No, this isnt about the show, sorry. I recently watched, with great interest, as 3,highly detailed, plastic HO billboard reefers went for between $150 - $208 ea. on Ebay. They were extraordinaryly well built,painted,decaled,and detailed models. This got me wondering, what is the upper limits, price wise for all things model railroad? What do the collectors with unlimited funds collect? Can you folks post an example of the most expensive/valuable item you’ve come across. This should be fun!
There are always people who are willing to pay outrageous prices if they feel the need to own such a beauty. Whether they are around if you have to sell, is more than doubtful.
The highest price for a model railroading item I ever came across was the bid for a pre-WW II Märkling gauge I tin-plate “Swiss Crocodile” in mint condition, which changed owners for a mere $ 45,000.
I don’t know how much he paid for them, but in the mid 1940’s Elis D. Atwood collected the locomotives, rolling stock, and rails still available from several defunct 2 foot gauge railroads in Maine. This collection eventually became the original Edaville Railroad open to the public.
Enjoy
Paul
Hi!
As a long term buyer and seller on Ebay of mostly MR stuff, may I offer some comments …
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the cars the OP mentioned may or may not have been worth the sale price. After all, the worth of an auctioned item is what a buyer is willing to pay, and it sounds like a bidding war took place with the example given.
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I have had auctions where potential buyers got into a bidding war, with the winner paying significantly more than the item would have normally sold for. The bidding war is often an “ego” thing, of course, with the buyers willing to pay “whatever it takes” to keep someone else from winning. Sadly, as a seller, I’ve only had a few of these auctions. Thankfully, as a buyer, I’ve only “lost control” on a couple of auctions and knowingly bid “too much”.
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To answer the OP’s question (What are the outer limits?) is hardly possible. Each auction/sale is unique, and of course timing is everything. Linking up the right buyers at the right time with the right item is a “crap shoot”. Typically MR items sell best around the Christmas holidays, although pristine in the box items are good all year around.
Highest price personal experience for me was when my AHM/Pocher Lincoln Funeral Car went for over $79. It still had the sticker on the box from when we bought it at Two Guys in the early 70’s for $1.99.
–Randy
Outrageous to one is just a drop in the bucket to others.
Must be a bucket from a backhoe!
There are people who would regard that amount as small change… [xx(]
Check Sotheby´s and Christie´s for their “toy” auctions!
Probably the most expensive item(for HO) I came accross was an 3 unit UP GTEL set in brass for $3000, 15 years ago. I now wish I had bought it for such a reasonable price especially since he said he would give me a discount.
To me plastic models are at or beyond the outer limits. I have some brass and am going to now buy more brass vs plastic. A $650 brass vs $300 plastic loco seems to make a lot more since especially when the detailing is very similar and the brass is still a little better. Brass cars for $100plus vs plastic for $50 to $60. Brass holds its’ value or goes up in value vs plastic. I made this decision earlier this year as to me plastic is again–at or beyond the outer limits.
Richard
I don’t know if they sold or not, but a few weeks ago there were two brass G-scale steam engines offered on e-Bay for a price of $25,000 and $30,000, Buy It Now price, with no bidding.
My one–and only–foray into EBAY bidding was several years ago when I saw a 1964 Akane HO scale Yellowstone posted with an opening bid of $100. Naturally, for that price I bid on it–generally these lokies sell for about $450 used on consignment. When the bid price reached $450 I quit bidding, but came back the day the bids quit just out of curiosity. Bids were just under $1000. Now, those lokies are well-built and generally very good runners, but a thousand dollars worth? Not for me.
Tom
Some additional info on the reefers I mentioned in my OP, the cars were professional built, out of production, Westerfield kits. Westerfield stopped producing kits earlier this year.
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I am certain that the upper limit on price is totally dependent on the item being sold. I’ve seen boxes for Lionel items sell for several hundreds of dollars. Think of the Toy Story 2 plot. The sale of his collectibles to the museum in Japan was going to fix him up for life.
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Since I don’t have unlimited funds I don’t know that I an answer the second question. Only people with unlimited funds can answer that, but I presume it would end up with a layout like the one in Greeley.
- The most valuable thing I’ve got is probably an Ive’s Standard Gauge train set from about 1927. I got it for free. I wish its box was in mint condition, but I can say it was the box that protected the trains from serious damage. It cost me $0, I expect I could sell it for several thousand.
But I do collect Alco PAs, reefers, and passenger trains. I never pay the big prices though. I mostly get things on clearence or at least sale.
I saw a beautiful 0-6-0 switcher on ebay for @ $600 and I think it went higher, the next day I went to a Brass dealer online and the exact same( the same kind) engine was for sale for $350, included shipping and was guaranteed. buyer beware.
My biggest pet peeve on MR forums is when people use a “hook” phrase to suck people into a topic they might not other wise care to take the time to read! sigh
Re: Texas Zephyr’s comment: the most, to me, ridiculous thing I’ve seen was at a show two years ago. A table in front of mine had an empty Lionel box for $499. When I asked if he was serious, the seller said some went as high as $800, and counterfeits were becoming a problem.
Hal
Like putting FSM somewhere in the item title or description, even if it has nothing to do with Fine Scale Minatures.
Not mentioned thus far in this discussion is the reality that older brass, from the 50s and 60s in particular, may be the only way that certain locomotives can be found that are exact (or close) to certain prototypes. For a modeler wanting to get one rare/specific prototype, the price may be worth it even if few if any other modelers would give it a second look on a table at a train show. That makes the value whatever the buyer is willing to pay even though when he gets ready to sell it no one else will give it a bid.
I have several examples in my collection, and have sold others for very significant dollars that were custom painted to capture the prototype.
As to the original basic question, the answer is that there is no outer limit to what a buyer might be willing to pay to fill the last gap in a roster/collection. Note that I said willing to pay—able to pay is an entirely different matter.
Mike
Sorry to disappoint, but Westerfield sold his business. The new owner is filling the close-out orders from Westerfield first, which were far greater than either party anticipated. Then the new owner will take new orders.
Well-made molds or masters seldom disappear forever in this hobby.
my thoughts, your choices
Fred W
This seems to be barreling down the well trod path of “ZOMG!1! everything is too expensive!”, but if I read the original post correctly, the items in question were unique, custom built items.
A few years back, I saw two plastic locos that sold for over $400 each. One was Wisconsin Central #3026, the “Map” unit. The modeler had made custom decals for the intricate paint scheme and detailed the loco to the N-th degree. The second was a C44-9W BNSF “pink bonnet”. It was also detailed and weathered to an amazing degree. Although I didn’t buy either (the WC unit was incredibly tempting), I do not feel they were overpriced.
It’s all what you’re willing to pay for, but craftsmanship counts for a lot.