Unusual variation

@ChasP posted:

…What is unusual, that I'd never noticed before, is that the brake wheels are mounted on both ends on the inside of the railings.  While a coupler truck has been substituted for one without a couplet, the brake wheels appear to be as originally installed. Seems like inside mounted brake wheels is correct prototypically.  Anyone seen this Postwar Lionel Caboose variant before?

According to the Tandem Associates website this was commonly found on the postwar Lionel N5C Porthole Caboose.

This variation is documented in the larger Greenbergs reference books. The first year 2357 cabooses had the brakewheels installed prototypically (inside). Lionel quickly learned they were harder the assemble this way so the brakewheel was moved to the outside. They figured no one would really notice or care. A truly original one is hard to find; not sure what value they bring since it isn’t a well known variation.

It sounds like yours has been monkeyed with a fair amount.

Thanks Ryan.  Great insights.  I didn't think there was much collector value, and like you said, some jimmying was in evidence.  I just liked the brake wheels being inside where they belonged.  But I'd guess in addition to simplicity of installation, marketing liked them showing better on the outside.  Again, many thanks!

Thanks too Training Wheels!

Great topic on a not-that-well known Lionel variation, limited to the late 40s. Note that we're talking about the typical "S P"-style caboose. The NC5 types are a different frame and the correctly-installed inside brakewheels are a part of the plastic ladder structure.

I love collecting cabeese and have a few inside-brakewheel SP cabeese shown here. They can be found on the mentioned "2357" brown/maroon frames, it also can be found on the cheaper-style #2257 reds. I doubt they are too valuable, but the owner and buyer decide...Note: the last pic, the brown #2257, is not mine, and has the turned in brakewheels.