|
This page may contain links that result in small commissions to keep this free site up and running.
Welcome Guest! Registering and/or logging in will remove the anchor (bottom) ads. It's Free!
To participate in the forum you must log in or register. | Author |
 Replies: 21 / Views: 3,388 |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3670 Posts |
I jump tracks often (pardon the soon to be pun, he he), but this story ends in the subject of Pm's, as I always have a goal/plan. Like Hannibal, I love it when a plan comes together.... I had never been to an Estate sell before, and this is something I have really been wanting to do for some time, like a major calling, or interest shall we say.... If you have read some of my earlier posts on the subject, you know I have a life long friend who works with a fellow who's father recently past on, and was a collector of vintage toys, games, collectibles, for over 40 years. Phil his son told me he went out religiously two or three times a week, and had a hoarding complex. Again, this sell had 75 people at least lined up before the doors opened, and most of the elite items were gone before I could turn a corner at ticket number 35, lol.... You may recall I said he had like 12 by 12 office boxes stacked throughout a basement of 2000 square feet, with tunneling into the ground like a bomb shelter. Anyhow, the auctioneer was so over whelmed with merchandise, an due to upstairs space, only put out about 20% of it all, lol. Another sell coming on Nov 4-6th, not to mention next two days, with no restocking this weekend from the basement.... Here is the link with 3 great pages of pictures an info of what is for sell this weekend, check it out to understand, and you will see pics of what I got.... http://etnestatesales.com/upcoming-...-part-1.htmlTo cut to the chase, I grabbed like 10 vintage Joe's, the 3 3/4 inch complete good shape, and like 10 more MOTU figures, that is masters of the universe, via He man, early 80's etc. I worked out a good Frank bundle deal, lol.... The other vultures cleaned out the Joe vehicles an Star wars stuff before I could turn around, keep in mind I am working on just a measly 325 dollar budget.... I spotted a nice Lionel 1977 train set, and two more sets made by a well known company called Bachmann from about the mid 90's on one, and no date on the other, all die-cast I think, the engines art least. That is right my friends, precious medals, in sealed sets, like 3 foot long, by 2 foot high, by like 3 to 4 inches thick type sets. Anyhow I got everything above for 325 bucks, and got some great other stuff at 150 for my buddy who could not attend for work, as he wanted to give some of the stuff to the kids for Christmas.... Anyhow, I have all my items up for sell, an if it all sold, which it will around Christmas, I would have a serious new chunk of cash to help add toward my 2 oz. of gold coin stash.... I asked a train guy on ebay, an he said the Lionel I got will do real well, and the other Santa fa Tornado he had not seen before an expected similar results, say two, perhaps three hundred.... A guy like four spots ahead of me grabbed a vinyl capped Jawa MOC figure with card condition of like C-5. I know of a graded version on ebay where the guy is asking 75 grand for an identical version on a nice mint card graded, good luck selling that. But the one I just missed, will bring 4 to 5 hundred all day long on ebay, an he paid 50 bucks for it. I did not get there till 8, doors open at 9. Tickets gave out at 7 and again he was number 31, and I was 35, and would have grabbed that fast. So I learned VALUABLE lesson, early bird gets the worm, and bring a big box, lol.... Everyone was real cordial, typical southern hosp, lol. They had an officer there, may have helped, and anything brought outside, WAS OFF LIMITS and we all respected each others pile, or times we may or may not plan to buy basically. This allowed me to go back in an out, exchanging items I changed my mind on, or if it exceeded my budget. A real learning experience, and there is a first time for everything eh. I haggled 25 bucks off of my total and my buddy's total (50 total) which was not bad for first day, as there was a real reasonable lady running it all. Just smart bus to take $325 cash in your face, when you are asking $350 for what I bought IMO.... Here is a link to the Lionel set, and the others are easy to see in my other auction window link there in the description area. Sorry for the rant, just thought some of you all would enjoy scanning through those pictures from the sell, and the tips I figured out real quick, early bird gets the worm once again, lol.... http://www.ebay.com/itm/15068099225....m1555.l2649Edited by Silverhawk74
10/21/2011 11:38 pm
|
|
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
1502 Posts |
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
My brother was a bit like this guy. My brother was into books as well.
He had a nice collection of HO scale brass locomotives, including a UP 4884 BIG BOY.
Also had a complete collection of National Geographic magazines, from the first issue in 1889.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
 United States
3670 Posts |
Hey thanks Poboxw, hope everything is going good with the new born.... Yes Sel, I have learned much in a short time on trains, scale size like No or Ho for example like your brother's Big Boy (I will have to research that one), and I did a Lionel search last night on ebay, via EVERY YEAR fro Lionel train sets from 1939 to 1980, and found some great info. Basically, the pre an post war Lionel's, bring real big money, more like 4 to 6 hundred per set on average, or just engine in some cases. There is a pre world war set I saw maybe like 3 sets of, with wood logs that is ultra rare, and it was priced anywhere from 1100 to 5500, of course condition and being complete played into that wide range of high pricing.... I saw a real nice Lionel Midnight runner set from 1980, which started at just about 75 shipping an all. So with this economy, you can find great deals. An no doubt in my mind, that one from 1980 will be worth 100 to 150 before long, a good long term investment IMO. If one was planning to set on for like 10 years for example or longer perhaps.... If I decide to invest in any more, they will be pre or short term post world war 2 rare models, again just like another form of gold IMO, at least in normal times, which we all experience every day for the most part, even though the SHTF situation is always a possibility as we all know to well.... I am no expert on any subject, but I like to think I know almost a little bit about everything, lol! Whether It is a fact or not, lol. Part of being born 1974, via year of the tiger.... Edited by Silverhawk74
10/22/2011 1:33 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
667 Posts |
I have been running trains way to long. The best collection years have long pasted. The market is way down as compared to those times.
Post war is still strong however that doesn't mean every thing post war commands a large premium if any. Rarity is everything and Lionel does have some rarity but it is far and in between.
The MPC years is a possible up and coming possibility though people are trying to get way to much money for it and lot of it sits or is bought by people that do not know better.
There is a lot to learn.
The older post war baby boomers have really moved into the high price command systems. Not too many layouts are built using the old tubular and non command trains.
I'm not saying there isn't still a group of collectors I am just saying there are less. I still always have a good laugh when I see the words Lionel, Cast Iron and rare together. Most of these are not worth a fraction of what people ask, of course like I said it depends on the rarity. The problem is most everyone had beginner sets and these are a dime a dozen.
I still buy MPC sets but never pay more than $75 for the most part.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4008 Posts |
I haven't been into train sets for a long time but I do know that some of the Lionel train sets are worth a good bit. Some of them are even rare and quite expensive. The fact that this set is from 1977 and is in virtually new condition will go a long way with anyone who collects Lionels and does not have this particular set. Best of luck with the auction. It should do quite well.  |
|
Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
My only claim to fame is a Virginia and Truckee brass 440 American in HO. I still have that model as a memorial to my brother. He was a doctor. Tragically, he was killed on car crash about 20 years ago.
The epitome of what a steam locomotive should be. You know, what with the cowcatcher, diamond smokestack and timber cab!
My train set as a kid was made by Marklin, which of German origin. I had a model of a German Federal Railways 4-6-2 pacific locomotive.
I eventually sold the train set and bought a St Gaudens Double Eagle with the proceeds. Interestingly, if I had kept the train set, it would be worth a great deal more than the Double Eagle now!
Edited by sel_69l
10/22/2011 9:22 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1388 Posts |
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3670 Posts |
I hate to hear that about your brother Sel, he seemed like a great guy. I always say...."In one hundred years from now when we are all dust once again, it will not matter if we were here, 20-50-or 75 years, just the fact that we got to be here an see the miracle of this universe is enough for me"
But with that being said, those who live 95 years like my uncles father who just past, after being healthy for 98% of this life, an bad off for the last three days, we all just are not that blessed....
Darth, come on down to my neck of the woods on Nov 4th and I will take you with me to the next one, as there is still 80% of the bulk collection to sell yet. As there is gonna be another sell 4th through the 6th, an this time I am gonna be there in an early slot....
I don't know where you live, as I am sure it is way to far to drive, but you never know, lol....
And Ed, I hope you are right as I was thinking the same thing! I am counting on it moving for 225 to 300 or so, and if it does, it will nearly pay for the rest of the estate sell spending's....
Edited by Silverhawk74
10/22/2011 10:37 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
667 Posts |
I'm not going to say you can't get someone to pay the price you want. But it is a common MPC set that has value of around $80. Most MPC sets are cheap sellers, there are some that go from $150 - $200. The problem with MPC sets is the quality which was the worse ever during the great long life of the Lionel train. While like I said there is some interest in the MPC years they generally are the cheapest Lionel trains to get. They were plagued with poor construction, weak cheapo motors, plastic trucks and sometime non operating couplers. Set that bring in the money are from the Post War. Good luck I have seen people bid way to much on ebay before and I hope they do for you. This is one of the last larger group I bought at an auction, all the mpc sets which you can see one were sold for $75. In order to make money I had to get them for cheap.  |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3670 Posts |
Mk, you are a fountain of info and I like that, lol. Thanks for that, it is all great to know! Great pictures....
You say post war most popular, and cash wise, curious why?
I would expect pre-World War 2 models to bring the most in good shape an complete, via older, survived the World War 2 melt down for weapons, etc......
Amazing collection you seem to have there as well, very nice!
Edited by Silverhawk74
10/22/2011 11:38 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
667 Posts |
You can use this as a guide.
Pre war went from 1901-1942. A lot of these were tin but not all. No trains were made during WWII.
Post war went from 1945-1969 at which Lionel went bankrupt and sold the brand name Lionel. Popular due to the baby boomers who all grew up with Lionel under the Christmas tree.
MPC went from 1970 to 1988, low quality and some manufacturing done in Mexico.
Modern 1989 - present.
Edited by mkfarm
10/22/2011 11:32 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3670 Posts |
I sold another robot for 200, and tossed an off out on a 1965 Lionel which appears to have all cars an track an power source for 125, and they accepted it.... The pictures are bad, the first shot just shows engine. That is huge, as no one spotted the nice box an complete or near complete set I bet like I did 1965 model, and it is a new listing and the seller is clueless about trains. Said they are in better than good shape, and you can see that from the photo's at least.... It is a gamble like anything, as I only counted 10 pieces of track, an not sure if it is enough with only two straight pieces, but who knows. And it may not work. But, if it works, and has all the track an most pieces, I think I did real good at 125 bucks.... What do you think M.K.? I saw a similar one with just engine an cars in o.k. shape for 150 total, so it couldn't be to bad if it works, and could only find like 3 or 4 examples as well, so not exactly growing on trees..... http://www.ebay.com/itm/30060427423....m1439.l2649That looks like real nice example of a 1965, which is what almost 47 years old, and I wanted a loose one to mess around with for a project train. May need to add some pieces, that will be fine, if I can find them, lol. And if it does not work, I will have a real project to try an fix it.... Edited by Silverhawk74
10/23/2011 02:14 am
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
667 Posts |
It is the Scout Four Car Freight Set. This is an uncatalogued set from the 1966 / 1967 era. Lionel used the word Scout to denote its entry-level 027 steam locomotives. Generally speaking, Scout engines had a 2-4-2 wheel arrangement and were reserved for beginner or starter sets. Price range for the one on ebay depending on grade can be between $100 - $185. Edited by mkfarm
10/23/2011 11:31 am
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
594 Posts |
And this thread belongs on this board because why? I see no coins or precious metals.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4008 Posts |
Oh, Lordy... here come the net polizei... :-/
|
| |
Replies: 21 / Views: 3,388 |
To participate in the forum you must log in or register.
Disclaimer: While a tremendous amount of effort goes into ensuring the accuracy of the information contained in this site, Coin Community assumes no liability for errors. Copyright 2005 - 2026 Coin Community Family- all rights reserved worldwide. Use of any images or content on this website without prior written permission of Coin Community or the original lender is strictly prohibited.
Contact Us | Advertise Here | Privacy Policy / Terms of Use
|
| Coin Community Forum |
© 2005 - 2026 Coin Community Forums |
| It took 0.38 seconds to rattle this change. |
 |
|
| |
| |
Posted 10/22/2011 02:10 am
