027 Track Identity: MARX or Lionel

Not sure if or when they ever stopped stamping lionel right on the track ties, but all the old Lionel O27 track I have in a junk box I just looked at are all stamped lionel.....black tie, brown tie, and silver tie....Marx track to me, and IMHO, is just a little more crudely made than Lionel track....usually, I can spot the two apart from 10 feet away..........Pat

Look at the track pins. Lionel pins are shiny, often bullet shaped ends, with a  section between the track end and the bullet end that has a smaller diameter. Marx pins have consistent diameter, rounded ends, and are dull gray in color.

In my experience, which is not overly broad, the Marx track pins are simpler - "smoother" - than the Lionel. Of course, pins can be interchanged, so...

There's a difference in the crimp of the tie to rail and the Marx tie bottom is straight and folded a little tighter (like a box) than the Lionel which is slightly rounded on the long side and the end fold is not as tight.

If you are lucky, you'll have some Marx O34 which are larger.

The tabs holding the middle rail on Lionel track are smooth. The middle tabs on Marx track are crimped the same as for the outside rails.

In some instances I have seen Marx track with what looks to be factory installed Lionel type pins. Marx and Lionel both made silver tie track. The most accurate method I know of is to looked at the holes in the ties. Lionel punched the holes clean. Marx pierced theirs causing a flowered barb on the underside.

Steve

Steve "Papa" Eastman posted:

In some instances I have seen Marx track with what looks to be factory installed Lionel type pins. Marx and Lionel both made silver tie track. The most accurate method I know of is to looked at the holes in the ties. Lionel punched the holes clean. Marx pierced theirs causing a flowered barb on the underside.

Steve

Very true Steve!

In addition, Lionel ties are pierced on alternating sides.   Marx pierced the ties on both sides,  so a typical Marx straight will have six holes to Lionel's three.  

Mitch 

All good info, thanks!

 Harmonyards:  I understand what you mean, but when the track gets old and beat up, it is harder for me to tell.

Royboy & D500:  I know some of the pins have been changed because I have changed some myself. :-(

Steve:  As for the pierced holes, a lot of this track is used, so some otherwise clean holes have been distorted by screws and nails.  Still, that particular tip is very useful.

Moonman:  I have a great deal of 034, and it, of course, is easy to distinguish.  I am a persistent advocate of 034 when folks ask about tubular layouts.

I was unaware that MARX made any silver/gray tie track.  Now I will need to look more closely at that bundle, too.

I need to look closely at the tie crimps to understand this distinction:  "There's a difference in the crimp of the tie to rail and the Marx tie bottom is straight and folded a little tighter (like a box) than the Lionel which is slightly rounded on the long side and the end fold is not as tight."

Mitch:  I have some clearly Lionel with 6 holes, but I do also have some with three.  Your tip will at least help me eliminate the 3-holers!

Looks like I have an evening cut out for me!

Thanks, all!

Thanks again, guys.  I took a few minutes last night to start the sorting, and, once I actually held some pieces in my hands for contrast, the differences you told me about became very clear.

I hope to continue the job tonight.

Once thing I have rediscovered is an impression I first noticed years ago but had forgotten:  the ends of the bottom flanges of rails on MARX track seem to all spread.  the end of each rail looks like a fan after it has been assembled/disassembled a few times.  I wonder if that effect is because of the pins--which seem fatter than the Lionel--or less stout rail stock.  Lionel does it, too, but not as consistently or as wide.

palallin posted:

I was unaware that MARX made any silver/gray tie track.  Now I will need to look more closely at that bundle, too.

And, Lo! and behold! I found a piece of silver-tie MARX.  Glad I asked you guys!