Touch ups and collector value

[msacco]

A question to any collectors on the forum. How much if any do touch ups effect the value of a postwar piece. I recently acquired a very nice 2025 and didn't see a couple of touch up spots when I purchased it but under a different light I've noticed them.
don't plan on selling it anytime soon but wondering how much touch ups matter to the collector.

thanks,
Mike S.

[ben10ben]

Most collectors would prefer that it not be touched up at all. With that said, though, a piece that has the potential to be touched up(i.e. one that wasn't in as good of condition to begin with) certainly wouldn't be worth as much as a piece with no touch-ups and no paint nicks to begin with.

I personally don't mind them, as I buy operator quality pieces anyway. When I do them myself, though, I use a Sharpie or some other permanant marker. The color doesn't match exactly, but it's close enough, and it will always wash right off with a little bit of alcohol.

[Jumijo]

I bought a very nicely repainted 2025 last May. The only dead giveaways are the rub down white numbers on the cab. They can be easily removed with masking tape and replaced with silver rubber-stamped numbers. Aside from that, it looks completely authentic, and the new paint matches the old paint on the unrestored boiler front perfectly. Still, I bought an original shell on Ebay in case I ever want to make it more genuine. The shell does have a few small touchups, but honestly, do you really intend to find one in mint condition? I bought the loco as a runner, not as an investment or shelf queen. So to answer your question, I guess it depends on the individual collector whether or not the toy has been touched up.

Jim

[Anonymous]

I would prefer a professionally restored item as opposed to a touch-up or one that shows a lot of dings, wear,etc. Recently bought a prewar tinplate "O" set like this. I'm not going to re-sell at age 63, and don't care what happens after I'm gone. It just needs to please my eye. Joe