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Need help with value of this item

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  • Member since
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Posted by angelob6660 on Sunday, June 30, 2019 12:58 PM

Sorry Kevin about the locomotive. I have this piece of art by Howard Fogg. (Don't know if its copied.)

Katy

On the bottom it reads The New Texas Special, M-K-T No. 1-Christmas, 1965 

In a 22.5" x15.5" frame that my mom found at a craft fair.

Modeling the G.N.O. Railway, The Diamond Route.

Amtrak America, 1971-Present.

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Posted by riogrande5761 on Sunday, June 30, 2019 1:40 PM

SeeYou190

It is a shame the seller has such an unreallistic price on it. It has a loveable quality to it, and very rarely does my wife like anything train related as a display piece.

- Kevin

Ok, time to tap those Ruby shoes together and come back to the real world.  Oz is cool.  There are lots of neat things I'd like to have too but at some point ...

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Sunday, June 30, 2019 2:15 PM

riogrande5761
time to tap those Ruby shoes together and come back to the real world. Oz is cool. There are lots of neat things I'd like to have too but at some point ...

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I have no idea what you are trying to say with your reply.

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-Kevin

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Living the dream.

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  • From: Chicago, IL
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Posted by Eilif on Sunday, June 30, 2019 4:36 PM

SeeYou190

He told me that he had the item in an antique auction in Atlanta last year with a $4,000.00 reserve and it was bid up to $3,700.00 and he would not lower the reserve to make that sale.

 

I understand if you have no desire to talk to him again, but if you're in there and willing to speak to him I think we'd all love to hear some context for this item.  We have alot of conjecture and opinions, but we don't know who made it, how old it is, where it is from, etc....

Alot of folks seem to think it's not worth much, but if the dealer is to be believed, someone thought it was worth $3700!  Now we don't know whether that person was an informed collector of such things or just someone with deep pockets who liked the look of it, but I think there's more to this story.

Visit the Chicago Valley Railroad for Chicago Trainspotting and Budget Model Railroading. 

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Sunday, June 30, 2019 4:47 PM

Eilif
but if you're in there and willing to speak to him I think we'd all love to hear some context for this item. We have alot of conjecture and opinions, but we don't know who made it, how old it is, where it is from, etc.

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My only contact with the actual seller of the item has been by email. The item is in an antique mall, and the seller has an un-manned booth.

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The email back-and-forth was quite long, so I will abridge the content.

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Basically, I told him it was not a live steam locomotive, a scale model, toy, or brass collectible. I doubt is an instructional prop.

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I said it looks like an interesting metal craft project. It has a lot of charm, and I think it would look great in my living room.

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I tried to probe and find out his reason for the high price. I asked him if it was perhaps made by a known folk artist, or prominent modeller. If so, could he provide provenance to justify this claim.

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Basically his justification of the price was like that line from Jurassic Park... Is it heavy? Then it is expensive.

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It is hard to get context of commentary from emails, but I think this item has deep importance to the seller, and he was very insulted that I did not see the same value he did.

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I seriously doubt the Atlanta auction story. I have attended a few auctions in Atlanta and never have I seen an art piece bid over $1,000.00 at one.

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I am further confused by the way it is displayed, just sitting on a light wooden bookcase. If it really had high value, it should be in a display case.

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-Kevin

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Living the dream.

  • Member since
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  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
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Posted by SeeYou190 on Monday, December 30, 2019 7:25 AM

It has been six months since I first saw this neat locomotive in the antique store.

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I stopped in yesterday, and it is still there. Same $4,500.00 price tag.

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Unfortunately, it is ruined. It looks like it has fallen off the shelf a couple of times and somebody spilled a sticky drink on it.

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The beautiful old patina the finish it had is now chipped, scraped, and just terrible looking.

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I wouldn't give $50.00 for it now. This is a shame.

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-Kevin

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Living the dream.

  • Member since
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  • From: Dearborn Station
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Posted by richhotrain on Monday, December 30, 2019 8:20 AM

Dunno, at the time it didn't seem worth $500 to me, let alone $4,500. Now, it doesn't seem worth $50.

Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by Tinplate Toddler on Monday, December 30, 2019 8:49 AM

SeeYou190
It looks like it has fallen off the shelf a couple of times and somebody spilled a sticky drink on it.

A rather crude way of weathering the engine to make it look as a valuable, antique item.

Happy times!

Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)

"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"

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Posted by tstage on Monday, December 30, 2019 9:13 AM

I'm with Rich.  It's even more a boat anchor than it was before.  Maybe the seller should change the road number to a lower one...

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

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