Need Some Info on This Lionel 53 Electric

Have you considered posting this to the TCA TTML?  There is a lot of prewar expertise from people who do not participate on this forum that may be able to help you identify it more exactly.  This is especially true for standard gauge.  Standard gauge is something I would like to continue to learn more about, but I can't profess to know much about it other than the few pieces I have. 

@NJCJOE posted:

My friend has this Lionel 53 electric

Also, there is one headlight. At the other end is a threaded post with nuts. What is that supposed to be? This photo was taken under different lighting so the color looks different.

Any other info anybody can provide? Thanks guys.

The post on the "rear" of the locomotive is a power post for connecting car lighting.  The lighting sets would have likely been purchased separately, and installed in the cars by the owner, with wire connections between the cars.  This was the more common way before pickup rollers were regularly installed on individual cars.

Also, remember that electricity/electric lighting was still somewhat of a novelty at the time, with only about 35% of American homes having electricity in 1920.  Electric lighting, bulbs, wiring, etc. was typically not a cheap feature or option on toy trains.

That #53 looks like 1917-1919 era by the way.  (squared off cab, later strap headlight).

The couplers are probably incorrect, as they would have likely been tab/slot originally.

Nice loco!

What is TCA TTML?? Thanks.

Hi. Harry from Henning's Trains.  We do many of the old standard gauge repairs and restorations.

Looking at your pictures I can tell you that the paint is not original. Back then they did not spray paint them witch is evident they were all dipped back then. By the pictures that this one was most likely back refinished in the 70s. Second is it has the wrong light on it all 53 had pedestal light not a strap light. The couplers are wrong as well someone has changed them ti would have had creased hook couplers.

It is still a hard piece to find these days. The version you have is from 1920-1921 the nuts on the back are for the lights in the passenger cars back then you would run a wire from the engine through the cars to each light.

Thanks for the information guys. I appreciate it.

Hi Joe this #53 is the square cab with the smaller bells, 1915-19. In 1920 it was changed to a round cab like the #38

Joe, This 53 is likely not repainted as others have mentioned (though a personal viewing and black lighting could confirm), and the pre classic period paint laid down different. The rubber-stamping is faint but there. Strap headlights WERE offered after 1916 on these, so that is right too. Small Bells are apropos as well. Coupler are wrong as mentioned before. Hook coupler with nibs (or ears) on the bottom is correct for that era. 10 motor laminations is correct as well for the period.  Also from this era, the reddish-brownish -maroon color puts it later from about 1917-1919.  I m not sure where the Type VIII comes from, but its the last square cab 53. Nice loco.

It seems that some of you don't understand what "copyright" means!  You CAN NOT scan/take a picture from a Greenberg book and then post it on a website/forum like ours.  We do not qualify as a "fair use" site.  The infringing posts were deleted.