Marklin Bridge

I read that this bridge was modeled after a bridge that was destroyed in WW1.

It would be a fun project. I saw that bridge when they were trying to sell it a few years ago through Sothbeys. It is bigger than you would think. 

One thing I noticed with the old Marklin is that they used similar metal stamp tooling in very creative ways. There was a vertical post stamping that was used for both fencing and balconies as well as cut down and used vertically as turnstyles. 

I'm sure there are some cross bracing metal stampings that you could use to solder together a bridge that would be similar to the bridge you posted. Another place to look for decorative stampings is costume jewelry findings.

Here is a similar Marklin bridge from a book I have that I think might use some of the same castings as the one you showed. The towers look the same.

Here is the cover of a different book that has a straight on view of the auction bridge if you really want to make a replica it this pic might help you.

Here are a few variations using the same towers.

One more image of the one you liked from the auction.

These bridges are simply gorgeous!    

Silver Lake,

Is that text online anywhere that it can be viewed? 

I'd love to see some to the other items from that time period.

I don't think they are. But worth a Google deep dive. 

I got that same booklet in the mail the other day. Way beyond my pay grade but there is some amazing pieces in that collection! 

The bridge was displayed in a museum show at the New York Historical Society.  I found this link in a Google search:

http://www.antiquesandthearts....-historical-society/

Too bad I missed it.  There are some great pictures online with different angles from the Live Auctioneers site.

Have seen thin sheets of metal with various  patterns cut out over the entire sheet.  These were use by many folks to make radiator covers in their homes.  If you could find a pattern that is close to the look you are after one might be able to fabricate some of the bridge from something like this.  Just a thought

this will keep me away...

overlandflyer posted:

this will keep me away...

Buyer's Premium

 25.5%

 

if there is some benefit to sellers who go to auction houses which continue to set record highs in buyer's premiums i'd really like to know because it certainly cannot be to attract buyers.

That and the estimated $20k that this bridge could sell for.  I guess a $5100 buyer's premium doesn't matter when you are in that range.

The book "The Golden Years of Tin Toy Trains" mentioned by Silver Lake is for sale on British ebay.co.uk for a much lower price then it is in the US. Many of the items in this book were photographed from the Jerni collection (before Jerry Green decided to quit collecting). It is a beautiful book with trains and accessories that you wil not see much in real life.

Regards

Fred

George S posted:

overlandflyer posted:

this will keep me away...

Buyer's Premium

 25.5%

 

if there is some benefit to sellers who go to auction houses which continue to set record highs in buyer's premiums i'd really like to know because it certainly cannot be to attract buyers.

That and the estimated $20k that this bridge could sell for.  I guess a $5100 buyer's premium doesn't matter when you are in that range.

not much of a Märklin fan, or a structure collector, ... or for that matter, pieces with replacement/ repo parts (e.g. this bridge).  there were some Bing pieces that were of interest, but again, most seemed to be partially or fully restored.  not my collection milieu.

and while the auction house seemingly tried to be artistic about it, their photos of most items left a lot to be desired.  very few complete pictures such as the trucks in Dorfan lots (tremendously important to see) or the underside of practically everything in the catalog.  would have expected a lot more from a house charging such exorbitant fees.

the number you really want to look at isn't $5100, but $2100;
...the difference between 15% and 25.5% of 20k.
if i wanted my life to cost 10% more, i'd rather move to Hawaii.

cheers...gary

Definitely drool-worthy material. Scanning Marklin at places like Bertoia is a nice pastime, but as you say, above my paygrade.

Here's some reproductions on Tinplate Times: http://www.tinplatetimes.com/p...ng%20Bauer/bauer.htm

....and the stuff that's more inside my paygrade: paperplate! 

http://www.littleglitterhouses..._tin_city_bridge.htm

And then there's the bridges that cry out to be "tin-plated", like the one you posted: http://www.shorpy.com/node/852...ze=_original#caption

Here's the online catalogue.

Looks like I picked a bad time to give up tinplate....

Tim

George S posted:

... how hard do you think it would be to scratchbuild or kitbash this bridge in plastic or tin? 

 

It would not need to be a perfect replica, but close would be great.  Also, I would probably scale it more for standage gauge, as this is 1 gauge.

George 

I wonder if it was 'compressed' from this actual bridge across the Rhine between Strasbourg and Kehl ...

It has the flavor of "International border crossing". Note the flags on model and actual versions.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhine_Bridge,_Kehl 

With Goeppingen being only two hours from Strassbourg, I would not be surprised. Also before the First World War, the region on both sides of the river belonged to Germany under the Kaissers.

All the best,

Miketg

Found out that Ward Kimball owned the same bridge, and it went to auction with his collection.  Not sure if Jerry Greene bought that one or found another.