Happy 2005 all. This is a Jim Cohen specially weathered Trolley. This is one reason I caution everyone to be careful with original product purchases in 2005 and beyond.
This is virtually identical to a real Lionel Trolley. Very, very hard to tell the difference. Trust me though, the magic "Real Lionel Trolley Fairy" isn't waving her wand on this anytime soon (or ever).
M
3 comments:
It would be a real service for Jim to share with you and us how to tell the difference. I am sure he doesn't want people to pay $3-8000 for a superb reproduction of these early trolleys and locos, thinking they are buying an original.
Good point. You are the first to ask! I'll get on it and ask him this week!
M
Ok, so I asked Jim. He said that he would help identify as standard gauge as possible and be glad to pass on as much knowledge as he could.
He said that he has seen many of his OWN pieces being that he sold 25 years ago being idetified (especially the Ives) as authentic Lionel gear. He takes great exception to this.
He said that really the only way to truly identify a really high priced piece of Lionel product is to actually get it and take a little bit of it apart (in Jim's or Joe Mania's hands, I wouldn't worry).
He told me about a fake 214R Reefer car he spotted by looking on the bottom. Where the break wheel enters the bottom of the car there is a special way Lionel punched the cars and the break wheels are inserted a special way. No glue was used and was inserted a certain way as to look original. He said that most of the 214's he has seen have the brake wheels replaced (as an example).
He suggested that when you get into paying $10k plus for an item, it might be worth a small fee to have an expert (like him) come out and make sure you are getting what you pay for. I'd have to agree.
M
Post a Comment