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Looking for how to assess or value old Marklin train cars

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Looking for how to assess or value old Marklin train cars
Posted by SooLine64 on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 5:24 PM

I have an old train set handed down through the family.  There is an old Lionel 029 Locomotive with a Tender, a Pabst car, and this Schlitz car in the picture.  I am having a difficult time trying to figure out what it is worth.  Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you!

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Posted by Steven Otte on Wednesday, July 10, 2024 8:38 AM

You can't post photos directly to the Forum from your hard drive. You have to post it on a photo hosting service first. Read this pinned post to find out how: https://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/249194.aspx 

--
Steven Otte, Model Railroader senior associate editor
sotte@kalmbach.com

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Posted by pennytrains on Wednesday, July 10, 2024 6:43 PM

Postimages.org is an easy one to use and it's free.

Big Smile  Same me, different spelling!  Big Smile

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Posted by SooLine64 on Wednesday, July 10, 2024 11:28 PM

Thank you!

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Posted by SooLine64 on Wednesday, July 10, 2024 11:32 PM

Here is the image: Marklin Train Car

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Posted by El Fixes Things on Saturday, July 13, 2024 12:18 AM

I don't know of any steam locomotives Lionel produced numbered 029. There was a No. 2029 steam locomotive produced in the postwar period, with a 2-6-4 wheel arrangement. It was black, and was paired with a tender that had white Lionel Lines lettering on it- sometimes with a whistle but not always.

That Schlitz car is definitely not a Lionel product, but I don't know who produced it.

Assigning a price to things can be tricky, and is impacted by many factors. I can say with some confidence, that in general, condition is one of the biggest determining factors in how much a train is worth. The closer something is to the condition it left the factory in, the better. But there are other factors that can impact value, such as rarity, the presence of original packaging, and how sought after a particular model is.

-Ellie

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Posted by pennytrains on Saturday, July 13, 2024 8:34 PM

I don't know a lot about prewar Märklin, but I know you could get several large bags of nickels for a car in that condition, which appears to be very good to excellent by the way!  Big SmileThumbs Up

Big Smile  Same me, different spelling!  Big Smile

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Posted by SooLine64 on Sunday, July 14, 2024 10:43 AM

Oops...  the tag on the bottom says Lionel 027.  Should have been wearing my glasses.  It has 3 wheels on each side.

That other car is a Marklin from 1906.

Thank you for your response!!

Thomas

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Posted by SooLine64 on Sunday, July 14, 2024 10:44 AM

Thank you!!!

 

Thomas

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Posted by wjstix on Thursday, August 15, 2024 2:35 PM

SooLine64

Here is the image: Marklin Train Car

 

Are you sure this is a Marklin car from 1906? Does it say "Marklin" (and perhaps "Made in Germany") on the bottom?

If it has "1906" stamped on it, it's most likely the model ID number, not the year. Also, would be a bit odd in 1906 for Marklin in Germany to be making an American reefer car. I'm assuming it's O gauge, which at that time Marklin had just invented.

Does it by chance have "MAR" with an "X" in a circle on it? That would indicate it was built by Marx in the US, probably 1938-42. Although their small 2 axle cars from that time are more well known, they did make cars with two 2 axle trucks too. 

toyandtrainguides.com/marxtin/id/m-id-8whl-frame-black-ac.htm

 

Stix
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Posted by pennytrains on Thursday, August 15, 2024 8:47 PM

Definitely not Marx.  Bing, Carrette or Bassett Lowke maybe if not Maerklin but absolutely 100% European manufacture.

Big Smile  Same me, different spelling!  Big Smile

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Posted by SooLine64 on Monday, August 19, 2024 9:33 PM

All it says on the bottom is "Made in Germany."  The bottom is black and the marking is in red.

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Posted by SooLine64 on Monday, August 19, 2024 9:37 PM
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Posted by pennytrains on Tuesday, August 20, 2024 7:31 PM

I don't know why I didn't think of this before.  The western division of the Train Collectors Association has a fantastic online database of toy train manufacturers: http://www.tcawestern.org/manufacturers.htm

Lots of info and pictures!

Big Smile  Same me, different spelling!  Big Smile

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Posted by pennytrains on Tuesday, August 20, 2024 7:36 PM

Ps personally I think you'd better start looking at auction houses.  This little old boxcar could buy you a shiny new automobile.  Especially if the auction has a lot of European train collectors.  Wink

Big Smile  Same me, different spelling!  Big Smile

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Tuesday, August 20, 2024 8:19 PM

pennytrains
Lots of info and pictures!

Wow.  I'm gonna link it as soon as my head stops swimming!

Thanks Becky!  I had NO idea!  

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Posted by SooLine64 on Friday, August 23, 2024 1:34 PM

Thank you!  :)

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