Marnold Equipment...

What year catalogs are you seeing this in?  I used to inhale the Walthers catalogs as a kid prior to them discontinuing all the cool stuff but don't remember this brand.

I remember them in the early 70s, late 60s catalogues.    The older guys at the time considered them the cadillac control systems.    I have seen a few around but not recently. 

I think they were rheostat control, not transistor throttles.     There some options listed in the catalogues for configuring single, double or more throttles as I remember.

At the time getting started they did not fit into my budget but were appealing and had good reputations.

The Marnold Marn-O-Stat used to be THE throttle to use back in the day.  It provided the smoothest control in the pre-pulse power conventional DC days.  It's basically a big wire wound resistor (about a 60 degree arc, if I remember correctly)  with a wiper arm and handle hooked up to a DC power supply.

My HO club used them exclusively back in the 70's-80's as did the Little Q club in Aurora, IL.

Rusty

Yeah, I'm thinking 60s-70s Walthers catalogs.

I'm tempted to get one, just for laughs... very neat looking.

Mark in Oregon

@Rusty Traque posted:

The Marnold Marn-O-Stat used to be THE throttle to use back in the day.  It provided the smoothest control in the pre-pulse power conventional DC days. 

My HO club used them exclusively back in the 70's-80's as did the Little Q club in Aurora, IL.

Rusty

...and they worked well, then...?

Mark in Oregon

@Strummer posted:

...and they worked well, then...?

Mark in Oregon

Yep.

Rusty

Thank you...👍

Mark in Oregon

Hello fellows,  Marnold indeed always looked like the quality item...and yes, I use a marnold pack to test my scale locos at the workbench..Even so, I have a brand new trottlle in a box still waiting to have a set up to operate with---and many other old and outdated transformers and powerpacks...The old ones with transisters do not seem to work...And no, I havent gone to dcc...But this model railroading can get ahead of one.. What with Lionel Flyer types needing AC,  it really cuts in some time with the focus being fine scale building... So, Mark, go get a Marnold and try it....Years ago, here in northern Calif, the local NMRA meets with their auctions used to be the source to find older items... But, since the incursion of EBAY, I could not say today what is the way to go..Cheers..Arnold Kloian in Berkeley...

Thanks Arnold. 🙂

I did in fact just buy one off eBay: it's a number "C25", which I assume is a basic unit. Will let you know when it arrives.

I checked my 1978 Walthers catalog and there were a full 6 pages of Marnold items shown. Some of this info might prove useful...

Mark in Oregon

I think I have some if anyone interested? No throttles just control panel with some gauges.

@Tom weaver posted:

I think I have some if anyone interested? No throttles just control panel with some gauges.

Maybe...can you post a picture? 😁

Mark in Oregon

I can imagine that using the large Marn-o-stat lever roughly approximated the actions of a steam locomotive throttle; kind of like ZW handles.  Nice!

Dale

@Pennsylover posted:

I can imagine that using the large Marn-o-stat lever roughly approximated the actions of a steam locomotive throttle; kind of like ZW handles.  Nice!

Dale

Actually, I remember Dad taking me to an office associate's house to see the guy's HO layout (1950's, or so).  The guy had mounted a Marn-o-stat horizontally in a tall box standing on the floor next to the seat before the control panel (turnout controls, occupancy lights, accessory lights, etc.,etc.).  I remember he said it was to imitate the throttle in a real switch engine that he had been given the privilege to ride in for a few hours by a family friend who worked for the railroad.

Pretty cool, actually.  Wish Dad had taken some pictures, now that I think of it (70 years later!).

KD

Update:

This arrived today:

Checked it with a big CLW open-frame motor; works beautifully in both directions. 😊

Love the metal "crackled" finish: looks so "50-ish."

Smaller (7"x 6 5/8"x 3") than I thought it would be.

Once I'm able, it'll be fun to give it a proper testing. I suspect it will be able to power my All Nation steamers just fine. 🙂

Mark in Oregon

EDIT: Probably no interest, but here are some views of a very similar example from a current eBay listing:

Taking the concept to the ultimate, take a look at this, courtesy of fellow forumite @John Orwin, from a post by him back in 2019:

Although this doesn't appear to have a Marnostat within it, it is made up of a custom selection of racks and related pieces sold by Walthers back in the late 1960's and early 70's, and with Marnold heritage if not manufacture.  The power supply for the layout, mounted within this monster, is the second panel from the right, just before the array of switches, and is called a Marn-o-Power, and there may also be another of these second from the left.

As a 12 year old this was the cat's meow to me.  I dreamed of having one like this, but featuring the rack-mounted version of the Marnostats with their control levers instead of the rotary knobs you see.

Because the pieces were quite pricey, if I recall correctly, and they weren't sold after the early 70's, my dream never came true.

@GG1 4877, this was just a few short years before your time.

You can see John's original post at:

    I have been doing DC wiring for 55 years ... | John Orwin

Has anyone seen one of these lately?  Or do you know of someone that has one?

Mike

@Mellow Hudson Mike that is really cool.  I love the modular panel concept.  Reminds me of my other hobby of vintage analog synthesizers.  My oldest is a semi-modular 1975 Oberheim that has a total of four modules on beveled rack with the keyboard in front and is full of knobs and switches.  Other than not being as long as the control board you posted, it looks very similar.     

Holy cow! That is beyond awesome.

Looks like a retro board you'd see in a recording studio.

Thanks for posting that and the link. Super cool. 🙂

I'm glad I picked up my little unit. It looks to be in pristine condition, so it must have been well cared for over the years...

Mark in Oregon

Just another in an annoying line of updates. 🙂

I have been able to try this with several different engines, just to see. Mind you, this is all just bench testing; the real tests will come after I recover from my surgery. 👍

I mentioned the CLW motor; ran great.

I tried a Williams ( Mabuchi #555 can); same.

Then, just for laughs,a Gilbert #300 with the "universal" type motor. I have a pretty good selection of DC packs, but none seem to have enough power to run this type of motor without over- loading.  At 2 1/2 amps, this old Marold ran it just fine, with what seems like plenty of reserve.

As always, for whatever it's worth. 🙂

Mark in Oregon

Picked this up today:

I don't know how to rotate the second picture...

It's a "handheld" version (😁)  and it works great.

It's got a 3-way "load compensator" switch: I'm not sure what it was used for, but it does work; I tested this with a Williams Pacific, and can see the difference between the 3 settings. My other Marnold unit does not have this feature. I suspect "Hvy" would be for big open frame motors...

So while most(?) of you are running your stuff through your iphone, I'm buying things like this! 😂😄🤪

Mark in Oregon

Where do you even find this cool old stuff?

David

Funny... that's what I keep asking you guys!

Patience...and luck, I suppose.

Mark in Oregon

In case there's any interest... 🤔 🙂

On the "handheld":

The "load compensator" appears to be a 3-way voltage regulator switch: "lite" works for small can and open frame motors; "med" will power the same,it just doesn't require as much throttle and will run a Williams can motor quite well. On "hvy" this can run anything.

The complete power pack doesn't have that feature: judging by the performance,it more or less reflects the "hvy" setting, but with a little more range, both minimum and maximum.

I can't get voltage readings with my little meter; for whatever reason, it shows full voltage as soon as the throttle is opened, even slightly. I get the same readings when testing my equally old MRC pack. Maybe because these are rheostats and not transistor?

Anyway, there you go. 🙂

Mark in Oregon

When this topic originally came up I could not post photos. Well that has changed, so please let me join in.Still works after about 45 years.

@Purplepapa,

Sweet!

Mike

No way!  🙂

That is ridiculously awesome!!  🙂

Please give details; I have questions...

And here I thought I was a "lone voice in the wilderness"... 😁

Mark in Oregon

Edit: a quick check of my 1978 HO Walthers catalog shows your #2146 power supply, so I'm guessing that's about the time frame we're talking here. In 1973, the number was 2145...

Strummer posted

Please give details; I have questions...

Your time frame is spot on.It was in the middle 70’s that I purchased the unit as a semi-kit that had to be assembled.I never had even heard the phrase DCC at the time, so I guess this is now real old school- 2 rail DC. How time flies.

Hope that helps answer your questions.

Purplepapa

Thank you. 🙂... here's another:

I see you've got the 4.5 amp power source; do you find it's plenty to run your O scale stuff?

I ask because my crappy little unit is the lighter 2.5A...

Mark in Oregon

Mark,

My unit operates the plain 12 volt units just fine- even the US Hobbies and Lobaugh steam engines. My Sunset diesels with sound will only run slow due to sound voltage requirements.

Had to go out to shed and came across this and I took a photo for you.Enjoy!!

Leon

@Purplepapa posted:

Mark,

My unit operates the plain 12 volt units just fine- even the US Hobbies and Lobaugh steam engines. My Sunset diesels with sound will only run slow due to sound voltage requirements.

Had to go out to shed and came across this and I took a photo for you.Enjoy!!

Leon

Thank you for doing that. 🙂

So... this is a separate unit from the other (s)...I didn't realize these are/were "open backed".

So typically, what setting on the "Load Compensator" do you use to run your US Hobbies/Lobaugh stuff? I'm guessing they have open frame motors, so you run in the "Hvy" position; although at 4.5A, maybe you don't have to...(?)

Thanks again for putting up with my questions. 🙂

Mark in Oregon

You are correct. Only used the lower settings on Atlas 1970 plastic F9 units if I remember correctly.

Thank you.

I'm sure I'll have more questions; I appreciate your patience. 🙂

Mark in Oregon

@Tom weaver posted:

I think I have some if anyone interested? No throttles just control panel with some gauges.

Hey Tom

If you're interested in getting rid of that, please let me know. 🙂

Mark in Oregon

It sure would be interesting if someone could interface that handheld version to a smartphone for DCS or TMCC... that would be so much better than tapping a screen!

Dale

@Pennsylover posted:

It sure would be interesting if someone could interface that handheld version to a smartphone for DCS or TMCC... that would be so much better than tapping a screen!

Dale

Gee...that never occurred to me; I'm guessing it would take a complete rebuild, since the handheld is '60s technology... but what a novel approach!  I bet now that you've mentioned it, someone is going to try it; or something similar...🙂

Although these examples were obviously targeted for HO scale, at 2.5A these are capable of running my All Nation engines with their inefficient open frame motors...

Mark in Oregon

@Strummer posted:

Gee...that never occurred to me; I'm guessing it would take a complete rebuild, since the handheld is '60s technology... but what a novel approach!  I bet now that you've mentioned it, someone is going to try it; or something similar...🙂

Although these examples were obviously targeted for HO scale, at 2.5A these are capable of running my All Nation engines with their inefficient open frame motors...

Mark in Oregon

Digital to analogue interfaces are certainly possible.  In the world of analog electronic synthesizers, which is my other world these days there are adapters that take the CV inputs and outputs to convert the control voltages to be compatible with the standard 8 pin MIDI digital interface.  Likewise, I also have a small D/A device that takes an analog input from a mixer or other equipment and converts it via USB for recording on my digital studio. 

However, creating these devices is well beyond my skill level.  It would be interesting to see if the electrical brain trust of this forum has done something along these lines.

@GG1 4877 posted:

It would be interesting to see if the electrical brain trust of this forum has done something along these lines.

Nothing would surprise me...🙂

Say, so since you're getting back into your music (🎹) and now that my back has been operated on and I should be able to return to "normal" (and pick up a guitar again), we just need to find a bassist and drummer...😁 😁

Mark in Oregon 🎸

@Strummer posted:

Nothing would surprise me...🙂

Say, so since you're getting back into your music (🎹) and now that my back has been operated on and I should be able to return to "normal" (and pick up a guitar again), we just need to find a bassist and drummer...😁 😁

Mark in Oregon 🎸

I played drums the last two times I played out for gigs and played bass in the last band I played in regularly.    Hope you get to "pick" up the guitar again soon!  My guitar is as my oldest daughter would say (now 26), "fast" and "loud".  Note "good" was not how she would describe my playing.

@Pennsylover posted:

It sure would be interesting if someone could interface that handheld version to a smartphone for DCS or TMCC... that would be so much better than tapping a screen!

Dale

Dale,

The following inspired me to think about a Marnold-like version with the same kind of features:

Neil Young's Prototype ZW-D, Photo courtesy Julien's Auctions, "Property From The Collection of Neil Young, Dec 9, 2017"

But first, the above is a picture of a prototype for what was to be the ZW-D.  It never made it to production.  Why?

It brings up a question.  Is there a market for such a device?  In other words, do operators want a non-walk-around TMCC/Legacy controller?

      In place of a CAB-1, 1L, 2/BASE-1, 1L, 2?

      In addition to a CAB-1, 1L, 2/BASE-1, 1L, 2?

If there is then a Marnold-like version makes sense as well.  One hammertone gray standard rack panel with the pushbuttons and display section of the ZW-D, and two copies of a second panel featuring a Marn-o-Stat-like throttle lever, to the left and right of it.

Agree?  Disagree?

Your suggestion to interface to a smartphone is a good idea, but so might be using a single-board computer, like an Arduino or Raspberry Pi, behind the scenes to make it work.

Mike

FWIW:

Another example of a "C25" came up on eBay; I made an offer which was accepted, so soon I will have a second unit.

Upon further testing, this equipment indeed seems worthy of its reputation: I tried some HO scale brass engines and even the rather crappy diesels ran really nicely through this stuff.

Even though this is the definition of "old school", I'm quite pleased with how well it all performs... 🙂

Mark in Oregon