$38 for an OLD (and common) motor!?

[Darth Santa Fe]

This recently ended auction is confusing me.

http://cgi.ebay.com/HO-SCALE-MOTOR-MANTUA-VARNEY_W0QQitemZ290204432631QQihZ019QQcategoryZ19137QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

What's so special about this motor that someone would pay $38 + shipping for it? It's not an uncommon design, it's old, it's used, and motors just like this don't usually go for even $5. Am I missing something?

[Snoq. Pass RR]

It might be due to the fact that it was sold on Ebay.  Almost everyone forgets how much an item really costs and get into bidding wars.  For me as a viewer, it gets kinda funny.

[SteamFreak]

It's the weathering. Didn't you notice the rust?

Honestly, there's no accounting for people's stupidity when they get into a bidding war. Unless it's a particularly difficult to find drop-in replacement for a vintage loco, there's no reason for the price to have been driven up like this. Generally Pittman-style motors are a dime a dozen. 

[Darth Santa Fe]

I guess a bidding war could be the explanation. It really is kind of funny how people will get caught in the moment and bid their wallets dry. Anyone remember the Lionel cardboard box cover, or whatever it was?

[SteamFreak]

Hey, that was corrugated cardboard, and worth every penny.

I still think the buyer's wife cut it up for recycling.

[BRAKIE]

Here's the proper way to repower a older Varney,Mantua or John English locomotives.

http://www.yardbirdtrains.com/YBMotorIndx.htm

 

$38.00! Unbelievable!

[loathar]

I was just laughing at a similar motor that needed "rebuilding" that had a no minimum starting bid of $9.99!
For a few $$$ more, just get one of these!
http://www.accuratelighting.com/HOscale/HoscaleMotors.htm

[jeffers_mz]

That's at least a generation older than either of the two motors we have from our old Pacific. The magnet housing there is stamped, while the newer ones (circa 1970) are cast and machined. The armature pole pieces are larger there, otherwise the components are about the same, brushes, bearings, commutator,  and mounting angle. Of course the motor in that pic is upside down.

I guess if you must have the original, the price might make sense, but Dan sells the newer version for $10. The Helix Humper, a much better motor and gear solution, cost us $35.

 

[AltoonaRailroader]

Look at the rating of the person who won it. A 5? What does that tell you?  Looks like he's new to Ebay for starters. Probably didn't know what he was buying, or just didn't want to lose.

[AltoonaRailroader]

Hey, that was corrugated cardboard, and worth every penny.

I still think the buyer's wife cut it up for recycling.

LOL,

[Anonymous]

All that bidding was done by 2 individuals that were too bullheaded to know when to quit- a classic bidding war. Saw a similar occurence last week when a Marx 333 post-war steamer sold for $453.00! I'd like to have one but I wouldn't bid over $75.00 for one in excellent shape.

[loathar]

Look at the rating of the person who won it. A 5? What does that tell you?  Looks like he's new to Ebay for starters. Probably didn't know what he was buying, or just didn't want to lose.

What does that have to do with anything? I've only got a 9.

[rrebell]

Sometimes collectors are willing to spend a small mint to get the right part, gave a freind an original varney motor with the wheels on it, nothing I needed and he traded it for 3 intermountain reffers factory rtr mint and that guy turned around and sold it for a $20.00 buck profit on a repair. Been trying to find a trainpower 5 remote. Now the tranmsformer it goes to is old. Also some people go for the pfm sound system which is outdated but many still have ect. ect.

[R. T. POTEET]

..........Am I missing something?..........

What is confusing? Sounds to me like someone had a stray 38 dollar bill in his wallet just dying to get out!

[csmith9474]

Considering the fact that he just bought a small lot of Varney "B" units, that may have something to do with it.

[SteamFreak]

Yes, and I also noticed that he's paying way too much for everything he's buying. $42 for an undecorated Model Power E9, and $70 for an old Bachmann Plus N&W J? I hope this guy has more cash than he knows what to do with, because if he doesn't he's going to get in trouble fast.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

It's the weathering. Didn't you notice the rust?

Honestly, there's no accounting for people's stupidity when they get into a bidding war. Unless it's a particularly difficult to find drop-in replacement for a vintage loco, there's no reason for the price to have been driven up like this. Generally Pittman-style motors are a dime a dozen. 

Personally old boy, I think it looks like a bunch of tat!