My LHS does not sell or consign brass. I live in CA. Where are some good online sources for finding brass models. (I’m looking for Overland Models Union Pacific passenger cars in HO specifically but any sources would help greatly) Thanks!
try caboose hobbies in denver.
grizlump
Caboose hobbies is a great place to look
http://www.caboosehobbies.com/catalog/index_brief.php
They have great service, and good prices, and are very well stocked. Another one to try is http://brasstrains.com/home.php
EBAY
John,
When it comes down to it that’s the place to go. I really hate to say that EBAY beats everyone HANDS DOWN, it’s not even close. You will find OMI and other brass that NOBODY has. You are going to get your other replies of favorate hobby shops that sell brass but NOBODY beats Ebay. You will also get brass for prices that you will not find in other hobby shops. Now there is the high $$$ brass, but if you look and be patient you can get a deal that NOBODY can beat. I am not a 100% Ebay guy, but I have found deals on engines there that were fantastic. You just have to wait and look. You will also be supprised on how many people who sell brass will take 2 or 3 payments on it. Impulse buying is a huge NO-NO on Ebay, especially in the bras market. Email me some idea’s on what you are looking for. I keep track on the computer on almost every piece of brass sold there (especially Overland UP Passenger Cars). And if you really want good quality brass passenger cars then you are pointed in the right direction, Overland makes the best brass Passenger Cars. So I can give you a good idea of it’s average price and some idea of how much it show’s up. Email is UPGASTURBINE@AOL.COM
Mike
When it comes down to it that’s the place to go. I really hate to say that EBAY beats everyone HANDS DOWN, it’s not even close. You will find OMI and other brass that NOBODY has. You are going to get your other replies of favorate hobby shops that sell brass but NOBODY beats Ebay. You will also get brass for prices that you will not find in other hobby shops. Now there is the high $$$ brass, but if you look and be patient you can get a deal that NOBODY can beat.
my experience with ebay has not been so good. i bought two brass locomotives and both were badly damaged. one was not the one shown in the photo and the other had the photo cropped to hide the damage. if you think ebay or paypal are going to be of much help, you are dreaming. i had to threaten both sellers with physical violence to get my money back. lucky for me each was a short drive away so they knew i was not bluffing. make sure you have a complete understanding of the seller’s return policy before you stick your neck out. i could have lived with what i was sold if these had not been obvious attempts to defraud the buyer.
perhaps you would do well to ask the seller for some names of other satified customers. even then he may just give you his buddy’s phone number.
i use ebay occasionally to dump the stuff i don’t like or want but i at least tell the bidders why i am selling it.
grizlump
Ebay is ok if you know what you’re looking for, if you’re just starting out it is not the place. Do you want to invest or buy a runner? I’ve got a few great brass “runner” deals on Fleabay.
Where in CA, it’s a big state? If you’re down in SoCal the The Original Whistle Stop in Pasadena is very well know for their brass sales although a bit on the pricey side. As mentioned, Caboose in Denver, in fact one of our members here keeps them in business (you know who you are [:D]). Dan and his father at BrassTrains.com I’ve heard great things about although I have no personal experience with them.
The only brass I buy are things that I can’t get in today’s ultra detailed plastic or die cast. In the end I’d rather put my $$$ to an MTH or PCM loco, but I run 'em, not park them in the closet.
My .03
ABSOLUTELY!
Don Black Brass Trains, Dan’s Train Depot are the ones I’ve dealt with directly and can recommend both for selection, frequent ebay sellers, comprehensive websites with picture(s) and descriptions, reasonable prices. I have heard good things about the following brass dealers: Gunnings, Caboose Hobbies. I have also dealt with Mitchells’ (who are now out of the brass business),but I have heard one of their employees might be starting up a shop of their own. Hopefully someone else here knows a bit more about this than me.
Good luck and happy hunting.
Andrew
I gotta jump in here. Ebay is by far the largest venue for brass models today. It is also the easiest way to be disappointed as many sellers do not have the proper knowledge of the model they are listing. Often I have seen wrong descriptions, poor photos, and notes on listings…“Sales final”. To buy an expensive model in “the blind” and have little recourse should it not be what is expected is insanity at best.Then there are many who find that they have way overpaid as they found themselves in a bidding war and was determinned to win.at all cost. This story is told everyday as two or more get into this competetion with more funds than common sense or at least knowing the model’s true market value.
Brass models are limited run works of art. Once they were considered to be mainstream due to affordable costs because of large runs.Not so today as the once “operators” market understandably turned to the new RTR die cast and plastic locos with excellent finishes, electronics, and the ability to perform quite well out of the box…and for a fraction of their brass counter-parts.
You may say that brass models have become a hobby within a hobby with almost 100% of recent offerings going to the serious and well off collector. Many are overseas as the market there is quite healthy.These buyers overseas are also a reason that older brass seems to be climbing in value. Several dealers today predicate their prices based on what the model can and has brought off shore.
Point…be careful when purchasing in the blind. There are still several dealers who are quite reputable and besides being able to offer sound advice, will stand behind what they sell. I’d be most happy to make recommendations,but contact me for this.
HZ
This is a link to the original Mitchell’s “we’re closing” website. There is a telephone number listed for the owner of the new store. I have not tried that number, but hopefully it’s accurate. Yes, there is a new store opened, and I did stop in once to look around. They have that wall display (or part there of) from the old store that had all the brass items. And there were brass items in the case. I’m not a brass aficionado, so I couldn’t tell you if the prices were good or bad.
Sometimes, though, that works to the buyer’s advantage. A few weeks ago I acquired an HOn3 PSC C-16 #268 (factory-painted bumblebee) for a buy-it-now price of $165. The model is worth easily probably 4 times that. I looked over the listing several times in disbelief before making the purchase. (The engine doesn’t even fit my era, but it is a beauty and for that price…couldn’t pass it up). I was fortunate to catch it within about an hour of being listed. Such a good deal, I felt a little bad about it.
I agree, but the selection you have is nothing compaired to the small inventory of the mentioned hobby shops. You do have to be carefull. And a lot of sellers of big brass are hobby shops. You don’t have to be a Brass Harvard Graduate. Just do your homework or ask someone.
I disagree. Wouldn’t that work better towards the buyers advantage. If they (seller) don’t realise that they are holding a quality engine it’s up to you to know that. That way you can get a bargan.
Well, back to the original question. Since my Rio Grande steam roster is about 98% RUNNING brass, I can recommend three establishments that I’ve dealt with very successfully over the years:
Caboosehobbies.com (in Denver, CO and always my first choice)
Brasstrains.com and Peachcreekshops.com
All three are out of state. In CA, I understand that Whistlestop in southern CA has a fine selection. Here in my area of Northern CA, I’ve dealt with Railroad Hobbies in Roseville. They usually have a fairly good selection of consignment brass which tends to be heavily geared toward SP, WP, UP and Santa Fe. I have, however picked up several Rio Grande consignment steamers there. The owner, Mike, and his crew are absolutely top-notch in both knowledge and customer service.
Tom [:)]
Here are a few more.
http://www.precisionscaleco.com/
http://www.jaystrains.com/HO-HOn3/Brass/ho-hon3brass.htm
http://www.trainandtrooper.com/br.html
http://www.brasslocomotive.com/
http://daveayers.com/Modeling/DTAModels.htm
http://www.uncledavesbrass.com/
Ok, I am tired of this. Do some research. Look below. Don’t just drool. store the links in you Favorites folder.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=brass+model+trains&aq=0&oq=brass+model&aqi=g10
Rich
Caboose Hobbies is your best bet for selling/buying brass. I have had the best service with them. They are very friendly and knowledgeable in regards to brass and they are also very helpful.
Charlie
I can recommend Chucks Brass Trains here in Kokomo IN, very reputable gentleman, retired army and a local judge. Very fair prices and keeps his webpage very updated. Ebay has the huge volume of models as does Caboose hobbies. I have gotten a few from Mitchells but they have now closed and changed owners. My last couple brass engines have been from private estate sales and one from Ebay. It helps if you can tinker and tune them, espicaly dealing with online purchasing. I do repair for both the local hobby shop and many of the members of the local clubs and get many brass engines, mainly for cleaning and tune ups, and adding 8/12 wheel pickup on early diesels. Everyone thus far I have been able to get running quite well, even when they didnt run at first. Gears can be replaced with NWSL ones. If anybody has specific brass problems or questions, feel free to email me direct. Good Luck on your hunt. Mike