In the February 2012 CTT, Lou Palumbo (Veiws From the Underground) Page 33 writes about saving the boxes. I have immensed a rather large collection of newer (MPC to Current) collection of Lionel Trains, to include MTH, K-Line, Williams, etc.
I will in NO WAY be able to store all these boxes, and my local hobby retailer agrees. I have all intents of disposing of the boxes.
I also have a large American Flyer collection, I got from my father, and non of those pre war or post war pieces have there boxes.
So to get to the point here:
1. I have no intent on moving in the next 15 plus years
2. I have no intent at this time to sell ANY of my trains.
3. If I suddenly die, the sale or values of the trains will no longer be my problem
4. I have no where to keep the boxes.
so, for someone in my position, is it really necessary to keep the boxes?
Interested in others opinion on this....... but I am still going to burn the boxes in my wood stove!!
Ryan
Fortunately I have been able to keep the product and boxes together because of a large basement. What is not used for the layout is used for storage. But one of these days the wife & I will want to downsize so that luxury will be history and a large percentage of the accumulation will have to go.
I do agree with your point 3, if I was to leave this Earth suddenly I have told my oldest grandson to sell the trains and split the revenue with the 4 other grandkids. Whatever they make from the sale will be 100% profit for them.
Bill T.
Although they take up a lot of space I keep em. Things change and sometimes you need to put an item or two away, the box is the best place. Also comes in handy if you transport for any reason.
"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks
Charter Member- Tardis Train Crew (TTC) - Detroit3railers- Detroit Historical society Glancy Modular trains- Charter member BTTS
I save nearly all my boxes, but I buy mostly used postwar without boxes, so it's not too much of an issue. I store a lot of them above the drop ceiling in my layout room in the basement.
I think some of them could be folded flat to take less space, but it sounds like you've got your mind made up already. I'd take the plastic and foam off of the boxes before feeding them to the stove. I can't imagine the residue from that stuff could be good for a flue.
J White
iwse30, correct, I know better than to burn the plastic or Styrofoam.
Most people familiar with this hobby know that due to the scarcity of boxes, many boxes are worth more than the trains in them. Also known is that a boxed item, no matter what condition, will almost always command a higher price than an identical unboxed item. When I leave this earth, I want my family to realize maximum resale on my trains, so I keep all my boxes. As jwse30 said, folding them flat would be an answer to your dilemma.
Larry
If you were planning to dispose of postwar boxes you would be burning some really significant $$$, but with MPC and newer, it may not be a financial consideration.
I've been to auctions where a case of miscellaneous postwar Lionel boxes goes for a few hundred bucks!
A lot of folks seem to store their boxes under the layout.
Personally, I hope I'm never too space constrained to keep my boxes, I consider them part of my collection, be they prewar (I have one) postwar, or modern era.
runtime
You might consider selling/giving them away on Craig's List or eBay.
I'm a pack-rat, I keep everything.
Seriously though, if you've decided to get rid of them, bundle them up for recycling instead of burning them.
Becky
Trains, trains, wonderful trains. The more you get, the more you toot!
While I do not consider my toy trains to be an investment, and have no plans to sell, I want my heirs to be able to maximize their return on any and all the trains they wish to liquidate.
Sadly, I can't bring myself to throw away my boxes, and my problem extends beyond just my trains. I have almost all of the boxes for my rather large diecast car collection, my wife's figurines and collectibles, and all sorts of other boxes. My attic is filled with boxes that are filled with smaller boxes. I haven't even thrown out the boxes for all of my FasTrack switches and special track sections. I keep saying I'm going to clear 'em all out, but it's not happening.
I'd group them into lots of ten or so and sell them on eBay or Craig's list. It seems pointless to burn them when you can make some money and buy more trains.
I save them all.The reason PostWar and PreWar boxes bring a hefty premium is because they are paper products and paper doesn't fair well over time. The reason MPC and Modern boxes don't fetch a premium is because... wait for it... THEY'RE NEW and they haven't been around that long. In about 10 years time the MPC era boxes will start to become rarer and eventually the newer boxes as well.I don't keep them for the money, I keep them for the trains. When I go I'll be stuck in a box, when my trains go, they'll be stuck in box!
I probably represent a real extreme in that I don't save boxes at all. I park everything I own on the layout and don't churn my collection, following a layout theme I'm currently comfortable with... That said, I certainly agree the boxes enhance the value of anything you're trying to re-sell. I'm personally happier trading in the clutter and giving a buyer a good price.
Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.
The reason PostWar and PreWar boxes bring a hefty premium is because they are paper products and paper doesn't fair well over time. The reason MPC and Modern boxes don't fetch a premium is because... wait for it... THEY'RE NEW and they haven't been around that long. In about 10 years time the MPC era boxes will start to become rarer and eventually the newer boxes as well.
Bingo. Too many folks lose sight of the fact that what's new and expendable today will be someone's cherished collectible tomorrow. All those postwar boxes that fetch high prices now were once just new junk.
If I'm going to buy an item from somebody, I really prefer it to have the box. It's much easier to store items in a rectangular shape, than it is to store a bunch of irregularly shaped locomotives and cars. My postwar stuff is a pain in the rear end to store because aside from one engine and tender, I have no boxes to keep them in.
l would deflnatly save the MPC boxes. lf you don;t want to then by all means sell them!
Dave
It's a TOY, A child's PLAYTHING!!! (Woody from Toy Story)
WOW guess I struck a chord here with every one.
I guess I should clarify, that I have , over the years have immensed such a collection, its going to get in the way of building the layout. and further more, even finishing the basement. I have considered building an out building, just for the layout. My Basement is 1200 + SF and I don't think its going to be enough. The temptation is HUGE to start and be disappointed. With interest rates at an all time low, we (Yes, the wife has trains too. Over and beyond my collection) have considered refi the house and building a huge outbuilding. Which would allow me to keep the boxes.
but, unless this happens, I just cannot keep them.
AND, to be honest, after attending the York, PA Greenburgs show, I might re consider the hobby aspect and run the Greenburg circuit selling trains. I must mention, out of the five trillion people there, no one was buying and the vendors weren't dealing.
I, too, have saved the boxes....from Hot Wheels to diecast cars to Lionel (no MTH, thanks). Which was fortunate because when my wife and I separated, I had something to pack them in.
I have seen some of the on line auctions and sometimes the boxes alone fetch more than the former residents there of. I know, it's crazy, but I had heard that, when the trains were new, the boxes were scrapped, therefore the are very few orginals to be had. Supply and demand at its best.
If you really don't care, I would say ebay/craigslist/Greenburgs...what ever. At least get something back for something you'll burn or recycle. That's my view....
and yeah....I'm still keeping mine....grudgingly....
I am the monster in your head...And I thought you'd learn by now, It seems you haven't yet.I am the venom in your skin --- Breaking Benjamin
I save all my engine boxes, for it is easier to transport engines this way. As far as rolling stock boxes, I keep all my older boxes and the more expensive rolling stock boxes. The cheaper stuff I have thrown out. All set boxes I have kept also.
laz57
Well, I think it's incredibly foolish to simply destroy the boxes, but since they're your boxes, I guess you can do with them what you please.
A lot of the boxes can be collapsed to take very little space as well. I guess I'm not nearly as good at predicting the future as you are, so I plan for contingencies. The boxes add value to the collection, and you never know when that value might come in handy.
My last post on this topic, since it sounds like your mind is already made up, so I don't want to confuse you with additional choices.
Yes I save my boxes but it is a LOVE-HATE relationship I have with them. Most of my trains are postwar and the boxes are long gone but all of my newer stuff and diecast boxes I keep. Kev.
Yes I save my boxes but it is a LOVE-HATE relationship I have with them.
Most of my trains are postwar and the boxes are long gone but all of my newer stuff and diecast boxes I keep.
Kev.
Joined 1-21-2011 TCA 13-68614
Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL.
Those diecast boxes can take up a lot of space, since you can't collapse them. And they're so much heavier than the paper ones...;-)
Bob Nelson
Boxes are good for storing an item and since I do not run or display all of my collection at any one time I use the box for that purpose, nothing more. Much of my collection does not have any original boxes but I have taken regular cardboard boxes that paper comes in, made dividers and store my trains that way. I personally see no value to a box other than offering protection for the contents. I actually hate the new locomotive boxes from Lionel that have inches of styrofoam around the contents. They take up far to much room.
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