Worth it's weight in gold?

[Anonymous]

Right now on Ebay there is an original Lionel #56 lamp post up for auction with an hour or so to go. High bid is currently $103. Two weeks ago I won a pair of MTH #56 lamp posts on Ebay for $8.00. They are new in the box and are an exact replica. What point am I missing here?
Paul

[Anonymous]

What you are missing is the fact that the Lionel #56 is an original from either the prewar or postwar era (the first 56's were made in 1924 and the last in 1949) and the MTH is a modern reproduction. The person paying $103 is not buying the lamp because he wants a light to put on his layout (although he may use it that way). He is buying it because it is a vintage collectable from Lionel's golden years. He wants an original, genuine one in excellent condition and that can be hard to find. As close as the MTH ones are to the originals, they are not the originals and for many collectors anything else (even a restored original) just won't do. That's one of the differences between collectors and operators.

[Anonymous]

OK, Fair enough. I suppose it's the same as someone restoring a vintage car. Many prefer original parts if available than repros. Thanks for clearing that up.
Paul
BTW, auction ended with a high bid of $108 and change.