Louis Marx Train Set #50325

[Mary]

We just moved my mother-in-law out of her house and found my husband's old train set in it's original box.  Description below, can someone help me with some background on the set and whether it has any value.

Louis Marx Automatic Unc Freight Train Set #50325 in original box

 

Steam Locomotive; #1666; set brwt1; Black; 2-4-2; smoke; reverse; headlight; plastic

Santa Fe Coal Tender Car; Black; Plastic body 

New York Central NYC Crane Car; Black

Boxcar; #3280; AT&SF; Orange; “Santa Fe All the Way” 

Cattle car; #13975; AT&SF; Brown; Scale O Postwar

Flat car; #4528; Erie, Brown; includes 2 green plastic tractors

Auto Carrier; #51100; Southern; Maroon/Grey; missing plastic cars

Caboose with Searchlight; AT&SF; Brown; 

Chicago Burlington & Quincy Flat car; #5545; Brown; Scale O Postwar; missing freight cars 

Plus unknown # of Track, with some rust on them

 

Any asssistance would be appreciated. 

[palallin]

Mary,

I don't have my copy of the Marx Sets reference book with me at the moment, but this sounds like a late-'60s/early '70s near-top-of-the-line set pretty typical of its times.  I suspect it has had cars added to it or perhaps a second set is partially present.  There is a lot of play opportunity there, as is also typical of Marx sets.

As for monetary value, well, the big variable is condition.  Pics would help us to evaluate it, but I can guarantee you and your busband will not retire on the prceeds should he choose to sell it ;-) None of the pieces is particualarly scarce or hard to find.  If it has been played with, no doubt there will be evidence in the form of nicks, scratches, maybe broken small parts.  Dust, rust, and so forth will reduce the raw market value.  On the other hand, having the box is a great plus!

You don't mention a transformer; is it present?

If you have any interest at all in having a train, you'll get far more pleasure out of cleaning it up and playing with it than you will from selling it.  Unless it is pristine, figure on getting maybe enough for a good steak/seafood dinner with drinks for two out of the sale.

All that said, if you post pics, we can be more precise.

 

[Mary]

Thank you for your reply.  I've attached some pictures.

[Mary]

Sorry, yes there is a transformer.  I did send some photos, please let me know if you received them. 

Also, given your comments above, it seems very odd/suspicious that someone would offer me $1000 Canadian for this set.  Do you agree?   Maybe the pictures will help.

 

[palallin]

Mary, Unfortunately, the pics did not come through. There is a tutorial somewhere around here on posting pics, but I don't remember where it is. I would be *highly* suspicious of a $1000 dollar offer. That's one too many zeroes, at least, unless, as is barely possible, the trains are very mint (pristine) AND a lot rarer than the description suggests. Please try again with the pics.

[palallin]

Mary,

 

I have looked at my Guide to Marx sets, and I don't find a set with this number, which ommission is interesting.  The guide is not without gaps, and Marx was not exactly consistent.  Those pics would be especially helpful now.  Also, please verify 50325.  We have a minor mystery to solve!

[Penny Trains]

Could be a chain store's stock number.  Sears, Montgomery Ward, Woolworths, etc.  If your'e up to the search, here's a site with many of their Christmas catalogs: http://www.wishbookweb.com/the-catalogs/

aboard!

Becky

[palallin]

Could be! But it falls right in the middle of a series of Marx numbers, which leads me to wonder if it IS a Marx number that's just not in the guide. Could actually be both, as Marx used some Sears stock numbers for their own sets, but I think those we all in the 9500 - 99xx range. Good thinking!

[rrswede]

I agree with you, Becky. The original post indicates "Louis Marx Automatic Unc Freight Train Set #50325 in original box". To me, the Unc means uncataloged and probably marketed by a specific retailer.

swede

[palallin]

Remember that Marx did not "catalog" its products regularly--its retailing did not resemble Lionel's at all. Very few catalogs were issued.