For a Collector? Not Sure. What's the Value?

[Anonymous]

Looking for friendly advice,

I'm not a collector nor modeler (yet) and this is not a slick way for me to advertise. I'm not a dealer etc. However, 10 years ago, I thought I would pick up on the hobby and went nuts with some purchases. One in particular was a Mantua, President Washington (B&O) Locomotive and tender. It was from their then new Collectors Series. I just dug out some storage boxes and found it. It's still in the shipping box from Mantua. I have everything including, wood display base, the original trifold glossy brochure as well as the original collectors catologues and price lists.

I have another Mantua Locomotive and tender - also new and never used. It's a limited Production Run Reading B8a 0-6-0. In box with Production Run Certificate (No 246).

I wanted to get some information on current pricing etc. from their website and found out they are no longer in business, which made me think I might have something of value now. I thought a forum would be a good place to start. I tried another forum site but no-one has responded.

I don't need to sell it, but even if I decide to model a railroad in the future I don't see myself collecting. If it's worth something to a collector then I would consider parting with it. Can someone give me fair guidance on the value now and how I might go about selling them. Would eBay be the best way to go? Also, is their a website or reference book that lists collector values on this stuff.

Feel free to contact me directly.

Regards, RP

[andrechapelon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by JOMRD

Looking for friendly advice,

I'm not a collector nor modeler (yet) and this is not a slick way for me to advertise. I'm not a dealer etc. However, 10 years ago, I thought I would pick up on the hobby and went nuts with some purchases. One in particular was a Mantua, President Washington (B&O) Locomotive and tender. It was from their then new Collectors Series. I just dug out some storage boxes and found it. It's still in the shipping box from Mantua. I have everything including, wood display base, the original trifold glossy brochure as well as the original collectors catologues and price lists.

I have another Mantua Locomotive and tender - also new and never used. It's a limited Production Run Reading B8a 0-6-0. In box with Production Run Certificate (No 246).

I wanted to get some information on current pricing etc. from their website and found out they are no longer in business, which made me think I might have something of value now. I thought a forum would be a good place to start. I tried another forum site but no-one has responded.

I don't need to sell it, but even if I decide to model a railroad in the future I don't see myself collecting. If it's worth something to a collector then I would consider parting with it. Can someone give me fair guidance on the value now and how I might go about selling them. Would eBay be the best way to go? Also, is their a website or reference book that lists collector values on this stuff.

Feel free to contact me directly.

Regards, RP

I don't want to rain on your parade, but they aren't worth much. They were essentially die cast locomotives made with 50+ year old technology and sold as "collectibles". Mantua's standard line of locomotives, on which these "collectibles" were based, are a dime a dozen.

In any case, Model Power bought the tooling when Mantua went out of business. Model Power http://www.modelpower.com/site/519087/page/290029 is currently in the process of re-issuing some of the Mantua engines (at a lower price than what Mantua was trying to get).

Andre

[orsonroy]

Andre's right; Mantua stuff really isn't worth much. If you really want to know what people are willing to pay for your engines, do a search on Ebay for the same engines. In general, people are lucky to get $50 for most Mantua steamers, no matter what their condition. I've bought several good-condition Mantua 2-8-2s on Ebay, and have paid less than $30 for every one.

[IRONROOSTER]

The collector market for HO is very weak (almost non existent). This page http://www.getnet.com/~dickg/nmra/sigs/HOSCHS/HOSCHS.html is the HO collectors special interest group. In general, I think it's only collectible if it's over 25 years old. Some limited run and brass models may be exceptions. Lionel, American Flyer, and other older toy trains are what most collectors are in to. You might check ebay and see if any have sold lately.

Otherwise use them to get started in the hobby.
Enjoy
Paul

[dknelson]

Mantua was trying to create collectibles out of thin air. Curiously the one thing about Mantua engines was that the detail tended to get more blunt as the dies aged (compare old MR photos of the Pacific or Mikado from the early 1950s when the dies were new to more recent photos -- the rivet detail and pipe detail got more and more blunt) and for the "collectible" series they put on such thick paint that what little rivet detail was left got totally blunted to the point of hardly being there anymore.
I suspect there might be more interest in that Reading 0-6-0, but from actual Reading fans and operators, not collectors per se.
Dave Nelson

[Anonymous]

Thanks all - and wow, that stinks! As a novice (then and now) they just looked really detailed and well made. I guess I should make a point now to see what quality stuff looks like. Sounds like even new condition they're worth less than I paid for them. Guess I'll keep them for future use.

Thanks again for the feedback