How to hook up Marx light towers?

Chris,

Show us a picture of the bottom, if like mine there are two screws. Assuming the bulbs are rated 14 volts, go from the two 14 volt terminals on the brick to the terminal block and then to the tower. If the bulbs are rated for more or less voltage, they will be brighter  or dimmer but bulbs are not too expensive if you need to change.

Here's the bottoms.

You are on the right track.  As Hokie71 said, as long as your bulb are 14volt, or higher, you will be fine.  The green tower looks like someone modified it; the center wire is not original.  Very likely the two wires from the center of each light are joined together somewhere in the base.  You can see the difference between your green tower and your black tower.  This isn’t a problem but I would test each light tower with your transformer before you go through the trouble of planting them on your train table.  If your bulbs are too bright, or very hot you can use 18volt bulbs which will be dimmer, cooler and last longer.  Most Marx accessories, that I have seen, are screw base bulbs which is an E10 base.  You can find these bulbs in a number of places, including Amazon, for less than $1.

Chris

I agree with Dan that your green tower may have been modified. I have two myself which are “D” cell powered. They don’t light very well with a 1.5 V bulbs. The common is reliant on the contact from the globe to swivel contact, which isn’t very consistent. Easily bend over the one tab so you can swing the base off, if its battery you will see the spring coil at the top of the square base. Here are some pics to help you.

Interesting, I have not seen the green model or the battery one,  I only have the black model.

I was not aware that there was a battery version.  You will know immediately if this was a battery version because the bulb will go off like a flashbulb (if you remember them) when you touch the transformer terminal.  See if you can read the number on the bulb.  Or, just buy a box of 10 new bulbs.  The 18v bulb is #1447 - you can get 10 for $6.99 at Amazon.