Lionel Production errors, Engineering samples, Protoytpes:

Not specific to Looney Tunes, but MTH sold most, if not all, of it prototypes inventory a few years ago.  There are a few folks that bought the lots and are selling on ebay.  I do not think they are worth much other than to the owner of the item.  I have several, so they are nice to have.  Have an engine, several cars and a caboose.  I call it the MTH Prototype train.

Well off hand, I'd say yes... production errors do make it out of the factory... and Lionel's recent California Zephyr passenger set is a great example of one huge production error!!!    That's all I'm gonna say about the whole project anymore.

David

Certainly oddball items such as paint samples or even prototypes are known to exist outside of the Lionel factory.  With the Richard Kughn auctions about 10 years ago and also the closing of the Lionel plant in 2001, many unusual items came into the marketplace.  The Richard Kughn auctions featured many Lionel prototype items from the late 1980s and early 1990s. Alot of prototype sets and even some pieces that never made it into production were in the Kughn auctions.

For some very plausible Postwar prototypes/mock ups, check out this recent thread:

https://ogrforum.com/t...in-collector-s-hands

Well, if I wasn't dizzy before I looked at this thread, I am now! 

I have some factory error pieces - things like missing lettering, double stamping. For a long time nobody wanted that stuff. Then people started assigning a premium for postwar factory errors. I never paid a premium for any of the pieces I've had.

Can't say about interest in Modern Era factory errors.
Todd has commented on them in the past, perhaps he will chime in.

I also have one or two postwar factory sample parts, nothing complete, just a tagged piece. They are interesting to me, but I would not assign a high value on them. There is a small group of collectors interested in that sort of stuff.

You wrote that you got the shell in an auction for a reasonable price. I'd say that is its value. I guess you could try auctioning it off, and see if you can get more.

For modern production errors in general, I would propose it only makes any difference in collector interest or value if it is a small subset of the batch.

Issues like the CZ cars referenced by Rocky Mountaineer and the mis-spelling of "Finn" on the Mark Twain version of the Burlington Zephyr train a while back affect the entire run (there are no correct spellings for "Finn", nor any cars that are better finish (nor having the correct dome car) for the current CZ cars people are stewing about).  So these are just errors(or flaws in the manufacturing), certainly no added value.

If there is any perceived value, it would be like CW said with either missing graphics, numbers etc.  The key is that not every piece produced has the error.  I have one or 2 pieces like this form modern, may have paid a slight premium for one, but the other was random.  I remember some one having a 1997 era NYC PA-1 from Lionel at York once that was missing (I think) the 2000 number and the lightning stripe on one side of the engine.  I don't know if it sold for what he was asking.

As to your piece, if it's not what was claimed, someone sure marked it up to make it look like it was.  For $20, it's a neat item.

-Dave