Toy trains Archives

Converting Marx couplers to Lionel

Dave Farquhar Toy trains November 1, 2019July 6, 2023

Sometimes you’ll find Marx train cars with Lionel couplers on them. The first thought is someone changed the trucks, but closer inspection reveals those are Marx trucks under the car. How’d they do it? Here’s the secret of converting Marx couplers to Lionel.

Both Lionel and Marx made adapters for this purpose in the 1950s. Marx’s adapter was intentional; Lionel’s adapter just happened to fit both its cars and Marx.

Dave Farquhar

David Farquhar is a computer security professional, entrepreneur, and author. He has written professionally about computers since 1991, so he was writing about retro computers when they were still new. He has been working in IT professionally since 1994 and has specialized in vulnerability management since 2013. He holds Security+ and CISSP certifications. Today he blogs five times a week, mostly about retro computers and retro gaming covering the time period from 1975 to 2000.

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Plastimarx: Marx’s Mexican subsidiary

Dave Farquhar Toy trains October 25, 2019February 5, 2023

Plastimarx is a frequently misunderstood 20th century toymaker. It was part of Louis Marx’s post-WWII expansion into foreign markets, specifically Mexico. But how and when it came about and ended are all a bit unclear. Let’s try to clear it up.

Plastimarx’s slogan translated to “They are beautiful, they are durable, they are Plastimarx toys.” It was perhaps the last piece of Louis Marx’s toy empire to fall, surviving until 1991.

Dave Farquhar

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Marx tender values

Dave Farquhar Toy trains October 18, 2019March 14, 2024

I saw a complaint on a discussion board recently that someone couldn’t find straight answers in regards to Marx tender values anywhere online. Maybe my previous guidance wasn’t specific enough, so I’ll give it another try.

I have good news and bad news for you. The bad news is that most Marx tenders are worth around $10. Some are worth more, but that’s a fairly short list.

Dave Farquhar

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How to use O27 track clips

Dave Farquhar Toy trains October 11, 2019October 5, 2019

O27 track clips definitely make it more convenient to set up a loop of Lionel O27 track on the floor. But they aren’t very intuitive. Here’s how to use O27 track clips, whether they have the Lionel or Ives brand on them.

Dave Farquhar

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Repair Marx switches

Dave Farquhar Toy trains October 4, 2019December 13, 2021

Sometimes, after 70-plus years of use, you find you need to rebuild or repair Marx switches. Although Marx didn’t design them with repairs in mind, you can fix them. It’s not hard.

Dave Farquhar

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Lionel’s American Flyer “buyout”

Dave Farquhar Toy trains September 27, 2019September 7, 2019

Lionel and American Flyer competed with one another in the 1950s. Most Lionel and Flyer enthusiasts know that Lionel now owns American Flyer. Here’s how Lionel’s American Flyer “buyout” happened.

Dave Farquhar

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How to find train shows

Dave Farquhar model railroading, Toy trains September 20, 2019September 2, 2019

The weather will be cooling off soon, and that means it will be time for more train shows. But how do you go about finding train shows? Here are some of my favorite tips.

Dave Farquhar

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Lionel 184 bungalow notes

Dave Farquhar Toy trains September 13, 2019April 3, 2024

I’ve been buying up Lionel 184 bungalows lately. I picked up my first at a toy show, and probably paid too much for it considering its light didn’t work (and yes, I asked). But then I picked up some 1980s reproductions at an estate sale at a fantastic price, so that more than made up for me overpaying for my first. These tiny houses look great on a layout and they aren’t hard to fix.

Dave Farquhar

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Lionel’s connection to Marx

Dave Farquhar Toy trains September 6, 2019February 24, 2022

Lionel and Marx were fierce competitors in the postwar, mid-century time period. But since old train tooling never dies, it just changes hands, Lionel’s connection to Marx has grown over the years. Especially in recent years.

Old Marx products found their way into Lionel’s product line when Lionel temporarily took over K-Line. But then, in 2019, some of Marx’s HO scale tooling found its way into Lionel’s revived HO product line.

Dave Farquhar

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Remove rust with vinegar

Dave Farquhar DIY, Toy trains August 30, 2019November 25, 2020

I’ve discussed rust removal before, but some people swear by removing rust with vinegar. I never had much luck with it, but I’ve learned the secret.

The secret to rust removal with vinegar is to rinse the part thoroughly with hot water, immediately. If you don’t rinse it fast enough, or with hot enough water, the part will flash rust. But if you rinse correctly, vinegar is a cheap and effective way to remove rust from toys, old tools, and anything else made of iron or steel. I mostly use it on toy train parts but anyone who deals with anything old needs this trick.

Dave Farquhar

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