Wondering how/where to sell pre-war AF cars and some track. Need advice for finding reasonable values – not looking for top dollar, but don’t want to get ripped off either. Also, where to sell – online clubs? Ebay? Regional Toy & Train Show? Thanks!
Well, my recommendation is to head over to Trainz.com.
Yes, thanks for the suggestion. I could see if I could find similar items for sale somewhere, then use those prices as a guide for trying to sell them somewhere, but where? Is Ebay the most likely place?
By prewar Flyer do you mean Gilbert era or prior. 1938 through 1941 is the prewar Gilbert ownership era. I would probably trust Trainz with these. If these are Coleman era trains, that is really not Trainz core business. Old AF trains can be hard to value because of all the variations and a lack of numbers on some items. If there are clockwork items that is a different set of buyers as well. There are prewar AF collectors on this site, they would have ideas on who to approach about selling.
The Doyle book is a good start for identifying narrow and wide gauge AF trains. It is old, so the values are high, possibly double todays values.
Thanks, AmFlyerTom. I appreciate the suggestions. I know very little about model trains. I’ve only heard of pre- and post-war designations. My dad would have played with these items around 1932, and I understand they were a hand-me-down from an older cousin who probably got them in the early 20’s. One track power connector shows a date of 1922. Is there another name for this era?
There is not really any further prewar distinction. W. O. Coleman owned American Flyer from its founding until the sale to A. C. Gilbert.
Two recommendations to help become familiar with the trains you now have. First, many of the old American Flyer Catalogs are online at Catalogs. A historical perspective is online at www.madeinchicagomuseum.com, scroll down the list on the right of the home page and you will see American Flyer.
I am not familiar with the values of the early prewar trains, I am a postwar S gauge operator/collector.
Thanks again for your kind help!
Thanks to those who replied. I assume that pictures would be helpful, but how should I do that? As a new user, I can only include a single picture. I have 10 cars plus the engine (which unfortunately is in pieces), several track items, and a few accessories.
Try categorizing it–take a photo of the loco, take a photo of each car, take a photo of all the track, take a photo of all the accessories, and then do each as an individual post.
I have almost 30 photos. Here is a link to them on Google Photos. https://photos.app.goo.gl/B6weoKScjkQW8iAc8
Well, it all looks pretty rough, but definitely something that has value. Flyer is not my specialty, so I can’t make any specific recommendations.
Certainly very rough. There are also a few non-flyer items in there, the two New York Central gondolas and the turnouts are Ives, the searchlight car, transformer, rheostat, lamp post, and both crossovers are Lionel pre-war, and the bridge and crossing sign are Lionel post-war. I also see the locomotive’s wheels are in the beginning stages of zinc rot, and will most likely need to be replaced.
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Yes, I was disappointed when I found their condition – hadn’t looked at them for close to forty years. I don’t know who nor why the engine was taken apart. Again, I’m not looking to get much money for them-- mostly want them to go to someone who will appreciate them.
Thanks for the link. I’ll look through it carefully. Maybe find someone to sell the stuff on consignment. If not, maybe a train museum would have patrons who would cherish them.
For anyone who’s interested, I’ve added a few more pictures: the side of the box and the undersides of 5 cars. Here’s the new link: https://photos.app.goo.gl/HXUKWgnFEASTf1kRA
Steve, you have the four cars that make up the consist of the 1349 New Steel Mogul train set. However that set was headed by a 3191 0-4-0 engine. Your set has the 3302 2-4-2 engine which headed up the 1353 Smokey Mountain set, but that set was cataloged with a tank car as well as the other four cars. It is most likely that you have the complete set, just one of a multitude of uncataloged sets AF made.
Since the original set box is present in good condition, this set has some value. The closest value would be the 1353 set because of the engine. I could not find a recent listing or sale of one for reference.The boxed set you have is at least $400 retail, the two orange passenger cars are about $60. The Lionel collectors can help with all the Lionel stuff.
Wow. I’m sure all the pre-war stuff was hand-me-down to my father from his cousin, and now in shabby condition. I don’t remember ever seeing a tank car in this mix. I appreciate all the info, and I’ll try to find folks who will appreciate this stuff.
Look on eBay for your items and filter by ‘sold’ items. That will give you an idea of the current market. Price your items at about 80% of the typical selling price and they will sell.
Thanks for the tip. Do you think I should try to sell it piecemeal, in groups, or the whole lot?