________________________________
Des:
Kieth Wills writes the Collectors Consist column for Railroad Model Craftsman.
As I recall, a few years back he credited Marx with inventing O-27 as a way of
marketing smaller and less expensive O-gauge electric trains to the masses.
That would have been just before World War Two.
Marx came up with the notion of fitting S scale superstructures to O gauge
running gear and reducing the track diameter from from 31 to 27 inches...hence
O-27. So Marx trains not only cost less than Lionel, but took up less room.
Kieth writes that the number 999 2-4-2 locomotive was a styling triumph, and
that the so-called 7-inch cars were perfectly proportioned. Thus for a short
while, Marx actually was an industry leader among the big three (Lionel, AF,
Marx) as far as realistic looking trains was concerned.
Marx is an underdog in the collectors market, but I always admired the company
for doing a lot with a little and putting affordable trains under the Christmas
trees of less prosperous families. I got a Marx 2-4-2 set with the Pacemaker
box car and caboose when I was 8 years old. I later sold the set in my teens,
but about ten years ago went scouring the flea markets to replicate it. That
train then sat on a display case for most of those years, likely not having
turned a wheel for 30 or 40 years before that. A few years ago I got the
notion
it should run under the Christmas tree. I cleaned the commutator and brushes
and oiled the axles, and it has run like a champ ever since.
Way to go Louis Marx!
Jim
--------------
Any Idea when 0-27 came out?
Best wishes J. Des Browne
________________________________
From: Don Thompson <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, 15 February, 2011 0:54:04
Subject: Re: {S-Scale List} Promotion of S
When were quality AF trains cheaper than Lionel? I think one of the
problems that AC Gilbert had was that there trains were not cheaper,
but more expensive.
Don
On Feb 14, 2011, at 3:05 PM, J BROWNE wrote:
> You are "spot on" Richard, as usual.
>
> AF was originally trying to compete with Lionel O gauge and offering
> a lower
> priced but quality product.
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