Tenshodo

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know anything about brass tenshodo diesels and smooth side passenger cars. I have a set in Great Northern orange and green/black. The nose on the diesel is low and long. It is probably from the 60's or 70's. What is it and how rare is it? Thanks

[fiatfan]

As a matter of fact, my salary has more than doubled since 1984., which is about the last time I was active in the hobby until recently. The improvements in appearance and performance, in my opinion, justify the price increases. As far as what the hobby shops charge, that is their busines, getting enough money to cover the cost of goods (rent, salaries, depreciation, taxes, insurance, etc., etc.. It's all a matter of what we are willing to pay. As you mentioned, it pays to comparison shop. I like a good bargain but if there is something I want, I am wiling to pay the price to get it.

[JDCoop]

I wasnt' old enough to work in 1984 (I apologize now to anyone who I may have offended by that statement if by chance it made you stop and think about your age [:-^]) Anyway, my wages have actually doubled since 1992, but that isn't the point of my post.

My food for thought on this subject is to consider the following example of operating a store-front hobby shop (this is not based on any hobby shop, but just an example)

Rent: $1,000 per month
Utilities: $300 per month
Telephone: $100 per month
Insurance: $500 per month
1 full time employee making $6 per hour: $1044 per month
Employers share of social security on 1 full time employee: $80

Total for just a really basic example (no, not priceless [:o)]) : $3024

With a 50% profit margin, this LHS would have to sell $6,048 just to cover these expenses. That my friends is alot of paint and couplers. And these expenses are just a short list. To do a full analysis, you would have to include paper, cash register tape, internet costs, postage, bank charges, cleaning supplies, price tags, printer cartridges, fax cartridges, display hooks, and the list goes on and on. The one thing I haven't mentioned is a salary for the owner (he or she has to get paid something, right?). Then all of us modelers want a 40% discount off the MRSP. Many shops do give discounts, but I haven't been to any that give 40%.

It all just adds up. I think mail order and internet order businesses can get by cheaper than storefronts, but their profit margin is smaller so I would assume that they aren't raking in profit hand over fist either.

Anyway, I don't know all there is to know about running a LHS, mail order, or internet order business, so some of my assumptions could be incorrect. But what I am trying to get at is prices are more than we want to pay, but running a business isn't cheap (and it's not priceless either [:o)])

Jeff

[Anonymous]

Dunrobin,
What Fiatfan and JDCoop are talking about is anybody's guess?!?!! I wonder if something strange is going on here as their responses make no sense, given the context of your post!

Your question was simple, what are the Tenshodo items worth? Go to Caboosehobbies.com look for their brass department and do a search there. Also go to Ebay's HO scale auctions and type brass Great Northern in the search box and see if you can get some information this way. Also, type in brass passinger car and search, if you can't find direct matches. You need to determine the loco type and once determined, you can do a search for the loco. All of this should give you a farly good idea what these items sell for. Another thing you can do is call a brass dealer in your area. They can easily be found, by searching in Model Railroader.

[BRAKIE]

First that Tenshodo F9 was made in the late 50s..No,That nose is not correct..As you have noticed it is to long..Also the windshields is incorrect as well..

Not telling you what to do but I would over look the errors and enjoy that unit and those passenger cars. After all they are a antiques from the by gone years of the hobby..

[Anonymous]

Thanks guys.