Marx 416 Dual Flood Light Assistance Requested

I am not sure without more photos, but I think you have the battery-powered version here.  The switch makes the contact to turn the lights on.

@palallin battery powered.....interesting. Do you know of a model number? Here are some additional pics.  I don’t see any easy way to open the body to install a battery. I can see how the lever/switch would bring the negative post to the frame. Would you have been expected to bend the bottom tab to install/change the battery? Wouldn’t last very long.

Here you go.  From Greenberg's Guide to Marx Trains

416 Searchlight tower. Metal rectangular fenced platform with two adjustable lights. Hand switch for battery. Colors - green, red  or silver platform with black body and base.  There is also a 416 which has two screw connectors for power, however, the Guide seems to suggest that green was battery only..

  So, it would seem you have one of each.  Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be anything in the Guide that sheds any light (sorry about that) on how to get the battery in and out of the tower.

@Robert S. Butler Thanks for the info, with it I was able to find this. Next step is to bend the steel tabs, fairly heavy gauge, and take the base off. May just have to convert to electric.

Marx reused everything, including numbers  making it hard to track different pieces and changes.  But, hey!  They are toys!

As for the battery, I suspect that the two barely bent tabs on the bottom are the key to entry, as the single tab opposite them is bent quite sharply.  Judicious pressure there might do the trick, using the one bent all the way over as the hinge.  But do be careful:  I have no direct experience with the piece.

I think Palallin might be correct.  The picture of the underside of the base in your first post gives the impression that the slot for the tab that is sharply bent is much wider than the other two.  If that is really true and not just a matter of camera angle then a gap like that should allow enough movement to permit tipping the base without doing any damage.  Still - if you try this - be careful.

The two slightly bent tabs are the hinge. The single tab if I recall, has an odd curved bend in it to allow it to snap in place.

Steve

So I opened it up and yes a D cell it is. Inside is nice and clean. Wasn’t sure if they may have been subjected to leaking battery cells. Now to order some 1.5V bulbs and these 2 will have a place on the layout. If they aren’t bright enough, it will be easy enough to power them up by the transformer. Final outcome 2 of these for $5 was another great York purchase.