PRICING A MARX CLOCK WORK 0-4-0

Check this site to id your engine http://toyandtrainguides.com/marxtin.htme

No pic?

Years ago I purchased an old AF clockwork Zephyr....probably paid alittle too much for it{$50) but I liked it...so it was worth it...to me. If your looking at it in an appraisal aspect then a compact AF/Marx/Lionel value booklet would be a good investment for you to carry around.

I've got this old friction drive toy train...it's missing some things but I'd never sell it as it was my grandfather's toy when he was little...supposedly a Clark that's missing the tender...that's just adds to the character though in my opinion. Some folks would say its worth alot...I'd say it was worth more...everyone's perseption of what they see/feel is different though.

Al, I would love to see a picture of it.  Just guessing, but since you mention extended boiler, I am going to assume (we know what that means) that it is a metal body, non-streamlined Marx windup.  I'm thinking 3 basic choices:

Marx 833:

Marx 591:

Marx 943/944 (WU versions of the electric 994):

Is it any of these locomotives?  There are other Marx windup steamers, but those three are my best guess for now...

Thanks for the help guys.  I am going to buy it as I can't pin it down as there are serveral engines that are close.

Al

Hee, hee... I was hoping you would buy it!    Hope to see it soon...

James, I will bring it to breakfast Wednesday.  Glad to have you coming aboard.

Al

I'm looking forward to it!

Yooz guys are getting to tightly wound.

Steve

Steve you sound like my deceased father.  Thanks for the memory.

Al

It is mine.  Now I have to get the garage to warm up so I can play with it.

I will try to get the right style soon.

Al (again)

whenever i consider the price of a train item, i think to myself, ...if someone were to lock me in a room with a bunch of tin, could i do something similar for the same value of my time?  without out even looking, $20 is a great price for any good condition, working locomotive; being Marx, is of course, a plus!

have fun with it...gary

I had hopes that I would have all the info needed after breakfast this morning, but the flu has stopped me for a while so next wesday is the new goal.

Al

Hope you get well soon, Al!  By the way, I got another "new" Marx windup in the mail yesterday - a Wm. Crooks in fair condition.  Just needed the motor cleaned & lubed, now it runs like a scared rabbit.    You know clockwork locomotives are like potato chips... you can't have just one!

My favorite thing about windup trains is that I never have to clean the track... ever!  Dust on the rails?  How can you tell?  Non-conductive oxides?  Who cares? Railheads covered with brown rust?  Extra traction!  No stalling, stuttering, or shorting out - not to mention the complete lack of wiring.  The flip side of the coin, however, is that a derailment doesn't always stop the train...

Probably have about 20 clockwork locos, 10 Hornby, 4 Bassett Lowke 4 marx, and one each of Hafner, Wyandotte and AF

I met with Al and a few other guys for breakfast this morning, and Al brought the locomotive that is the subject of this thread.  I snapped a picture of it on the restaurant table:

It is a nice, clean 833 Marx windup.  This one would have been toward the end of 833 production (available through 1953 - I know the guide says '52, but I have seen them advertised in 1953, also).  This one has the black motor sideplates and 17 spoke diecast drivers.  Early 833's would have shiny motor sideplates and stamped metal 7 spoke wheels, then Marx went to black motor sideplates and stamped metal 7 spoke wheels, then toward the last went to the diecast 17 spoke wheel seen here.  The 17 spoke driver on the 833 is different from most of the 17 spoke drivers seen on the later Marx windups; this one has a cast post for the siderod, most of the later 17 spoke drivers have a hole instead of the post and the siderod has a Z-bend that keeps it in place.  Anyway, Al has an all original 833 with the proper motor and drivers, and he says it runs fast!  Looks like a good deal to me!

PS - tcox009, how about some pictures of your clockworks?  Sounds like you have some neat locomotives.

James, thanks for the pic and explanations.  I never knew Marx was so complicated.  Looking forward to research.

Al

As requested some of my clockwork

Couple of more clockworks

Very nice clockworks - thanks for the pictures!

Windup guy, done put the brakes on my 0-4-0.  A very nice engine to watch going down the tracks.

Thanks James.

Al

Woo is me, I now think I am lost.

Al

I have been cleaning my garage today and found another engine today.  It is electric, pretty nice shape, needs a little work.  Now if I am seeing this correct, this little baby is a NYC 81 with Tuscarora on the side. I looks like the domes have had been sanded off fore a chrome effect.

James I swear I don't have a breeding gound under my bench work.

See you breakfast come Wensday.

Al

Looking forward to seeing it, Al.  I am beginning to wonder if trains are like rabbits... leave a couple together too long, all the sudden you have a bunch of them running around!

James, I am waiting for you to show the stuff your purchasing department picked up this morning.  I am going to go after those metal AT&SF A units.  Very impressive and I hope they run as good as they.

See you next week, and it was fun watching 3 Tin Plate trains running at the same time.

Al

Here I am again to tell you about another find in my garage.  I have had these sets, with out the motive power.  Now I have to tell you these sets are Lionel, but I have not heard of any body being strapped to the rails for punishment.

The sets are two 1630 Pullman and 1  1631 observation.  I would rate them about a 7.  The second set is made up of 1 1682 caboose,  1 1680 tank and a 1679 box.  Nice stuff and I hope to enjoy it.

Al