Model Train Journal

Earlier today, a Lionel Sears 9836 Chesapeake & Ohio 2347 Freight Set With Boxes & 9836 Set Box sold for $23,500.00 plus auctioneer commissions, taxes, and shipping.

Which one of you bought it?

Probably Martin.

Cannot imagine with the dearth of Lionel postwar sales.....but, ya know, somebody made a killing (seller and auction house).

Chris Webster wrote:Earlier today, a Lionel Sears 9836 Chesapeake & Ohio 2347 Freight Set With Boxes & 9836 Set Box sold for $23,500.00 plus auctioneer commissions, taxes, and shipping.

Why?

Why not?
I recall many moons ago in the Trash Collector's Association where stuff got sold back and forth, a little more each time...and then folks would look back and tell you "that POS sold for X, and MY pristine version is worth X+".

Now you have a benchmark, even if the "winner" backs out.

It's a game, roof, just a game.

One I don't play, but you knew that, right?

Similar game as played by Mecum and Barrett-Jackson. Bid 'em up, then go offline afterwards and negotiate a sales price.

WUT???

I think my head just exploded.

George

Meccum set a world record for motorcycle prices 4500,000 and $475,000. They sold 2 Winchester motorcycles . Only 2 ever made. Bs they were 1910 marsh motorcycles rebadged with the name Winchester. during one of their TV. shows. Whenever somebody calls them on the carpet about it. They escort them of their property. https://newatlas.com/winchester-worlds- ... cle/32006/

Just goes to show you prices for high grade postwar have not tanked.

jlong wrote:Just goes to show you prices for high grade postwar have not tanked.

Or, that there are still people out there with more money than sense.

That was a pretty mediocre set when new, not a Berkshire or F3

ScaleCraft wrote:Why not?
I recall many moons ago in the Trash Collector's Association where stuff got sold back and forth, a little more each time...and then folks would look back and tell you "that POS sold for X, and MY pristine version is worth X+".

Now you have a benchmark, even if the "winner" backs out.

It's a game, roof, just a game.

One I don't play, but you knew that, right?

I remember that. At the time, some people speculated that it was a money laundering scheme.

George

It's no game. Supply and demand principles at work. As we all understand, the set is a Sears exclusive (the C&O geep in particular). Not many were ordered and sold as it was a deluxe set with a high price tag for it's time. We were bolstered in a throw-away society (1965) when department store consumers were willing to spend no more than $19.95 on a train set making it super deluxe for Sears. Condition as is about as good as it gets, it's complete and everything about it is correct. This makes it far more rare than the vast majority of the sets that were played with and cobbled together. The number of people with a crazy amount of disposable income who collect this stuff in this condition far exceed the supply of sets in this category. Supply and demand principles at work. They don't pay these prices because they are foolish. They pay these prices because they can and really could care less if they are foolish. It's pocket change to them. They don't care.

What was a game was the TCA members buying and selling for a little bit more each time.

I watched some of the more senior guys "counselling" a widow on value of her late husband' trains.

Some was trash, the rest operator's quality at best.

Remember those what, AHM 0-6-0 diesel switchers?
Broken, Shell off, wheels loose, holes stripped...thirty bucks.

I walked over to a table, borrowed a MR, walked back and showed Millie the IHC ad for a NEW one for $6.98.

Oh, no, I believe the guys!

736. Dinged, chipped, missing lead truck....had a full 0 GN Goat boxcar herald on th tender, wrapped over the top and bottom...priced at a really nice one for sale on another table.

So, when she got somebody to pay for it, those same guys started in with "Millie's POS 736 sold for THIS much, and it was BAD, therefore MY nice one is now worth a lot MORE!"....and I quit the TCA.

If this guy has the money, great, more power to him.

Watch for the next cobbled together "set" that's half worn out listed for ten grand.....