used ZW transformer

Keep in mind there are 250 and 275 watt ZW transformers so make sure you are getting the most for your money

Both were 275watt.

e are several on e bay for that price range. Both reconditioned. $275 & $300, the last one has the box too.

Well, it depends.  Check real-life sales history - HERE is an exceptionally expensive one, for example.

 

HERE is a list of real-world ZW selling prices to study.

If you are talking about post war ZWs, the refurbished ones with new cords at York are priced closer to $100.

.....

Dennis

Used non reconditioned PW ZW's in good condition have dropped like a rock in the last couple years. I paid 130 a year ago at a train show with the box.

Within the last year I've seen them drop from $200-300 down to $100-200, buyer beware tho, there's a few chronic problems with old used ones. Namely for me I've seen the bad electrical cord everyone already mentioned, but the whistle switches are usually shot too & that's a repair shop a type of fix & even then it isn't always right.

Purchased a really clean one that works perfectly at an auction with a poor condition original box for $75.00 two weeks ago...  I saw one that needed a new cord go for $50.00 within the last month at another auction.. They are out there.. I think if you can get one that has been serviced/restored for under $200.00 you are doing just fine..

I have two of them. Purchased them refurbished back in the 80's. Both still work great. Paid $175.00 for one and &125.00 for the other. That was over 30 years ago, they seem to be selling for pretty much the same price now. Actually they have come way down in price considering how much the dollar was worth back then compared to now.

Unremarkable workable ZW's peaked at about a dollar a watt.  The prices came down with the release of the Z4000 and Modern ZW's.

 

Enter new blood, building layouts, learning from the internet, going to shows, etc. and the price/demand has climbed a bit and held steady.  This thing exudes quality and the epitome of layout powering in the way we remember.

 

Keeping in mind everything that a hobby shop stands for, it's not highway robbery for them to ask $250+ for a serviced/warranted Z.

 

I rebuild for two shops/dealers and the owners can be comfortable in knowing that any transformer they sell that I worked on will give their customers years of reliable, safe service.

 

When I buy cheap ZW's I expect them not to work and need a lot of repairing.

 

 

What do you consider cheap then? If you buy them to fix them, what do you flip them for? 

Someone in the forum recently mentioned he rebuilds them and sells them for $150 as I recall.  His list of the rebuild services sounded pretty comprehensive.  If I were in the market for one, I doubt I'd pay much more than that for a fully rebuilt one.

 

og fan is the member, you might check with him.  Here's the thread discussing the rebuilds and prices: Rebuilt ZW Transformer

I have bought both the 250w and 275w for around $100.00, little less for 250 little more for 275. Had them both professionally serviced, new rollers, lights, cords, cleaned, etc. for $70.00 each and cannot be happier with the power, look, and feel of these ZW's.

In my view you cannot go wrong if you can find them in good shape at the $100.00 or there abouts and have someone refurbish them at a reasonable price. I did install fuses between them and the layout and plug them into a GFI outlet to add a little modern-day safety.

Mark, most likely a transformer is one of the most important components in a persons O gauge hobby.  It seems that some posters were fortunate in obtaining a ZW at auction, etc., that was in good condition.  In the majority of the cases though you get what you pay for......or even less....a big headache.

 

I don't go cheap with transformers, especially the vintage one's.  I want safety and reliability and am willing to pay for it.  I would recommend this link, I believe he is a forum member with great references.  He does excellent work and sells re-conditioned ZW's at a reasonable price.......and they are safe!

 

http://www.lioneltransformer.com/

 

Steve, Lady and Tex

Howdy   I do have a ZW 'R' 275 watt version that is in great shape for sale that I listed here about two weeks ago. Asking $125 plus shipping and I do take PayPal. Darryl in Oregon

The 2014 Greenburg price guide lists an excellent one at 95.00 .

Before I'd pay that kind of money for an old ZW, I'd put it toward a modern transformer.  If you're going to pay $300+ for a transformer, why not get a Z4000 which is a true 400 watt output modern transformer with meters and modern circuit breakers?  A 275 watt ZW will deliver maybe 220-230 watts at the outputs, barely over half what you get from the Z4000.

 

Here's one example: MTH Z4000 $369

 

Or at Wholesale Trains for $399: http://www.wholesaletrains.com/Detail.asp?ID=20014931

 

~180 continuous, actually,  ~220 cold, for a while, both 250 & 275 versions.  The Z-4000 puts 360 continuous to the tracks. 

 

Folks have to keep this in mind when shopping for power... if otherwise specifically shopping for a ZW, then carry on!

I just like the ZW because it's a timeless classic that reminds me of my childhood & my dad. I don't want anything else. I like the way it just sits there & hums when it's plugged in, I like the way the throttles feel & the sound they make when you move them, & I like the steady glow of that green lens. When the ZW is powered up, everything is all right...

As I respect your opinion John, some people just like the vintage ZW and for various reasons.  I have two, one for my layout accessory/lighting voltages and another just for carpet layout fun.  There is nothing like the feel of operating a vintage ZW.  Just my personal opinion John.

 

Steve, Lady and Tex

I have a PW ZW I got from my Great Uncle.  I like it for the old time looks and sentimental value, if I was looking at buying one, I would go with the Z4000 for all it's nice modern features.

 

The ZW works great, but has it's limitations.

Good thread.

 

I'm building a PW-style Lionel layout so the ZW will be a must for me (it'll be my first). There may be other modern transformers that would serve me well, but they just wouldn't look right with the theme of the layout.

 

Again, an informative thread. I'll be in the market soon to buy and will refer back to this and other ZW threads.

Nothing more special than owning and using an old Lionel ZW for those that remember them when we were younger.

 

Sometimes it is not about what is a better choice but it is about bringing back the days of glory. I still have a ZW on my bucket list but for the way I run my Christmas conventional layout probably the Z-4000 will come first. I run a mix of old post war and modern trains in conventional.

 

Just shop for price and when you find something that fits your pricing level then buy it. I would probably buy one that is suppose to have been reconditioned. Not a guarantee that it was or will be flawless but just a better idea.

 

 

@ GUN RUNNER JOHN  Thanks for the reference.    @ MARK if truly interested in a quality rebuilt zw-275, see the thread quoted by GRJ  and e-mail me  [in profile]  OG FAN...

I have a postwar 275 watt ZW and will keep it for as long as I can. I like the shape of postwar ZW. It may need repairs but I will keep it!

 

Lee Fritz

 

OK...OK... I give!   There's more reasons than pure power or practicality for having the ZW, I get it.

 

FWIW, I have the ZW-C with the bricks, but it just doesn't have the same "heft" as the PW-ZW.

You want some heft ? Wait until you see the new ZW-L, that thing is HUGE!

Above I mentioned I have two 275watt ZW's. They are awesome looking and it is fun to move the handles to operate the trains. Beefy handles and beefy altogether. It is just a super cool transformer and just looking at you get the feel of power.

 

Im on board with John, I use modern transformers (180 Bricks) to power my layout with command control engines and command accessories. The breakers in them are very quick. 

 

I use the ZW's for accessories. I have my layout setup so I can quickly move a few plugs around and put the ZW into action and run some conventional engines. 

 

I run my rather large layout with two postwar ZWs using both DCS and TMCC.  They don't even break a sweat.  I do have the switches and accessories on a fixed voltage separate transformer though.

.....

Dennis

The best of both worlds.  Old--Newest--Newer

 

 

http://marketplace.collector-m...es-Controller-125790

 

Check this one out.

 

Al

Ok, what am I looking at in the photo with the digital meters on the older ZW's ? Custom made / home brew jobbies there or what?

ZW meter discussion HERE.

 

Lionel catalog HERE.

 

Wow Rob I have never seen that one before purty neat!!

2000? Wow! Don't know how I missed that! News to me, excellent. Just wondering what is the practical use for those meters? Just don't see why I need to have them other than they look cool?

MTH and Lionel thought it was important enough to have meters that they are standard on the Z-4000 and ZW-L. 

 

Ammeters particularly are useful in gauging the overall health of your layout and equipment.