Marx WM Crooks: A sleeping smoke unit awakens!

Was going through my WM Crooks units and decided to repair the first one I'd ever purchased. The shell was given to me and in really nice shape but the smoke unit didn't work and at that time I didn't want to grind out the rivets that hold the smoke unit in place so just ran it the way it is. Decided to finally relent and repair it now that I'm much more comfortable and knowledgeable than back then. I carefully ground the rivets from the bottom just enough to loosen the bracket that holds the smoke unit and removed it. I looked inside the small hole and it appeared the smoke element was intact so I just jiggled the black wire a little, then put some power to it and puffed a little air to the back of it and it sprang to life! Must be there was corrosion that was keeping the ground side of the element from getting power. Put it back together, was able to keep the original rivets, and it smokes like a mad banshee! Original Marx elements are the best so I'm so glad this one didn't need to be replaced and a sleeping smoke unit has been awakened! The original look has been preserved!

[@plunkervillerr1529]

EUREKA!

[@curtismarean6963]

I'm glad this worked out for you! Smoke units can be a real pain in the #$@*! sometimes. You have a very nice set there! Thanks for sharing!

[@MygrandpasTrain]

Smokes Id say just right. Not too much but not too weak. Do you fill this one through the smokestack?

[@jlebaron1]

yes through the smoke stack, I use mega-steam, the eye dropper works great for these