accomplished is beyond me..worthy of a professional..What would you call that? Faux lithography? I wish a "how to article would be published on this .Thanks again.
mersenne6 According to the Greenberg Guide to Marx Trains it is a #464 - with a manufacture date circa 1957. It came in both gray and black plastic.
According to the Greenberg Guide to Marx Trains it is a #464 - with a manufacture date circa 1957. It came in both gray and black plastic.
I really appreciate the clarification. and your time and energy spent in responding to this question. I have only been active with Marx for roughly two years and don't have access to the major guides. I recently saw one on ebay that still had it's original cardboard backed clear plastic wrapped display\sales package and it came with a section of track. I tried to peer at the picture and read the info to no avail. Thanks again.
balidas Can you post a pic?
Can you post a pic?
I also posted my question on the Marx Forum and he told me it was a two aspect block controlling signal. After he told me this, I revisited the wiring and realized that one connector was to be put outside of the isolated block to have the signal to be continuously lit, while the second connector controlled or switched power to the block by the middle powered rail. I still have no production number so my best guess is that it is a late production variation of the .metal 1404 in function, yet resembles the general outline of later plastic version of this 1404 ( which is not a controlling signal) and then added two targets to model instead of one. It always amazes me how many variations Marx produced..I thought I knew them all...duh..All of these different variations look unique but it seems like they follow a simple pattern in function. Another duh on my part. I don't know how rare it is but before seeing it Id never come across one for sale, so it's still somewhat of a mystery signal to me
Here is the link to the one I purchased:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.l2557&item=190530446404&nma=true&rt=nc&si=9uefIchynFtW7N0%252BKbhiQBELGJQ%253D
I recently acquired this accessory, which is made of molded gray plastic which has a slide lever at the forward facing base. It is more S scale than O.The top target is a green indication, the bottom is red. It has two sets of track attachments which follow the Marx profile of fitting in the fold of the rails underneath rather than on the outside circumference as in Lionel. The first has one prong to fit on the rails which is green ( ground?), the other has two.( red and black ) It appears to resemble the much earlier metal #1404 Pennsy style target in function, being a block isolation signal yet the later plastic variant which I have is simply block indication..I cannot find any reference to this. Is this a rare variation, and \ or am I risking frying this thing by simply "plugging it in" as it simply is? It also resembles the vertical slide on a #405 block signal controller only being horizontal..Does anyone have a production number? I d rather ask than have a puff of smoke be an indicator I should have.
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