MTH WHAT IS COLLECTIBLE??

[Anonymous]

IT'S GREAT TO GET EVERYONE'S OPINION!I VALUE EVERYONE'S INPUT ON THE SUBJECT.I'VE BEEN OUT OF THE HOBBY FOR ABOUT 20YRS.IAM NOW GET BACK ON TRACK NOW THAT IAM RETIRED!TKS SPONGEBOB

[dwiemer]

I believe that anyone who enjoys owning but not running trains is fully entitled to do just that, even to the extent of leaving the boxes sealed, as some do.  It is not my place to dictate what is fun and isn't fun for them.  In fact, their take on the toy-train hobby complements mine, since, when their collections are liquidated, as they eventually will be, they provide a supply of like-new old trains for me and others to run!

I have to agree with you Bob.  Storing them on a shelf or in a closet is not my cup of tea, but in the end, I guess I am glad that some folks do.

Dennis

[Greg T.]

Unless you're talking about extreme RARE pieces of Lionel or any other toy train manufactorer, I think the Collectible side of the toy train hobby has set sail.  That's not to say there aren't buyers out there willing to pay crazy amounts of money for even the most common pieces... look what's happening lately with MARX, but it's still a losing proposition over-all.  IMHO.

I'm glad I'm not a "Collector" in this respect.  I'm a runner... and proud of it!

Greg

[3railguy]

Call Tony Lash, he will buy them all from you for what you paid.

[dbaker48]

IS THERE A SITE FOR APPRASING VALUE'S OF MTH TRAINS ON LINE?

Spongebob,

I shouldn't have made light of your inquiry.  Not looking at the number of posts and seeing you are relatively new to the forum.  Lots of good information here, but sometimes get carried away too.  (I did)

 The basis of your question is TOTALLY reasonable!  Insurance purposes,  general information etc..

As most things the value is only what YOU can get for it.  I think Greenburg has a price guide available.  However what I have found is.....

AND MY OPINION ONLY --- PRETTY MUCH WORTHLESS 

Toy trains are a lousy investment for investment purposes.  Of course there are a few exceptions, but most of them will be based upon a REAL deal at time of acquisition. 

Trains have a great sentimental value!

I used to stay on top of the value of my collection, and pay $15 every year for a couple of price guides just to evaluate them.  (Great for insurance purposes) And, then go to a train meet and see the items going for significantly less.  Hmmmm  then would get frustrated with it all, and just decided its more important to just enjoy them.  One of the problems I had is I wouldn't sell an item for the value published most of the time anyway.

I would recommend keeping track of what it cost you, then if you do want to sell it check all the places referrenced above for an idea of value at that time.

AGAIN JUST MY OPINION 

 

[lionelsoni]

I believe that anyone who enjoys owning but not running trains is fully entitled to do just that, even to the extent of leaving the boxes sealed, as some do.  It is not my place to dictate what is fun and isn't fun for them.  In fact, their take on the toy-train hobby complements mine, since, when their collections are liquidated, as they eventually will be, they provide a supply of like-new old trains for me and others to run!

[laz 57]

Isn't eBay sometimes amazing though? I see the difference you mean about fair evaluation vs. a real-world price check. My point was the fair evaluations in the books are now largely invalid because of this big 'new' or alternative market. That said, I recognize not all toy trains exchange hands through eBay - it's just the scale of it is huge.

I too just love opening a new box - getting out the train and runnning it. And then getting rid of the box.

DOUG,

  Just got rid of a lot of Lionel boxes.  Taking up to much space.  Kept the engine boxes and older rolling stock.  Got rid of newer rolling stock all the Lionelville boxes, now have some space.

laz57

[cnw1995]

Isn't eBay sometimes amazing though? I see the difference you mean about fair evaluation vs. a real-world price check. My point was the fair evaluations in the books are now largely invalid because of this big 'new' or alternative market. That said, I recognize not all toy trains exchange hands through eBay - it's just the scale of it is huge.

I too just love opening a new box - getting out the train and runnning it. And then getting rid of the box.

[daan]

If anyone knows upfront which items are going to be collectible in the future, making money would be the easiest thing in the world.. It only shows up to be an investment after you sold it and you can count the money someone else has paid for it. Then you can make up the balance and tell if it had been an investment or a loss.

That's with trains, cars, buildings and anything else..

[Anonymous]

As others have mentioned, price guides are good for making you THINK that the stuff you have is "worth" so and so. A search of eBay "completed auctions" will give you a "real world" reality-check. And this goes both ways...a few items too new for a "price guide" are selling for higher than their origional MSRP. Joe

Joe,
I wouldn't use EBay as a barometer either!  I've seen some fairly beat up stuff go for high $$$ and some excellent - MIB stuff go for pennies on the dollar.  The problem with EBay is you have to post your stuff at the right time, you are taking a shot in the dark that a few people who really want your items and have the money to burn are going to see it and start a bidding war!  It is the same as any estate auction as well.  The thing with EBay is it has eliminated the need to buy plane tickets and a hotel room for a couple days to attend estate auctions.

I for one have bought a couple items off EBay, the problem is I like to inspect what I am buying and see engines, motorized vehicles, and operating cars on the track BEFORE I shell out $$$.

The guides give you a FAIR evaluation of the items you own, and a guideline for what to value your collection if you intend to insure it, that is all.  They also provide a price point as to where you should start evaluating whether the item is worth your money or not.

What I have always found interesting is the price people will pay for boxes and paper... that always has blown my mind! 

[Anonymous]

IM with YUZ GIZ.  I buy this stuff to run and play with not for collection purposes.  And even if I were to come across say a Lionel Hudson 773 or 700 I would still be running it.  Cause when I leave this world they can fight over who gets what til then I'm having fun.

Just my two cents.

laz57

 laz 57 ... I agree ... what fun is it to buy engines and pack them away in a box and never even put them on a track . When I'm dead and dust I don't care what they get for them . It'll only make my wife buy an older model buick and goto the hairdressers less !  I keep seeing these O scale collections labeled "selling my late husband's collection " on ebay . Makes me sick ..... but I bid anyway .... LOL  

I'm with you Laz and Hobo... The very first thing I do is open the box, break the seal, pull her out and give her a go on the tracks!  I'm glad I do too because I have had a couple engines that were DOA when they arrived, AND most recently I received the wrong item!

As far as when I am dead and gone, I just hope my son (if I ever have one) loves trains as much as I do and I can pass them on to him... if not if I have a grandson that loves 'em then he's getting them... if not then a daughter or grand daughter... if not them then they will be donated to an opperating layout at a museum or something along those lines.

I've got my favorites and those are the ones I really hope become family heirlooms!

I'm buying for me right now though and whatever I like (or the wife likes) will be bought to run, and not just 'only run once to test before posting'.  If people want to sell their collections and the stuff is in decent condition and the right price I'll be standing in line just like the rest of you!

[Jumijo]

MTH toy trains are not going to make anyone rich as collectibles.

Jim 

Mr. A.:

Did you miss the vital information posted above stating the trains in question were a better investment than Wall Street?

Frankly,

Mr. F.

No. Just consider the original source. Did he make all his money by selling MTH collectibles? No. He did it by hauling garbage. I'm not going to cash in my blue chips for a Blue comet.

[Frank53]

MTH toy trains are not going to make anyone rich as collectibles.

Jim 

Mr. A.:

Did you miss the vital information posted above stating the trains in question were a better investment than Wall Street?

Frankly,

Mr. F.

[Jumijo]

We run everything we own. MTH toy trains are not going to make anyone rich as collectibles.

Jim 

[Joe Hohmann]

As others have mentioned, price guides are good for making you THINK that the stuff you have is "worth" so and so. A search of eBay "completed auctions" will give you a "real world" reality-check. And this goes both ways...a few items too new for a "price guide" are selling for higher than their origional MSRP. Joe

[Anonymous]

 laz 57 ... I agree ... what fun is it to buy engines and pack them away in a box and never even put them on a track . When I'm dead and dust I don't care what they get for them . It'll only make my wife buy an older model buick and goto the hairdressers less !  I keep seeing these O scale collections labeled "selling my late husband's collection " on ebay . Makes me sick ..... but I bid anyway .... LOL  

 

[laz 57]

IM with YUZ GIZ.  I buy this stuff to run and play with not for collection purposes.  And even if I were to come across say a Lionel Hudson 773 or 700 I would still be running it.  Cause when I leave this world they can fight over who gets what til then I'm having fun.

Just my two cents.

laz57

[Deputy]

ALL S2 turbines are collectable no matter who makes them. Oops...LOL. Sorry...my prejudice is showing

Dep

[dwiemer]

Frank, I echo your thoughts.  I had read a article about Tony Lash and the same statements.  I believe I saw where he buys a set and doesn't open it, he waits for several months to see what the value does and if it goes up, he doesn't open it.  I guess we all have our way of operating/collecting.  As for me, I don't buy anything for it's collecting value, it is for the fun I will  have in operating it.  Obviously, if I spend higher dollars, I am less likely to abuse it (read that..let the kids run it), but otherwise, I play with my trains.  If I wanted something expensive to take up space on the wall, I would invest in art.  Part of my thinking with regard to Mr. Lash is that if they push the collectible value of MTH, they increase the value of the items they already have.  I atune it to the CNBC lady who would do the stock exchange talk show by investing in the companies she was going to showcase, have folks come on that say "you have to own this stock" and when the price shoots up...SELL.

Dennis

[Frank53]

I echo dbaker's comments.

I do recall reading some synopsis of a video on Tony Lash's layout where he was supposedly touting the collector value of MTH trains. Paraphrased it was something slong the lines of seeing MTH trains going for hundreds more on delivery than they were at time of order. The comment "investing in MTH trains is better than Wall Street" struck me as particularly humorous.

I doubt there is any real collectors makret for many of the modern era trains. If you puruse the Buy/Sell/Trade forum on the "other" magazine forum, you will find page after page of stuff being listed as NIB & MIB being sold at half what was paid. Which is one of many reasons I don't understand the "acquire" mentality.

 

[RR Redneck]

I'm having to much fun playing with those I have.  They will be worn out with no collectib le value.

Eh.

[cnw1995]

Well, these days I find eBay trumps Greenberg book values. I'd recommend browsing this site. I've found toy train values range pretty widely on eBay and other auction sites depending on condition, 'demand' and even the time of the year...

[dbaker48]

I'm having to much fun playing with those I have.  They will be worn out with no collectib le value.

[Anonymous]

IS THERE A SITE FOR APPRASING VALUE'S OF MTH TRAINS ON LINE?