Question re: PW Lionel 2400; 2401; 2402 Green Passenger Cars ?

"Could Lionel have substituted..."

After approximately seventy years, one would think some astute Lionel detective would have found some type of evidence to answer your inquiry. But with the potential money to be made with these desirable passenger cars, I am certain that silhouettes have been added from time to time. Whether an original variation from the factory or not, I will let the seller and buyer dance that particular "tango."

das boot posted:

"Could Lionel have substituted..."

After approximately seventy years, one would think some astute Lionel detective would have found some type of evidence to answer your inquiry. But with the potential money to be made with these desirable passenger cars, I am certain that silhouettes have been added from time to time. Whether an original variation from the factory or not, I will let the seller and buyer dance that particular "tango."

 

Well to sub in the wrong inserts would harm the value so that's why I question these on a mint version.  Lionel was making toys and we know variations existed when the parts bin permitted.  You also have the wear and tear from removing and installing new inserts...yet on a mint car.  Just curious if these regularly show with silhouettes.   Is it known that the shades of the green and grey may vary from car to car.  Assumption being they were made in different batches.

"Would harm the value..."

I agree, being a postwar fanatic of sorts, adding silhouettes to this car or to alter the appearance of any postwar item  would be an act of heresy in my opinion. How often the silhouettes appear on a "mint" example of this passenger car, I cannot say, but if it generates a sale between a buyer and seller, then so be it. But, of course, if we only had a time machine. 

Those cars were probably out of production when silhouettes were added. I wouldn't even think of them as being original.

Jim

Silhouette window strips were first issued in 1950 with the Union Pacific cars, after the green ones were discontinued. Madison cars got them their last year in 1950. Easy to replace. If the window strips in your cars have yellowed, they may be original postwar vs. modern reproductions. I can't see them having effect on the price of the cars.

Mike W. posted:

I know its documented that these cars came without window silhouettes but there are mint examples out there with the silhouettes. Could Lionel have substituted these in for later batches?   Also would the gray roofs vary slightly in shade?  

Here’s one possibility. Madison Hardware (Detroit) sold nearly mint fully decorated bodies during the period of time they were open. I obtained a set and completed the build by finding a set of silver cars W/grey roofs and swapping out the bodies. Selling the silver bodies with black trim to the right buyer brought the price of my green set to near zero. Needless to say my set has silhouettes. Silhouettes didn’t appear on Madison cars until 1950, so I doubt the green 2400 series cars left the factory with silhouettes in ‘48 and ‘49. Just my opinion

AC