Reproduction tender shells?

I believe a quick tell is the lettering.

Original shells had heat stamped lettering, reproductions usually are rubber stamped.

I suggest comparing your shell to a known original. Likely area of difference are the rivet details on the sides, and the detail on the coal pile.

I cannot think of any reproduction Lionel parts that were made exclusively with markings identifying them as reproduction. Most of them were also made unmarked. I purchased some items just so I could learn to tell the difference. The TCA put out a pocket guide that covered some reproduction parts, as well as some repaints and outright fakes. I don't know whether it is available for purchase. They also made a video or two,

Some photos of the shell in question:

Thanks guys. When I get a chance, I have two more similar shells I can compare it to.

The more I think of it, the more I think the frame might have been repainted. I know the whistle was worked on, as everything was greased (including the clips that hold the trucks on...), and the wires are yellow.

The lettering appears to be heat stamped. Its not easy to repaint heat stamped items. I believe it has original paint.

Pete

The shell of the freight type of tender, in the photo., appears to be a Lionel original, with its' heat stamped lettering, but it is a little more of a dearer type of tender, not just with the rear deck horizontal hand grab rails, but also the vertical hand grab rails, on the rear corners.

Most of Lionel's freight type of tenders either had different embellishments, or not that many, at all.

http://www.postwarlionel.com/c...in/postwar?ITEM=1666

Ralph

HI Michael

The shell you pic is a lionel shell.

The ones that we make numbers are missing and is regestered with Lionel licing in side them.

The side hand rails are not on repro just the top.

The one you have is painted as well

Repro not painted with lettering stamped on in silver.

Hope this helps

Didn't MTSI make 2466/6466 shells too?

Or perhaps MTSI only made 2046 and 6026 style shells?

I recall Bob (MTSI) telling me other people were also making the 2046 ones.

Don't know whether MTSI still makes the shells, Bob had them on clearance a few years back because he had to vacate the space in which they were stored.