Madison Hardware Lionel Autos

Detroit era Madison hardware was sold off in lots. The parts could be anywhere as it was an open sale. As for odd colors I'll let the bookworms answer that as I don't know.

I believe that the odd colored cars, black, dark blue, tan, and orange were special colors made for the LCCA and other clubs.

rjm

rjm   I think that those LCCA autos are different than the ones being offered as "Madison Hardware" cars-I have those LCCA ( and, I agree with you, other "clubs")cars and they are different from the ones now and from prior times on ebay. But I may be wrong-so let's see what other expertise can offer.  Turtle7

I see all sorts of odd colored reproduction 6414 style autos offered on EBay with claims that they were made by Madison Hardware. 
Though out the 1970's I purchased dozens of reproduction 6414 automobiles directly from them in person. Not once did Carl or Lou offer me any in odd colors. And I didn't see any odd colored ones in the drawers they were pulled from.

So I have my doubts.

As far as the LCCA autos goes: Weren't they made by modern era Lionel?

Thanks C W for that input-to me, it is this direct, personal experience which often helps to answer the question. It would be great if the folks writing the book on Madison Hardware would also respond.  Turtle7

The LCCA autos were Lionel #52153, set of four: blue, brown, orange, green, if I remember correctly. 

BUT the rear of each car has white printing that identifies it as an LCCA car.  I am sure that can be removed if necessary.

At York back in the eighties, I remember a gentleman selling flat cars with two orange or two blue autos. He had a lot of orange or blue flats with different loads. I believe he was from New Jersey. He wore glasses and I believe his first name might of been Bob.

Hi Turtle, 

I'll tell you the little bit I know from my research and that is that Madison Hardware did own tooling to reproduce those cars. The tooling went into private hands in 1989 and again changed hands in 2006. Whether anyone used that tooling after it left Madison I do not know. I agree with CW that people liked to take unusual items and slap a story about Madison Hardware on them, would not surprise me if someone did this with a stock pile of those cars. I wish I could tell you exact colors that Madison did, but I can not. 

Thanks,
Derek

Jim, Derek   Thanks again. It's interesting how we each develop "interests" in issues which don't interest most other (train) collectors. And, also "again", the facts often are in the experience of others, not recorded-I find this to be especially "true" for the "MPC" times of Lionel. Perhaps others will speak on the topic.  Turtle

quote:

At York back in the eighties, I remember a gentleman selling flat cars with two orange or two blue autos. He had a lot of orange or blue flats with different loads. I believe he was from New Jersey. He wore glasses and I believe his first name might of been Bob

There is a fellow named Bob Geller who has been in business for quite some time. He is the fellow who makes reproduction brush plates and covers for Lionel #50 gang cars. He also makes them with custom decorations like AEC in limited quantities.
Bob was also responsible for some fairly nice reproductions of 2671, 1666, and 6026 tender shells.
I think he made the reproductions of the 6800 airplane load, not positive. Maybe he did the Automobiles.
I know he made flat cars, because I purchased a quantity of them from him at York some time ago.

Here is a link to his web site: Geller Toy Trains

Thank you Mr. Burfle. That was the gentleman.

the original postwar autos from Lionel were Red, White, Turquoise, and Yellow as on the auto loader #6414, Then Lionel Made Green and Brown. I have 100's Lionel originals and repros from the original Madison Hardware. Any other colors claiming to be from the postwar Era are NOT Lionel or Madison Hardware copies.

Lionel did made the dark blue one starting in 1996 for a flat car and then the LCCA had 4 made for members only. Which were Blue, Green, Orange and Brown.

I took a look at Mr. Geller's website. I remember selling those Coast Guard items. I can't remember if it was Mr. Geller or someone else who made a flat car with a rocket. The rocket had a pencil sharpener in the body of the rocket. I believe the same person had a flat car with either five or six missile's on it and a flat with a helicopter. I remember some of the couplers didn't stay closed. There was a problem with the plungers. Wow, that was about thirty years ago.    

I don't have it 100 percent straight on which items where made by Bob Geller, and which items were made by Chicago Line. Chicago Line also went by the name "Parts for Collectors". When they closed up shop, they offered their tooling up for sale. I have the information in my file cabinet if someone wants to know.

I still have some of those Coast Guard flats, and a few other cars. The 6801 boats, helicopters, and 6413 Mercury Capsules were done by Chicago line. Smitty purchased the Chicago Line molds.
Chicago Line also ran some of their parts in custom colors/paint schemes, like Coast Guard. I had a 6801 boat with a red hull. Lionel never made that color.
I know what you mean about the trucks/couples. I found that after replacing the knuckles with Lionel parts, they stayed closed.

Mr. Burfle, was it Chicago Line that came in a yellow and black box? What company had like a sky scrapper pictured on their box?

Yes, it was Chicago Line aka Parts for Collectors

ZWPOWER13,

Thank you for your reply. Please take care and have a wonderful day. Also, Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

Speaking of the Chicago Line Yellow Boxes: They made a nice knockoff of the Lionel #35 Lamp post in a variety of colors. The top was glued together and slipped on, and there were pigtails rather than the Lionel style power connector. I had a bunch.
I saw some at the Albany, NY train show this past weekend. I don't see them offered for sale very often.

These were done before MTH started making die cast knockoffs of Lionel lamp posts. (They are nice too).

I believe that Mr. Geller's cars were sold under the brand name; "Model Train Sales Inc" (MTSI). The boxed car I have sitting out in in a blue and white box.

I could remember the blue and white box but not the name. I kind of lost interest in those cars when the couplers wouldn't stay closed.