Another Lionel Accessory that needs made again! The Lionel Industrial Smoke Stack 6-14142

Here is mine...servicing the Boiler House of “ABC” Manufacturing. I tried to camouflage the base a little with some scenic material. I remember over 10 years ago searching for one. I use the flashers but not the smoke.

Donald

Is the smoke expected to just waft up and out?

The stacks do look good. Hopefully I can get some second hand when I get to the steel mill portion of my layout. I'm still in the benchwork phase. 

You should post how you added the fan!

Yes, or how to install a better smoke unit. Although maybe that would mean too much smoke. Here's my set up with the boiler house and stationary engines.

Here are 2 videos I shot this evening.  The first is with the fan turned off and the second with it on.

If you're looking for a smokestack that can fill the room with smoke, the one on the MTH Brewery does the job!

Not my cup o tea.  But if you want one go for it.  I’m with the MTH brewery,👍

Marty I think you're correct.  IIRC, the Lionel Industrial Smoke stack seemed to be a very popular accessory that quickly sold out when first introduced and secondary market prices remain very strong at or above original MSRP.  At first, I thought the reason that kept Lionel from reissuing the smokestack was that it did not meet their sales margin or return on investment for non-locomotive or car items.  But after a period of hardly any new or reissued Lionel accessories, Lionel came back with a number of lower to mid-level priced offerings, so I guess it's possible.

@RON ARNDT 091718 posted:

If you're looking for a smokestack that can fill the room with smoke, the one on the MTH Brewery does the job!

Yeah, just think of the plume that would come out of the Lionel type stack if they had MTH smoke units in them; you might need to get some EPA approved environmental scrubbers to make them modern-era prototypical.  Otherwise just let the smoke billow and re-enter the industrial revolution.

With MTH approaching its sunset, I think @Menards would be able to make a great looking and reasonably priced industrial smokestack accessory.  They made the fire damaged locomotive engine house with smoke and they put LED lights on everything that doesn't ride the rails.  Something to consider...

@Keystone posted:

Marty I think you're correct.  IIRC, the Lionel Industrial Smoke stack seemed to be a very popular accessory that quickly sold out when first introduced and secondary market prices remain very strong at or above original MSRP.  At first, I thought the reason that kept Lionel from reissuing the smokestack was that it did not meet their sales margin or return on investment for non-locomotive or car items.  But after a period of hardly any new or reissued Lionel accessories, Lionel came back with a number of lower to mid-level priced offerings, so I guess it's possible...........

I may be mistaken, but I had a different recollection on the first part.  IIRC, the MSRP was around $100?  I think before it was actually produced a lot of people looked at it in the catalog and thought it didn't get you much bang for your 100 bucks. 

I have one of these, but I didn't pre-order it.  According to my records, I bought it just before Christmas 2004, and I paid $50 for it.  Unless that maybe was just my dealer not wanting to sit on one, but I thought they were perhaps a "blow out" at the Lionel level.

You are certainly right on the second part though.  Over the years, these do command close to or over original MSRP.  Might be a case of the final product exceeding what people expected from the catalog image.  (and also since it was only made that one time, there are lots of people who weren't in the hobby back then who also may decide they want one, and of course the supply is not getting any bigger)

-Dave

@RON ARNDT 091718 posted:

If you're looking for a smokestack that can fill the room with smoke, the one on the MTH Brewery does the job!

Do you have to buy the whole brewery to get the stack? Or could you (pending remaining stock) buy the parts only? I know MTH smoke units have a strong reputation for oodles of output. 

@MartyE posted:

Here are 2 videos I shot this evening.  The first is with the fan turned off and the second with it on.

That makes a nice difference. I would probably have to do the same thing for my stacks. We'll see what goes. I subscribed to your channel by the way. I've watched a few of the Legacy videos before, very helpful!

@Dave45681 posted:

I may be mistaken, but I had a different recollection on the first part.  IIRC, the MSRP was around $100?  I think before it was actually produced a lot of people looked at it in the catalog and thought it didn't get you much bang for your 100 bucks. 

I have one of these, but I didn't pre-order it.  According to my records, I bought it just before Christmas 2004, and I paid $50 for it.  Unless that maybe was just my dealer not wanting to sit on one, but I thought they were perhaps a "blow out" at the Lionel level.

You are certainly right on the second part though.  Over the years, these do command close to or over original MSRP.  Might be a case of the final product exceeding what people expected from the catalog image.  (and also since it was only made that one time, there are lots of people who weren't in the hobby back then who also may decide they want one, and of course the supply is not getting any bigger)

-Dave

Dave, your recollection might be better than mine.  I recall seeing these $100 MSRP 2002 vol. 2 catalog smokestacks at TCA York (Fall 02 and/or Spring 03?) and thought, as you described, not worth the table price (I'm guessing $70 to $85).  But wasn't mid 2000's the era when tons of new products were put out by all and often quickly and aggressively marked down approx. 50% MSRP 6 to 12 months (especially Lionel) after their initial release.  You're probably spot-on that the actual product exceeded what was expected from the catalog (and box) image.  I think I may have taken a second look if the street price was at $50 or less. 

Comparison of the original 2002 vol 2 catalog pic with that pictured in 2004 vol. 1; the difference in both details and photo size is significant.

I have one of these. I run it with smoke off and still think it is great because the lights flash nicely creating an interesting image on the ceiling as well as the smokestack itself. In addition, the small footprint makes this accessory easy to place almost anywhere on the layout.

@RON ARNDT 091718 posted:

If you're looking for a smokestack that can fill the room with smoke, the one on the MTH Brewery does the job!

Or just stick any RailKing ALCo on rollers inside a building with a hole in the roof!  Call it an “engine test house” LOL.

@rplst8 posted:

Or just stick any RailKing ALCo on rollers inside a building with a hole in the roof!  Call it an “engine test house” LOL.

On another note, don't cut holes in your roof. Make your smokejacks actually work, like I did on my 10 stall house.

Menard's has a prototype North side Chicago. I get one even if it did not smoke.

@BillYo414 posted:

Do you have to buy the whole brewery to get the stack? Or could you (pending remaining stock) buy the parts only? I know MTH smoke units have a strong reputation for oodles of output. 

That makes a nice difference. I would probably have to do the same thing for my stacks. We'll see what goes. I subscribed to your channel by the way. I've watched a few of the Legacy videos before, very helpful!

The smoke fluid is loaded off to the side not down the stack so if you can find a used or cheap one go that way and reuse or sell the building.

Well I'll have to see what I can see. Thanks for the tip!