A Marx HO Set???

The freight cars are old Marx tooling, the locomotive AHM(or whoever made it for them.)

I got into HO with a Marx set from Sears.  Had a 0-4-0 Tyco saddletank rip-off and 5 or 6 freight cars, oval of stamped tin track on fiber ties, small power pack, O gauge station platform and some cheap, 2 dimensional "accessories."  I think it cost around 10-15 bucks.

It was an after Chrismas clearance and was the counter display set in a huge blister pack.  Was pretty awkwark taking it home on the bus.

Rusty

That little diesel sure has gotten around. Models of it have been offered to the North American market by a number of companies for eons. Interestingly, the prototype upon which the model is based is an Italian locomotive.    

Bob

Model Power has all the Marx tooling as far as I can tell. They sell a 'F' unit that is 100% the sane as my 1962 Marx unit I got got Christmas that year.  The chassis has been changed a number of times but the shell is the same as it always was. The short bay window caboose, hopper, box etc are all Marx items. You can even see where the Marx logo was ground away on the molds. I even 'restored' some of my original cars with parts from Model Power current cars!

When these little diesel 4-wheel switchers come up, I always have to mention:

They are O-scale. Not HO. Look at the size of it compared to the cars.

They are On30. A real O-scale loco bargain. just a thought.

Actually, more like Sn30...

Rusty

Here's an interesting page highlighting AHM's various issues of this model:

http://www.ho-scaletrains.net/...ocomotives/id29.html

The Reading version was my second HO locomotive.

Bob

I think this is the 100% Marx set.  http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/mdp/mdp1020-01.htm

Very cool...like a time capsule sealed in a display package...for merely pocket change (compared to our O gauge trains).

So which other locos in the Model Power line are Marx?

 I think it amazing how Marx's  old tooling survives,and is still used by different manufactures .

 The Louis Marx Co. must have employed some awfully talented tool and die makers.Seems every time you turn around someone,K-Line,RMT now Model Power use their old molds.  

Atlas offered a similar locomotive with three axles as part of its 70s era two rail O scale product line:

http://www.ho-scaletrains.net/...aleresource/id3.html

Bob

I goofed, I meant to say Sn42. 

Ooops. 

Still, could probably be regauged for Sn3 or Sn30.

But, the old Industrial Rail Santa Fe style caboose IS spot on for S Scale.  I measured it vs a brass Southwind Models S Scale SF caboose and it's off by just a hair on the width.  I put S HiRail trucks and couplers on the IR caboose for a friend of mine and it looks fine.

Rusty

So how did all these random companies share this tooling?  For the larger Plymouth style switcher.  You have AHM/Mehano, Bachmann, Atlas, Model Power, etc

Most of the Marx HO line was built for Marx by others!

I got this today. If you look on the underside you can faintly see a MARX logo. Other than knuckle couplers it is unchanged since the first Marx issue.....even the 'toy' wheels sets with giant flanges!!

Over time, many models manufactured by third parties for specific companies have subsequently been imported and marketed by other concerns as a result of a change in the original business relationship. For example, the SW1 built by Mehano originally for AHM in the 70s was later imported by Model Power following AHM's demise. There are numerous additional examples of a similar nature. Certain features may change but they are essentially the same models built with the same tooling.

Bob

Here is a example of a original Marx set...

Nice graphics on the inside lid ...

The box is a carrying case with a pretty cute "fake alligator skin" outside cover...

 Man I miss the minds of Marx, they were so clever with their ideas

I work in the plastic kit manufacturing field. But the high end Die Cast producers are suffering the same issues as the model rail folks. With the plastic model production the manufacture only needs to produce the parts and put them in a box. Like the model rail guys.....the high end die cast cars are labor intensive and have a higher than average reject rate....impacting cost and capacity greatly. I think eventually high end production of the 'Mint' cars will return but I bet they will cost about double and the big profit margin will not be the same. 

Marx made their own line of HO trains (very crude compared to other manufacturers from the 50s) - I think American Flyer used Marx F units towards the end of their selling HO trains:  http://www.gilbertho.org/rolling_stock/31037.htm 

Flyer bought trains from Varney as well (including their F-3 in the mid 1950s); the Marx F unit has coarser detail than the Varney engines, but were undoubtedly cheaper for Flyer to purchase.  

Marx made the most of their molds and dies - they tried using as many parts among items as was possible to shave the costs down.

Just got my new $35 sealed Marx (err Model Power) HO set today.  Got it only because its colorful and a cool use of historic tooling.

I'm experimenting/dabbling in On30/Sn42 with a Model Power Plymouth and some Peco On30 track.  I've already installed Bachmann diecast On30 trucks on the older Industrial Rail SP style caboose and it looks great.  Just have to install couplers.  I also bought a three pack of Bachmann On30 underframes and three On30 Vulcan trucks.  I plan to fabricate gondola bodies made from Evergreen styrene sheets and shapes.  Finally, I have a Bachmann On30 Continental Express on order--complete with track and transformer.  

     The Model Power Plymouth has one powered axle with one traction tire.  The three homemade gons and modified IR caboose should be enough for this engine. 

    I may pickup some Micro Engineering On30 track as well.

 You're right.  Wow.  I need one.  the loco would make a perfect On30 mine loco.

Nice to see Marx is no longer the ignored stepchild of tinplate and trains, and is getting respect a maker once the world's largest toy maker, and one of the most creative, deserves.  For those who have long collected it, that recognition has translated into pricing, unfortunately, so we no longer can pick up rare items at giveaway prices.  Ahhh..the good old days...I think I only have had one HO set, a Hudson steam set, and sent that on to a new owner....who made their HO steam,

if that, too, was not made in house?

My first train set was a Marx 0-27.  My second was a Varney HO.  Wish i still had them.

I didn't get into Lionel or MTH until a few years ago.