I have been tasked with the first round of research regarding the train collection of my father-in-law, who recently passed away.
I’m absolutely clueless about this stuff, so I simply wrote down what I was told to. lol. He evidently has a large collection of 40+ year-old brass trains (HO scale?), as well as UP brass, and a full Hiawatha set. I went to the classifieds and gathered the names and contact info of several buyers who listed these items.
My main question here is with regard to an extensive collection of train magazines. For example, he has all issues of Model Railroader since 1968, and all issues of Railroad Model Craftsman since 1950. There are five other magazines that has has years and years’ worth of issues.
Would someone kindly direct me to where I can get a clue as to the value of these magazines and the best way/place to sell them?
ebay is a good way to do it, just put the item up and let it fly.
A nearby hobbyshop sells them 1 dollar each, no matter what.
I would like to know what you may be having to sell. Check in with a local hobbyshop, see if they have a club nearby around. Try to list out and take photos of the equipment and post them up somewhere. We here prolly can identify what you have and try to lead you the right direction, heck, I may buy some stuff too.
Does anyone else think that maybe this first post is just an advertisement? He tells us what he has and what is for sale and then asked us where to sell it at. If you are on the computer you know about Ebay. Everyone online does. And even if he didnt he ends it with supplying his email address to contact him directly. Its a big advertisement topic you agree.
I wondered for a moment when the referal to a deceased as to “He Has Them” in the brass and the mags, and not he had them. Maybe just a slip in wording.
Of course I know about ebay, but I know NOTHING about model trains and such. While I assume ebay is always the best way to go about selling things, when it comes to a large collection such as this - and none of us have a clue - I wanted to research and get feedback about the best course of action.
I gave my email because I don’t want to have to log in here to keep checking for responses (which I greatly appreciate), in case anyone wanted to contact me directly.
Anyway, sorry if my post violated any rules.
(Just for the heck of it, let me share an observation that, no matter what kind of forum it is - and this is certainly the first hobby/collector forum I’ve ever visited…as I never had a need…but with my work I have to research various topics) - people are so darn suspicious! If one is a newbie, the absolute worst is assumed of that person. Guess the internet is chock full of trolls no matter what type of forum. What a shame…)
It’s a personal issue. I have a hard time referring to recently-deceased people in the past tense. I use the present tense for a while…until it sinks in.
No idea why I’m responding to these things, but I guess I want to explain things so everyone doesn’t always assume a newbie to a forum is some sort of troll. Many of us are truly ignorant about situations and protocol and are seeking legitimate information. That’s all. Nothing more. Please see my response to the other person wondering if I’m advertising or whatever.
Newbie, I think you can relax a bit…if you look at the “challenger” he has about 2 or 3 days senority on you here, not that senority means much.
Personally, I think if you had listed all the details of most of the items that you are charged with unloading and listed contact info then I would regard you with suspicion.
My only suggestion and veiw this how you wish- take a video clip or digital pics of ALL the inventory in front of several family members and distribute copys of this “evidence” to them. IF down the road there becomes a question of how many “XYZ Gold Plated super locos” were in this collection EVERYONE can veiw the clip and settle it with bickering. I say this because a co worker recently went thru a similar situation involving die cast models and the only thing that really saved him in court was a 10 minute homemade video. Apparently the one in-law felt hat a few models “disappeared”.
side note on the coworker’s situation…entire collection brought just over $700 (USD) to be divided among 5 or 6 immediate family members…from what I recall the in-law that took him to court had to pay the ENTIRE cost of both attorneys plus court costs…I guess she did not do so well…
I don’t know, but I am on the computer, I know about Ebay, and I wouldn’t buy or sell my mother-in-law on Ebay or buy one, and that applies to everything else. So I don’t find his not using Ebay unusual.
I wouldn’t expect much (if anything) out of the magazines. People give large collections of those away all the time. Any brass items (except track) may be worth some money. You could use E-Bay as a guide to see what similar items are selling for. (not just the asking price.) Check the bottoms of the locos and cars for any kind of manufacturers name or #'s.
MR has a classified service to sell, which is why that may be discouraged here. Still, giving tips how/where to sell isnt wrong. This person has a situation to deal with and wants to disperse the collection the best way… and not to a trash dump… 8-D
By the way, not that it matters, but I’m a “she.” Maybe that explains my cluelessness even more. LOL
One of the responses above provided a great link which I saved, and which listed an organization to which the magazines could be donated. So, that’s great.
If you check out ebay you will find old model railroading magazines don’t sell for much – usually 25 cents per issue or so. You will also find old magazines don’t get many bidders, so there won’t be a price war to drive up the selling price either.
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