Marx Switches Questions

[Dano53]

Hello everyone, I’m new here. Recently I pulled out my old train set that I have had since I was a child. I haven’t looked at it for many years. My brother and I got it for Christmas, I would guess, in the late 1950s or early 1960s. Some how I wound up with it. It is a mix of American Flyer (1941 vintage), Lionel and Marx (that were new that Christmas). The American Flyer and Marx trains are pretty beat up. Children should not be allowed to play with toy trains especially die cast (lol).

 

I have a pair of Marx switches that I have some questions about. I have a pair of what I think are Marx 1590 switches. Is 1590 the number of the set comprised of a 1588 switch and a 1589 switch? On my switches the solenoid covers are black. I’ve seen on the internet that some are red. Is there a difference besides the color? Did Marx ever make a different model switch that looks like the 1590s? Are there new solenoid coils or other parts available for the 1590s?

 

Thanks,

Dano

[sir james I]

The 1588s were from 1937.

The 1590 were a pair dated 1950.

The red cover could be the prewar color as Marx did use a lot of red then. Also a Japan copy was sold in the US with a red cover. hope this helps.

From a Greenburg Marx book Vol. 2

[Dano53]

Thanks James, I appreciate it.

[Cluckster]

Hey Dano, I'm new to this also.  I have both red and black cover Marx switches.  They all work but on some, when the loco passes over them, the loco stops.  Any ideas and cures?

kc

[Sturgeon-Phish]

If the switches used for Marx trains is not Marx the enginge may stop due to the drive gear being on the inner part of the drive wheel perimeter hitting the switch frog

Jim 

 

[ADCX Rob]

Cluckster

...on some, when the loco passes over them, the loco stops.  Any ideas and cures?

The 5 Minute Marx Switch Fix

[Sturgeon-Phish]

Rob,

Neat information

[Malcolm Laughlin]

sir james I wrote 

The red cover could be the prewar color as Marx did use a lot of red then. Also a Japan copy was sold in the US with a red cover. 

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CAn anyone be more definite about that ?  I just listed on eBay a pair of red cover switches with controller and wiring.  If those were prewar, I'd like to be able to say so.  It would help to know the range of years in which he coveers were red.

Another question along the same line.  How long were those metal autopmatic switches produced, firts year, last year ?

Although I deal mainly in Lionel, for O-27 automatic switches, I really like Marx