Another Marx train set dating help question.

[c50truck]

Hello

I’ve included a photo of a Marx train set I own of my fathers. His first set was quick to identify as prewar with the Marx automatic one-way couplers. But this second set has caused many a family discussion. As you well may guess, Dad has passed so we rely on memories, which can cloud with time.

 

 

This set as shown has been dated approx. in the early 50’s. Mom claims no way. She seems to think Dad was not interested in Marx trains at that time. Due to his Army involvement with the Korean War and a new wife, she feels his time was not spent with trains.

 

The engine is the 999. The original shell on his 999 has a broken pilot. I replaced it with a shell I found. I feel the key is the red crane car. And it seems his parents bought everything through the Montgomery Ward catalog.  Can anyone give a definitive date and settle the dust around the table during the family gatherings?

 

Rod L

[Dave Farquhar]

The broken pilot on the 999 could be the key. Did you save the original shell? Is there enough of it left to see if it had spokes? Early 999s were prone to breakage, so the shell was revised three times. The original had open spokes, then they closed the spokes but they were still visible, and then there was the solid pilot, which was the strongest and ended up being the most common.

I don't know the exact years for the different variations, but it should be in one of the Marx reference books (I don't have mine handy at the moment).

[c50truck]

Hello Dave, Thanks for your response. Yes I saved the original shell of the 999. No I cannot be sure if it had open spokes. The broken edge seems to have been smooth over, possibly with a file. Maybe Dad cleaned up the edge when he first brought the sets out and turned me loose with them.

I’ve asked many a Marxist about this set, but everyone guesses 1951,1952, due to the plastic crane car. This forum was my last hope for an answer. Seems this will always be a mystery to me, as to the year this set was made. Or maybe soon I will travel back east and visit a Marx museum. Possibly there I will find my answer.

Rod L.

[Dave Farquhar]

Rod, what I was able to find out about the 999 was that the open spokes version was only made in 1942. Closed spoke was made in 1946. The plain pilot with rivets was made from 1947-1959. Too bad the pilot was filed off; that could have potentially settled it precisely.

I don't believe Marx made any plastic prior to 1952 (they definitely didn't before the war), but there's always the possibility the crane car was added later.

Have you asked on the Yahoo MarxTrain group? http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MarxTrain is the address. There are a couple of people there who might be able to give you an answer.