sticker?

It indicates it is not all original which could be one or both reproduction parts or repainted.  Kind of a quick reference so you know what your buying up front. 

IMHO, the set is almost certainly repainted.
It's my impression that the two tone green City of Denver is rather difficult to find.
A lot of people like to restore the more common brown and yellow one with the two tone green scheme.

The two tone green set was not a standard cataloged item, rather a department store special set, and originally came as a three piece set (only one middle car) and possibly a two car set (power and tail car), so the chances are very good that it is a repainted yellow and brown set.

Roland

Been repainted.  Used to be people in the TCA that repainted or customized the train would add that sticker so the unsuspecting would know it was not original.

Been repainted.  Used to be people in the TCA that repainted or customized the train would add that sticker so the unsuspecting would know it was not original.

According to the TCA's rules any repaint is supposed to have a sticker marking it as such. Reproduction parts are supposed to be marked as well.
But don't count on it. Many people do not belong to the TCA, and I am certain there are some members that don't follow the rules. The TCA has no power of enforcement, other than at TCA shows, and in advertisements published in the TCA periodicals. If there is a dispute between two TCA members, the TCA can mediate towards a solution.

Not a tinplate example, but reproduction helicopters are found both with and without an "R" on the underside. Early repros did not have the "R", according to my understanding it was added at the request of the TCA. Did all helicopters going forward have the "R"?.......who knows!  

Yep, I haven't followed the rules. I haven't sold any yet, though. I need a whole bunch of those stickers! 

George

l don't belong to TCA nor do l have stickers, but l do use an indelible/permanent marking pen and note repairs or replacement parts on them when l do repair/replacement.

If I sell something I've restored I just tell the person buying that I did. Most people I meet don't seem to care much as long as the train looks nice.

Makes a HUGE difference to buyers looking for high quality originals - glad that it was marked. 

This set in this condition would sell for 5x more than a restored set. 

If I sell something I've restored I just tell the person buying that I did. Most people I meet don't seem to care much as long as the train looks nice.

And what happens when the restored item is sold a second time? 
I'd guess there are plenty of people holding restored / repainted items that they think are original.

C W Burfle posted:

If I sell something I've restored I just tell the person buying that I did. Most people I meet don't seem to care much as long as the train looks nice.

And what happens when the restored item is sold a second time? 
I'd guess there are plenty of people holding restored / repainted items that they think are original.

Yes, but what happens if the buyer removes the sticker? Also, if they were told of the alteration and wanted to follow the rules, they should add their own sticker. This is not a foolproof mechanism. I think it helps when it is a TCA member to TCA member transaction. All else is "buyer beware".

George

C W Burfle posted:

And what happens when the restored item is sold a second time? 
I'd guess there are plenty of people holding restored / repainted items that they think are original.

While I don't think my paint jobs are terrible, I don't think they're good enough to be confused with the real thing.

As George said, the stickers are removable as well. I think I'd be more worried about someone trying to pass off an older repro as original than a repaint.

At the York meet years ago, the Standards Committee would walk around and have those stickers placed on reproduction models.

I think it helps when it is a TCA member to TCA member transaction. All else is "buyer beware".

It's buyer beware for TCA member to member transactions too.

I wound up with a couple of repainted items purchased at York in the Yellow hall (grandstand). The lighting was too poor for me to tell while inside the hall. Fortunately, they were inexpensive items anyway.

C W Burfle posted:

I think it helps when it is a TCA member to TCA member transaction. All else is "buyer beware".

It's buyer beware for TCA member to member transactions too.

I wound up with a couple of repainted items purchased at York in the Yellow hall (grandstand). The lighting was too poor for me to tell while inside the hall. Fortunately, they were inexpensive items anyway.

And, you are much more experienced than me at discovering this. Collecting trains is not for the faint of heart.

George