The Gilbert American Flyer HO Index |
While some people believe that the later Gilbert Pikemaster F3 diesels are cast from the same mold as Marx production from that same era, it is clear that there are distinct differences in the shells. The blue shell illustrated below is a Pikemaster locomotive (a 31025) and the black shell is a Marx locomotive.
One very clear difference is in the steps, which are filled in between the rungs on the Pikemaster locomotives and not filled in on the Marx locomotives. As noted below, the Marx F3's are slightly longer than the Gilbert models. Also, on the top of the shells, in the area of the steam generator, the venting is different on the two shells. There are also numerous other differences shown in the back to back photo of the shells below. Marx produced F3 diesels from 1958 to 1962 and brought the locomotive back into production in 1971, so it appears that they used the molds before, during, and after the Pikemaster era of Gilbert production.
It is quite likely that Marx and Pikemaster locomotives were made by the same manufacturer using very similar molds, possibly made from the same drawings. How the similarities between the Marx and Gilbert models came about is unknown. While there are minor differences that distinguish the two shells, the models, taken as a whole definitely give the appearance of having been made by the same manufacturer. In particular, I would cite the similarities in the gear boxes as factor pointing to a common manufacturer. The only difference appears to be that the nylon gears of the Marx chassis were replaced with plastic in the Gilbert Pikemaster models.
Photos by Joe King