Lately I have run across several ads on eBay selling pre 1990 GarGraves #103 and 104 switches and calling them O-100 switches. These pre 1990 #103 - 104 switches are not O-100 switches. They are approximately O-72 but will not fit in the same spot as a Lionel O-72 without some modifications to existing track work. In 1990 GarGraves came out with a switch that is an O-100 switch and chose to use the same item numbers 103 and 104. See my attached photo to see the two switches side by side. Notice that the O-100 switch has three ties on the end with the swinging points and the O-72 has four ties. The O-100 switches come from GarGraves with a sticker on the bottom which may or may not still be there. A big difference with the two switches is the area where the arc for the curve begins and ends. The white tape brackets the curved area on both switches in my photo. When bidding or buying these switches be very careful. Often depending on the photographs it can be very hard to tell by looking and many people selling them do not know the difference. I have seen this occur here on the forum also. The pre 1990 103 and 104 make a very abrupt turn in the points and some larger locomotives cannot make the turn without slowing down to a creep. The biggest give away though is the extended ties at the points for mounting a switch motor or stand. j
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