Questions about restoring a Marx CV

Kevin, determining the age of a windup CV is an inexact science at best.  The lack of the NYC Oval nameplate on the nose is one clue; are the slots for the plate stamped in the metal?  The only examples I have seen without them are very late postwar CV's - it appears that Marx was doing everything possible in that era to reduce the cost of some of them by cutting out many extras.  My prime example doesn't have the NYC nose plate, bell in the motor and siderods on the drivers.  If it has the original motor, it should have black motor sideplates and black drivers.  Also, the body should be a single dome near the cab, plus the open stack.  A picture would help; along with any other details you might notice.  This type of CV would be in the 1946 - 48 time frame, with my guess skewing toward the last two years.  Again, without seeing a picture, this is only a guess.  Also, after seeing a picture, I could only offer a slightly better educated guess! 

I really can't speak to the effectiveness of your paint removal method for the CV - I always use a wire cup wheel on a small angle grinder to get Marx sheet metal locomotives down to bare metal.

Hope that is some help...

Kevin, here is a picture of my late production windup CV mentioned in the previous post:

Guys,

     Thank you very much for the information.  The one CV that I was looking at is just like the one in the photo. 

     Kevin

Well, let's chalk this up to "You learn something new everyday".  I just noticed that one of my reversing windup CV's doesn't have the front plate, or the slots in the nose to mount it.  I believe that one to be pre-war.  Also, I know I didn't make it clear in the other post, but some postwar CV's came with the front NYC plate.  Sooooo.... it would help to have a picture of the loco to determine its age from other details. 

Edit - just saw your post.  If your motor has black sideplates and drivers like the one in the picture, it would be postwar as stated.

Kevin

If you are looking to get an original "look", keep in mind the CV's were dipped and hung to dry. Runs or paint accumulations on the corner edges are very visible on originals.

As to your question on a red paint, I have had a couple of original CV's & Mercs and there are different colors of red. some a bit darker and some with a tinge of orange. I think it was Ford Engine Red that was a real close match for one of mine.

Steve

James,

    Here is the photo of the engine in question.

    Thanks,

          Kevin

Steve,

    Thank you very much for the information.  I generally try to avoid runs and drips, but in this case it might be ok.

     Kevin