Anyone remember this. Lionel Markings...MTH box?


http://cgi.ebay.com/MTH-400E-Red-Comet-Steam-Loco-Tende...QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

rat

End users commonly add lionel name plates to MTH and T-Reproduction remakes to match their other models.
Normally the old mth nameplates are keep so the model can be changed back to stock.
Parts dealers sell new and used nameplates for just this purpose.

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End users commonly add lionel name plates to MTH and T-Reproduction remakes to match their other models.

I don't think that is the case with this model. This looks like a very early MTH production that was done for Lionel. That is the original business that Mike was in when he took over production from Williams.

I'm with Jim Katz. The box seems from the time MTH used Lionel name on plates. Whatever the case, very interesting.

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This looks like a very early MTH production that was done for Lionel

Mikes Train House sold reproduction products with the Lionel name on it. The MTH stuff sold by Lionel carried the Lionel Classics packaging and not the early MTH boxes.

Early production MTH sometimes was painted in small numbers in different paint schemes. A friend of mine has a Stephen Girard set painted in Blue Comet colors.

The book A Toy Train Story may have this engine listed.

Page 80 in "A Toy Train Story" lists the early production 400E's (1985-1986), and there is NO red 400E listed. MTH did produce two-tone BROWN and two-tone GREEN 400E's to match the State Cars. I would not mind having the green version to pull my State Set!

TM's FIRST MTH price guide (1999) lists the same 400E's found in "A Toy Train Story" on page 170. Once again, NO red 400E.

Farmer Bill would probably call it a "red herring"!

I guess these would be the cars.

260248470284 E-Bay