Without intending to argue the relative merits of any price guide, does anyone know if there exists a version for MTH products?
I have had good luck using Greenberg’s Price Guide for Lionel Trains (1901-2008) and adding “kentucky windage” for selling and buying purposes.
Thanks, in advance.
Without intending to start trouble, I doubt if MTH has a collectible value established that would require a price guide.
I would agree, but I HAVE seen a Greenbergs Guide for MTH, I would check to see of Kalmbach has 'em on this site. I think they used to sell them (can’t remember the date on the book I saw), Check Amazon.com if nothing else.
There is no current price guide for MTH. One issue is that MTH has issued so many different models in low volume that it’s next to impossible to establish values based upon sales for any individual model. There was one issued many years ago but it’s almost a decade old now.
The only Greenburgs price guide I have for MTH is from 2002. Definately out of print, and with out of date prices. If Greenburgs issued newer ones, they may still be available.
Thanks, again guys. I see I forgot to mention that I had found reference to the 2001 and 2002 versions for MTH (Amazon.com), but nothing more recent. I am a bit surprised that there isn’t one for the most recent 3-4 years, anyway, even if it would be only 50 or so pages.
Amen to that. Why would one need a price guide for a train that has no collectablity?
Careful. People used to say the same thing about Marx.
And I wouldn’t say it’s only collectors who would be interested in a price guide. If you’re buying the train to run, you want to have some idea what other people are paying for it so you don’t overpay.
I’m sure the real reason there hasn’t been a price guide in 5 years is that it wasn’t as popular as the AF and Lionel guides, so it wasn’t profitable to print. That’s exactly the same reason there hasn’t been a Marx guide in several years either.
But a lack of price guides doesn’t mean lack of collectibility or interest. I haven’t seen a recent price guide for Ives or Dorfan lately either.
Kalmbach tried it and there was no market for it.
The best product we tried - that died - was the Roadname guide, which listed trains of all O gauge manufacturers by roadname.
Funny you should put it that way, Dave, given the current going rates for the Marx and IVES (not to mention some of the Lionel) Greenbrug books.
I know all about the realities of the printing industry, and I don’t want to start another debate on reprinting those old books. I think that the bound price guides have just about reached dinosaur status anyway. The market will probably have to shift to electronic format, which might even provide life for the oldies-but-goodies.
I might agree, being the forward thinking techo geek wannbe that I am.
The point seems to be that the guide is just that, a guide. I use it to get a general idea of the pricing of the item, rarity and as a check list of said item. Electronic guides would be a cool idea, even if you could “palm” it. I just feel more comfortable with a bound print edition. Seems to be easier for me and (this isn’t a slam) and those who just can’t grasp the use of an electronic guide.
I prefer books, too. But I also understand that keeping bound books up to date is a very expensive proposition; the electronic form is much more manageable. Reprints of older material make more sense that way, too. However much I prefer the book, I want the info and the pics, and, if I cannot afford $300 for Dave McEntarfer’s prewar sets book, I’d settle for a CD.
For information that has a limited market, electronic distribution is the future. A book that costs $60 to print and distribute via traditional means can be duplicated on CD very cheaply, even using a computer with a CD burner and CD-Rs from the local discount store if the author is on a shoestring. Or it can be delivered over the Web for pennies. Then if the author sells it for $20, he or she actually makes decent money off the project, as opposed to a small print-run book, which usually doesn’t make any reasonable amount.
I’d rather have books too, but given the choice between electronic media and nothing, I’ll take electronic. If tablet PCs ever catch on, they won’t be a bad way to read that kind of thing.