Well today I am pleased to show you something that I find a little bit extraordinary. At our local train show, I found this Marx mechanical set from 1952 which, as you see the pictures, is in amazing condition for its age, now 70 years old (just 8 years short of me !) . This set, designated by Marx as set # 965W was advertised in the Sears Christmas catalog in 1952 for the amazing price of $4.98 with a 176" cross over layout provided. Except for some missing track, my set is pristine (OK the box is not perfect) and the cars look as though they have never been on the track. So here is my "new" set .
First the set cover and top lid. Not perfect but not too bad and very colorful
Here is the inside of the set. Yes it still had its cardboard component sleeves to protect the engine, tender, and rolling stock from scratching each other. I did have to repair part of the lower box that had been torn off.
Here is the main motive power. The Marx "Mercury" whistling clockwork engine...yes it still works just fine! The grey band type 51 lithographed tender is the first component of the train.
A front close up view of the Mercury and the tender
Here is the rolling stock. A # 554 NP coal car, a # 738701 PRR high sided gon, and a #556 NYC caboose.
Even the track is shiny. Its not clear anyone ever ran this outfit very much.
I checked the contents of this set with Greenberg's volume on Marx sets and its the correct contents fro the 965W which is stamped on the lid. In addition, there is a picture on page 22 of that text showing a nearly identical set except with a box car instead of the coal car. It shows the same box and the 3 carboard sleeves.
Note I did not get all the track and the 90 degree cross over, but hey, my 1952 Sears Christmas wish book says that track is only 39 cents per section and the cross over is only 59 cents!!
Well that is my "Find" for the moment. I admit I am really excited about finding an old set like this in near perfect condition.
Don