Question on Marx Train Control Tower

[Railfan1588]

Hi,
I was wondering if anyone could help me with a problem I'm currently having with a Marx train control tower. After receving the tower several days ago, I decided to try out and see if it works. It is working, but it doesn't respond to voice command like it was supposed to. The only way I can currently get it to work, is when I blow a puff a air into the tower. Is there any way to loosen up the diaphragm on the tower so that it can respond to voice commands. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Nick
Lionel 16
Lionel Forever

[brianel027]

Nick, I was unaware MARX made a tower like this. Try going to the website: www.thortrains.net

Thor is a big MARX fan. If there's a link or an email address on his site, drop him a line. If anyone might have the answer, it would be him.

[thor CNJ]

The tower in question is an example of primitive toy train technology. I know of no way to loosen the diaphragm. One such devise, either a tower or the hand-held controller, had instructions that emphasized letters like - Stop - "Stop-puh" The idea was to push breath while speaking.

The radio control tower is one of several odl accessories that seemed "magickal" half a century ago, but are rather primitive today.

Think of it this way: yours still works, Many don't work any more.

[Railfan1588]

Thor,
when I first heard about this tower, I thought it was a pretty amazing accessorie. But your right, when ever you look into how it works, it is really pretty basic stuff. Of course, the way it operates still seems amazing to me. Even though it seems no towers operate via voice commands anymore, did they actually at one time respond to voice commands such as reverse or forward. I have to admit, the way my tower is currently, it is hard to imagine that at one time it would activate from voice commands.

One thing I forgot to mention in the above post, I am able to say stop into the tower which includes giving a pretty good puff on the "p" to get the diaphragm to move. I did think about replacing the whole diaphragm assembly with a better operating one , but after listening to several posts including yours, it just doesn't seem there are any good operating towers out there anymore. Are there any Marx parts dealers out there that make a replacement diaphragm assembly?

Also, thanks for the information so far.

Nick