Antique Model Trains

As in all long standing hobbies, there is a market for antiques. Also, as is common, this requires specialized knowledge. Just knowing that Lionel Trains are collectable may be true as a rule, but a commonly available model from 1950 might go for as low as $40, while rarer models from the same year and manufacturer might sell for $1000.

One obvious starting point is the difference between toy trains, designed for children to play with, and model trains, designed for adult hobbyists and collectors. The construction, level of detail and durability are all quite different.

Model Railroading magazines, forums and mailing lists can provide information for those who desire to enter this field. Internet searches are your friend. There are many communities of railroad hobbyists, some collecting actual railroad memorabilia such as lanterns while others collect old model trains.

A little knowledge is a minimal starting point. Features such as the type of couplers to connect the cars can reveal the time of manufacture or even if something is an import. It can help identify when something has been rebuilt or is original material. Knowledge of a companies tribulations can show when standards rose or fell, helping to determine long term value of a product.

It is important to maximize your enjoyment. If the purpose of the exercise is merely to turn over a profit, buying low and selling high, there are probably other options with higher potential return. If, on the other hand, enjoy collecting Pre-WWII Lionel trains with the original paint, then enjoy yourself as much as your time and budget will allow. Deciding what you do and do not desire is worth some introspection, as wasting time and effort chasing something only to decide later it isn’t really what you want is no fun.

Prices are whatever the market will bear. This is a truism, and like most such truisms, it is both true and misleading. If all potential buyers know of the sale, and the seller knows what price each buyer is willing to reach, the price is exactly what the market will bear. Failing that degree of understanding, it is possible to find an enthusiast who will let sentimental attachment to a particular item or type affect the price, and it is possible to find people selling the contents of an old garage or storage room who don’t know the value of their wares. Networking to maximize the odds of finding people who will sell what you want cheaper than those in the market already, or who will pay top dollar for what you have to sell is important and time consuming. There is no real substitute for getting involved and interacting with other people in the field.

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