posted on January 31, 2007 01:48:03 PM new
I have some trains to sell and I don't know a thing about them other than who made them and what is written on them.
Some are Lionel, some are Marx and some are Gilbert. I have some others too but I think these are the best.
Does anyone know a site that would help date them, grade them and give the scale?
Would it be better to list them in sets by maker or piece by piece.
Any tips on cleaning??
Thanks in advance
posted on January 31, 2007 02:09:46 PM new
Don't clean. Whatever you do, don't clean!
Unless you really know your trains, a grading site probably will do more harm than good. Show plenty of good close up, in focus pics -- under, over, back, front, etc. Note scratches, rust, dings, etc. That will tell buyers exactly what they need to know.
If you have the model number and maker, do a completed search to give you an idea on price range, ie Lionel 4335 or whatever it happens to be (no, I'm not a train person). List individually. If you don't have the number, list by maker. You will find out from the search what gauge they are -- O, H, etc. so you can put in proper categories.
At least that is what I did with a half pickup truck load of assorted trains and parts (came with something else). Did well without knowing anything to start with, and not much more after a year!
Wait to see if someone with more experience has a better idea -- but I found this to be the least time consuming for me at least.
posted on January 31, 2007 03:07:17 PM new
Hi,
I also didn't know very much about the trains I was selling I had 5 extra large cartons full of all Lionel trains and what I did was list each train in it's own auction and started each train at 9.99. I also mentioned that I did not clean them, and that they were being offered as train parts since not many of them were in the condition a true collector would like them to be in.
I did very very well and every train sold for a fair price and some even more then a fair price, especially the Train Engines, I found most sold for a high price.
I found that by doing lots of research didn't really help me because the trains that were being shown were in GREAT condition, where mine were well played with and not really well taken care of.
What I would research is the train name (Lionel) and the number on the side of the train car, I would do this just to find out if the one you have is in the right color to be worth more then another one that is the same but in a different color. For example, a caboose that is red is not worth as much as one that is brown. Or an Engine that is Steam/or diesel, knowing this will help you with your description and can bring in a better price.
posted on January 31, 2007 03:23:27 PM new
Thanks for the input. I need all the help I can get.
I will not wash them but they are really dusty. Would wiping with a damp cloth hurt? Most of this are hard plastic so I would think that would be OK?? Must be a woman thing!!!
[ edited by ladyjewels2000 on Jan 31, 2007 03:40 PM ]
posted on January 31, 2007 03:58:45 PM new
Bill used to post here - you might send him a ASAQ for advice - here's a link to his store: http://stores.ebay.com/Bills-Hobby-Emporium
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posted on January 31, 2007 05:01:45 PM new
hi lady: i dont ususally offer appraisal info, but trains are like any other collectible-which i am sure you know.
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i have been selling trains for years. and i still miss their value-but then i "aint" no expert; just experienced.
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trains are especially vulnerable to the adage: "its all about condition condition condition." thats mainly because they dont end up on the collectors' shelf-the collector has a higher expectation ...
a few hints if you dont mind. if they are dirty, then the true collector will make his own deduction to value. if the dirt bothers you, wear plastic gloves...i would sometimes take a soft artist brush to clean up the dust if if will give you a better view of condition- and the collector will ask you that..or you can leave it and answer questions that will surely come your way.. .
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1.
i sold a lionel train last year for thousands of dollars-set new records in category. what made the train unique was its condition. part of the dummy engine was not not broken or repaird -which made it unique, and worth much more than the asking price
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2.
does it run? some auctions are really disingenious; they asnwer question with well i saw it run or a friend saw it run. the real collector will never bid.. test an engine only with a transformer.[if you need an explanation i will be happy to explain.]
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3.
listing before you do your homework never pays... research always pays dividends-if in nothing more than the knowledge.
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4.
american flyer-gilbert items can be wildly valuable..i saw a 1959 loco "just sell" off web site for 3K..also, this site will give you some free value info on items..by no means complete. and also, lionel bought out gilbert in 1996..and now produce under the name RFG made by lionel..
http://www.americanflyertrains.com/assets/images/banner.jpg
also, check their heading box "grading." that is the standard for pricing.
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5.
this one will get you-[actually the word is ME] a lot of "nays." i always try to sell as a set. sometimes it works, sometimes it doesnt. but is you check the collectibles like globe-gunn-macey bookcases, the really successfull people sell it [try] b4 they bust it up. but then the silver hawkers seem to bust up a set of gorham strad. or royal albert china
i realize this is a hard one for me to call,
just remember this...if you call it a set, the real collector just might pay the price if it is in fact a set. if it isnt you have a decision to make.
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6. back to nbr 1...the dummy engine of a diesel locomotive always has a pilot lip. which breaks almost without fail on post world war II era lionels. that sublety made my train for the money.
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wish you bunches of luck, and if i can be of assistance, just let me know.
mot
and okay i not gonna edit any more, i just need new glasses and a dictionry i guess.
[ edited by myoldtoy on Jan 31, 2007 05:02 PM ]
[ edited by myoldtoy on Jan 31, 2007 05:05 PM ]
[ edited by myoldtoy on Jan 31, 2007 05:08 PM ]
posted on January 31, 2007 07:19:29 PM new
I don't know much about trains, except my Dad saved his and my brother used them to crash into baby Sis's Barbie dolls. I'm sure you know this, but be sure to post Q's and A's to your listings so all potential bidders can see them. In the postcard category, expert sellers generally get quite a bit more for choice pieces - by knowing what is rare or desireable and including the right key words in the title/description. Other sellers can still make a nice profit, many times selling to the expert sellers looking for bargains.
posted on February 1, 2007 08:31:06 AM new
Wow - lots of information. Thanks all!!
Myoldtoy - I was hoping you would drop in - thanks for the website - I did a quick check and it was very informative. Are you Myoldtoy on ebay? Thanks
I'm going to try to add a photo of at least one piece of the Gilbert later today.
posted on February 1, 2007 02:07:55 PM new
I've made good money on trains, and always started the auction at either $1 or $9.95. Train collectors will bid 'em up.
If you have any of the boxes, no matter how ragged, even if it's a tiny shred, include it in the auction. The boxes frequently are worth more than the contents for vintage Lionel.
I know it might be tough for you, but DO NOT CLEAN. If you want to blow off some dust, that's okay.
posted on February 2, 2007 04:58:57 PM new
Here a couple of photos of the Gilbert pieces - dust and all. I think these are both passenger trains but I'm not sure about the first one - this one may go to a total different set??? Is this Yellow or Orange in the train world??
I also have the Dream Cloud, Star Dust and Columbia River which I think are all one set and then I have another complete set of Gilbert with cranes and stuff like that.
Edited to add: I'm going to have to try this again tomorrow - can't seem to get it right tonight!!
[ edited by ladyjewels2000 on Feb 2, 2007 05:03 PM ]
[ edited by ladyjewels2000 on Feb 2, 2007 05:11 PM ]
posted on February 2, 2007 05:00:56 PM new
You didn't quite get the image location right (right click on full sized image and copy the "location". Let's see if this works:
It didn't. Sorry
[ edited by neglus on Feb 2, 2007 05:11 PM ]
posted on February 5, 2007 06:50:52 AM new
Myoldtoys - Can you tell me if this is considered yellow or orange?
I've only found references to orange.
Also there is a wire attached to the top - is that something I should remove?
Thanks
