Around Xmas time I get ads in the mail from the Franklin Mint and the Bradford Exchange, and probably others. The ads are for HO trains decorated for the Detrouit Tigers or Santa Claus or the University of Michigan or whatever. In other areas, I am sure the local sports teams and colleges are represented.
Obviously there are no prototypes for these trains. But I often wonder if these are some train brand we might recognize under the custom decor? Or are these just cheap stamped out barely toys. I am not about to buy one to find out.
A thread about Franklin Mint steam engines from 2009 http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/p/157331/1735392.aspx
Video review 1989 Franklin Mint locomotive
I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.
I don't have a leg to stand on.
At our February train show last year we had a fellow walk in with a Hawthorne Village F7 AB set that had belonged to his recently deceased father-in-law. It was in Spider Man livery. He had the original paperwork which showed that his step dad had paid a small fortune for it. He wondered if we would take it off his hands for an almost equal small fortune. I chose not to burst his bubble and suggested that he walk around to the various used equipment dealers to see what he might get. I was hoping that maybe one of them would have the guts to tell him that it was not worth anything near what his step dad had paid. It was quite heavy, I will admit, and yes, the paint was about a mile thick!
I felt sorry for him.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
As a collector of many things over a whole lot of years, let me repeat a saying..
"Anything labeled as collectable is not". And trust me, that is so true.
Be it plates or models of trains or cars or what have you, its value is only in how much you appreciate / want it. Even the "collector" coins mass advertised are way over priced.
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
Bachmann does a fair amount of those kinds of items for those companies. Some are clearly recognizable except for the special paint.
Sheldon
Wife bough the Hawthorn Village M & M Christmas train and a few of the cars until the thing got ridiculously long. It is Bachmann On30 and will share the top display shelf of the new SIW with my O scale Lionel. It is not collectible just overpriced but it makes he happy!
Joe Staten Island West
Yes, they do. Years ago my daughter gave me a Hawthorn Village Christmas themed train, decorated for the Green Bay Packers, in HO scale.
The F7a was powered, and the drive was a Bachmann Plus. The B unit was unpowered, and the dome cars were the typical Bachmann cars. Metal wheels, Bachmann's knuckle couplers, and could negotiate an 18" radius, the track is the Bachmann NS EZ track, with the gray road bed. All of the radius track is 22".
It's a subscription type thing, every 2 or 3 months, you get another building, more track, maybe another dome car., etc. You can cancell when you want. I waited until I had 6 buildings, enough for a nice Christmas train layout.
The buildings are cast resin, nicely detailed, and come with lights.
I was quite satisfied with the running quality of the Bachmann Plus, and the NS track. It will run steady, for the whole evening, while the family celebrates Christmas
It is, what it is, and nothing more. The collectability of these is up to you. You see these on Ebay alot. I don't know anything about the Franklin Mint, or the other name the OP posted. I was under the impression that the "display" type trains, are not always operatable. I'm sure I'm wrong.
Mike.
My You Tube
mbinsewiHawthorn Village Christmas themed train
Russell
When I go to periodic model railroad swap meets, I often come across complete sets or remnants of such "collectible" train sets. Based on the location of these- under the sellers table or piled in an old milk crate, their relative value may well have been with the original seller and the unlucky buyer. After the glow of ownership dulls, the purchaser may come to realize that the "numbered certificate of authenticity" or the supposed fact that the purchase was a "limited edition" was merely advertising fluff. That's when they start looking to a swap meet or Craigslist to get back their "investment"- often advertised at a price no one wants to pay.
Many years ago, I recall my grandparents had a plate which may have been purchased at the 1939 New York World's Fair. I was not aware that they ever went there, but it was a nice plate- but just a souvenir like all the thousands of identical plates sold back then.
Just out of curiosity, I looked on EBAY for the same plate. An identical duplicate was offered for $50.00. I don't know what it cost originally, perhaps $5.00, but a $45 appreciation over about 80 years is a poor rate of return.
So it is with these commemorative limited edition train sets- but their value decreases over time. Having something in a box that just sits there and loses value over time means that it was a waste of money- the trains are of questionable quality; they are never run on a layout and eventually bugs start eating their paper containers!
A better value would be to repurpose the cars and engine by improving their couplers, wheels and electrical system and with a bit of repainting transform them into usable items on a layout. That's about the only value these things would ever have.
Cedarwoodron
cedarwoodron When I go to periodic model railroad swap meets, I often come across complete sets or remnants of such "collectible" train sets. Based on the location of these- under the sellers table or piled in an old milk crate, their relative value may well have been with the original seller and the unlucky buyer. After the glow of ownership dulls, the purchaser may come to realize that the "numbered certificate of authenticity" or the supposed fact that the purchase was a "limited edition" was merely advertising fluff. That's when they start looking to a swap meet or Craigslist to get back their "investment"- often advertised at a price no one wants to pay. Many years ago, I recall my grandparents had a plate which may have been purchased at the 1939 New York World's Fair. I was not aware that they ever went there, but it was a nice plate- but just a souvenir like all the thousands of identical plates sold back then. Just out of curiosity, I looked on EBAY for the same plate. An identical duplicate was offered for $50.00. I don't know what it cost originally, perhaps $5.00, but a $45 appreciation over about 80 years is a poor rate of return. So it is with these commemorative limited edition train sets- but their value decreases over time. Having something in a box that just sits there and loses value over time means that it was a waste of money- the trains are of questionable quality; they are never run on a layout and eventually bugs start eating their paper containers! A better value would be to repurpose the cars and engine by improving their couplers, wheels and electrical system and with a bit of repainting transform them into usable items on a layout. That's about the only value these things would ever have. Cedarwoodron Your example tweaked my interest. Did the math A 5 dollar investment would be worth 50 dollars in 80 years with a 3% annual rate of return. Now back to the originally scheduled program
Your example tweaked my interest. Did the math A 5 dollar investment would be worth 50 dollars in 80 years with a 3% annual rate of return. Now back to the originally scheduled program