Interesting Auction Items

[Terry]

I sold a 1953-55 era Tonka fire truck years ago for $1200 that I expected to sell for about $250-300.

The buyer called me when he got it and told me his neighbor when he was a kid had one, and wouldn't let him play with it. He had to take a forced distribution from his IRA so he'd decided to splurge.

This 153 set is too old to have a buyer who wanted it as a kid, but there is something going on.

[early0electric]

Must be. I know there is now an interest in early period Lionel O gauge like there never was before. You can see it in the auction houses and on eBay. Collectors are trying to get a piece of it. Like I previously posted, it's like the last frontier. This ties in with a couple of my other posts under different topics.  I better start pulling my trains off the shelves and putting them back in the original outfit boxes along with the track and peripherals. I'm glad I built my collection when I did while the other collectors were looking the other way!

[early0electric]

The big Ken Kelley auction by Route 32 Auctions is now up. You can check it out here:

https://www.proxibid.com/Route-32-Auctions/Lionel-Train-Toy-Auction/event-catalog/196672

Personally, I find it to be a little disappointing for the hype, but that's just me.

[Terry]

There are some neat trains there. That's a nice collection. A lot of the problem is the auctioneer has done a poor job of lotting and displaying the trains. 

The maroon 253 loco is rare.

 

Here's an expensive trolley. Just a guess, but it might sell for $4-5K.

 

https://www.proxibid.com/Lionel-Standard-Gauge-Model-8-Trolley-Pay-As-You-Enter/lotInformation/60099496

Just the one picture? When I grabbed those pictures I figured out why the larger pictures are such poor quailty. They are actually small pictures blown up. When I grab photos from other auction houses, they are HUGE. Maybe they are trying to save money on bandwidth?

There's a 203 tank with two baggage cars described as a 700E steam loco:

 

https://www.proxibid.com/Lionel-O-Gauge-Steam-Engine-Model-700-K/lotInformation/60099538

Here's the decription for the 203 tank - says it's green - with pictures of a 700K:

https://www.proxibid.com/Lionel-O-Gauge-Armored-Locomotive-Model-type-I/lotInformation/60099542

[Terry]

Another note  about the Ken Kelley auction. I wanted to see if I could get additional pictures. You have to sign in and create an account?

[early0electric]

Stout has a nice sale on the 19th of March.  Numerous early Lionel standard gauge loco's and trolleys.

https://connect.invaluable.com/stout/auction-catalog/Postwar-Standard-Gauge-Toy-Trains_5ELYMVKMBF/#
 
https://connect.invaluable.com/stout/auction-lot/lionel-standard-gauge-electric-rapid-transit-oran_D104F1D943

https://connect.invaluable.com/stout/auction-lot/lionel-standard-gauge-no-29-nyc-hrr-day-coach-wit_71C439996F

Being a collector of early period Lionel O gauge, there is nothing for me in either the Stout or the Kelley auctions that would enhance my collection. And yes, the pictures in the Kelley auction leave something to be desired.

[early0electric]

Interesting about the Ken Kelley auction. His name is spelled Kelley:

https://www.route32auctions.com/r32-auctions/april-auction-2021/

 but it also is spelled Kelly on the auction site:

https://www.proxibid.com/Route-32-Auctions/Lionel-Train-Toy-Auction/event-catalog/196672?p=4&sort=0&srchloc=true#cnTb

You'd think they would proofread and show some respect.

[Terry]

Stout has some nice stuff in the auction you mentioned Mike.

 And with Stout, he's a known entity so we can trust the train is as described or he'll make good on it. Not that I ever had a problem, I'm just saying he knows what he's doing and as a member of the train community his reputation is important.

[Terry]

With Stout he's into Postwar and premier classic trains so the early period trains have weird estimates.

Here's a Lionel 18/19/190 set from about 1911/12 with pinhole steps and maroon primer on two cars. The observation doesn't have the pinhole steps or primer, but does have the early railing with hearts. 

 

https://connect.invaluable.com/stout/auction-lot/lionel-prewar-standard-gauge-18-19-and-190-passen_EE0415281D

[Terry]

Here's a puzzle. . .

 

 

 

Some kind of box spacer. . . Both ends are open, one has fingers to hold something in place. Tape from late 1930s.

Here's the eBay auction:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-Lionel-Insert-or-Partial-Box-Possibly-Pre-war/274712825160

[Terry]

Here's an interesting set:

 

1913 era 33 with block lettering and two ribbed cars in a 1920s Corporation box. The 33 with block lettering is difficult to find. The Pullman is common. The observation car has the wrong roof on it - it's a later roof on the early car - which is a collector upgrading his roof without paying close attention. The observation has perforated steps, green doors and NO door handles. I don't have that car. 


https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/99640963_boxed-lionel-no-33-ribbed-passenger-car-set?from=alert&utm_source=SavedAlert&utm_campaign=SearchAlert_20200423_A&utm_medium=email&utm_content=item

[early0electric]

Terry, that's a nice looking 6-wheel 33.

Here's another auction like the 96 Outfit that seems a bit out of hand to me. Or am I misjudging the value of my trains?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/LIONEL-DARK-GREEN-152-LOCOMOTIVE-IN-ORIGINAL-BOX-SUPERB-ORIGINAL-EXAMPLE/114721756206?hash=item1ab5f3142e:g:Jm0AAOSwLG5gSVCS

[Terry]

That 152 is gorgeous. The box is interesting. Can you date the box based on the type B transformer shown on one side?

But $900 is a lot of money. Above $400 it's just two bidders. There's 4 bidders between 3 and 4 hundred.

Here's something you might have missed. . .

We've laughed at the prices of three auctions in the last few weeks. The 96 o gauge set, the 38 with two dump cars in the wrong box, and this 152. All three were listed by the same seller. I checked the bidders and they are different.

[starfire700]

I just sold on ebay, one of the O gauge lubrication cards like with this 152, guess I should have kept it?
I started thinning out my paper items, as most just sit in a file and easy to forget what I have.

[early0electric]

Jim I've got a few of those also. I've never seen one come packed with the loco, so did it?  They've been loose in boxed outfits. I've also got a couple boxed locos just as nice but no paper, no card, so? Not enough info.