Of course you're correct about the value of things, but I recall buying
my second brass Overland UP CA-6 caboose new for $65.00.--I think I paid
about $95 for the first. I also think I paid about $85 for my M-53
boxcar on the secondary market.
I think the most common brass diesel from the 'golden era' might have
been the various flavors of SD-40-2's. Original retail was listed in
the $450 range, but the street price was about $350, which is close to
Jim King's price for his kits. How one determines the price vs value is
obviously a matter of opinion.
Some brass remains fairly close to original price, some goes for less,
while other items receive double, triple or even more depending on the
relative rarity of the piece vs demand. Over the years I've purchased
brass, plastic and resin new and on the used market. Many of us are old
horse traders, so I do keep my eyes peeled for fairly priced items,
although that has been fading rather rapidly (something about the plight
of the middle class!)
Bob Werre
PhotoTraxx
Bob,
Your kidding, right? According to my inflation calculator $80 in 1980
would be $250 now. The value of _things_ really don't change, just
the value of the dollar.
*Ed Kozlowsky*
*Sanford, Maine*
*sscale.org*
*From:* Bob Werre <[email protected]>
*To:* [email protected]
*Sent:* Tuesday, September 18, 2012 1:48 PM
*Subject:* Re: {S-Scale List} Re: something old - something new
Also remember, age has it's privileges (very few though). At one
time one could purchase the B&O, the ribbed Milw cars, Airslides
etc. for just a few dollars more than what the resin cars sell for
now.
Bob Werre
PhotoTraxx
Guys --
Here's my take on brass (expensive) vs. plastic/resin/urethane
(less expensive): If the car was seen less often than once a day
on a railroad with 100-car trains, brass is OK. If the car was
ubiquitous -- several in an average train -- it should be
produced in plastic/resin/urethane. The reason is simple: If
the car was common, you need a lot of them. If you have just
one, it looks really out of place. But if you have none, it
won't be missed.
A good example: PRR X29 boxcar. If you have none, no one will
miss it (except PRR fans). If you have only one, you will likely
think "that was such a common car. It doesn't make sense that I
have only one. I shouldn't have bought it." I'm waiting for the
DPH/SSA X29 so I can have several without breaking the hobby bank.
In my experience, brass and plastic don't compete. Each has its
place.
Dick Karnes
