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Phone: 732-271-5124 *** Fax: 732-271-9285 *** E-mail Dave & Joan
Prewar Lionel
| This Web Page Last Updated: February 3, 2012 |
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This page contains our current inventory of Prewar Lionel engines, rolling stock, cabooses, passenger cars, accessories, original boxes and other paper items. It includes both standard gauge and O-gauge trains made during the prewar era (1901 - 1942).
* * * Click on "Yes" in the Photo column to see a picture.
* * * Click on "Grade" in the 3rd column heading for an explanation of grading.
| Prewar Lionel Sets, Engines, Cars and Accessories | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cat # | Item | Grade | Photo | Price | Details |
| Prewar Engines & Tenders: | |||||
| 258 | Steam Engine & Tender |
Loco: VG Tender: VG |
Yes | $195 SOLD |
A small black "O" gauge locomotive with orange striping from 1930 with matching tender:
Photo of the left side of the engine. This 2-4-0 engine has cab number plates plus an operating headlight and a manual-reverse switch. Photo of the right side of the engine. Has red-spoked nickel wheel plus brass and copper trim. Photo of the front of the engine. Some paint chips plus the right side orange striping is missing and there is some paint loss on both steam chests. The loco lights & runs very well! An "aerial" view of the loco. Photo of the left side of the tender. The tender has orange striping, rivet detail, handrails, rear ladder, nameplates, 4-wheel trucks with nickel journals and a latch coupler. It is the correct tender for the 258 loco. Photo of the right side of the tender. The striping is worn in places and the trim is tarnished plus there are some scratches and paint chips but nothing severe. The original "258T" lettering is clearly visible on the frame underside. Photo of the back of the tender. Despite the flaws, this tender is still presentable as it is fairly clean with strong lettering. An "aerial" view of the tender. A great 258 L&T combination for an operator! |
| Prewar Accessories: | |||||
| 35 | Boulevard Lamp Post |
Ex. | Yes | $ 85 | A nice, medium-gray painted, die-cast lamp post from 1941-42: has an opalescent, octagonal lampshade that is topped by a cap shaped like a crown of thorns. The fixture measures 6 1/8 inches high. Made after WW2 as well as before but this is the prewar version.
Repair made to a crack in the globe plus the finial has rust on it and there are some scratches on the post. However, the flaws are not major and do not detract from the beauty of this unusual piece. It is very clean overall, all original and all intact -- and of course, the fixture does light! Close-up of the globe where the repair was made. Note that the close-up photo makes the crack appear to be worse than it really is. Close-up of the base underside. File Photo showing both a 1941-42 prewar version and a postwar version of the #35. The postwar version is painted silver; the 1941-42 version of the prewar version is painted medium gray. Close-up of the bases of both the prewar and postwar versions. This useful layout piece is described in one guidebook as "a detailed replica of a prototype design that can still be seen in some American towns and cities." The gray-painted prewar version is the hardest #35 Boulevard Lamp Post to find. |
| 41 | Contactor | Ex. Unused OB |
Yes | $ 25 SOLD |
A "separate sale" original component box containing an original 41 Accessory Contactor that was NEVER USED: the contactor has some minor color loss on the bottom and that's about it for flaws. Comes with two unused (still coiled) heavy black wires.
Photo of the bottom of the contactor and another view of the box. Grade 8+ original box (minor scrape; "aged" look). The box is SOLID: fairly clean, complete, square & sturdy -- and there is no tape anywhere! The contactor (which was produced from 1936-1942) is fairly common and is used to operate many of the accessories produced by Lionel in the prewar era. However the box is rather uncommon -- especially in this condition! It is the nicest 41 box we have ever seen. |
| Prewar Lionel Original Boxes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Description | Grade | Photo | Price | Details |
| 238E | PRR Steam Engine | 8+ | Yes | $ 85 SOLD |
A very, very nice "Schiffenhaus Bros." corrugated box for the 4-4-2 Pennsylvania streamlined "torpedo-type" Steamer sold in 1937:
Another view of the box. Flaws: tears; creases; punctures; stains; no insert. Overall, this box is SOLID: very sturdy, fairly square, fairly clean and there is no un-original tape anywhere! The original Lionel tape is in nice shape. Close-up of the manufacturer's data showing the year. The year is printed on one of the long sides of the box. Photo of the side with preprinted instructions to the customer. The other long side contains printed instructions to the customer on how to send the item back to Lionel if the engine needs servicing! Prewar boxes are not that easy to find; this one is nice and it will certainly protect your locomotive! FREE: a crummy (grade 4) original box for the 265W tender that was sold with the 238E steamer: Photo of the tender box. Flaws: missing all flaps on one end; missing the other coupler flap; missing a small piece of the box; tears; scrapes; creases; punctures; small stains. Another view of the tender box. Not pretty but it does have one good end flap and it is better than no box -- and it is free. |
| Prewar Lionel Original Instruction Manuals | |||||
| Year | Description | Grade | Photo | Price | Details |
| 1940 | "Instructions for Assembling and Operating LIONEL TRAINS" |
8 (Ex.) |
Yes | $ 25 SOLD |
40 pages; blue printing on an orange cover; includes suggested track layout plans!
Flaws: "aged" look; tears at the spine; one dog-eared corner on cover. A very nice manual! FREE: the List of "Factory Approved LIONEL SERVICE STATIONS" (form #331)! Photo of the service station listing. If you have a nice 1940 set, it's not complete without these documents! |
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In the early years of the 20th Century, Joshua Lionel Cowen built a toy train company that became an industry giant. Thanks to high-quality products and innovative marketing techniques, the Lionel Corporation developed into a piece of Americana.
In the prewar era, Lionel offered some of the most colorful and ornate trains in their history. Although in many cases, they have a primitive look about them, they also possess an old-world charm unmatched to this day. The quaint accessories of this era were ingenious and impressive.
Increase the attractiveness of your modern-day railroad and add an alluring Prewar Lionel accessory or signal. Expand your collection by purchasing an engine or car from Lionel's wonderful early years.
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