"The Lionel Experience"- new model RR museum in Ohio

I don't understand the article.
The collection is worth 1.3 million but at auction it would yield 3 million, yet the owner sold it to the museum for $650,000?

Regardless: best of luck on raising the funds to house this expansive collection.

Who is Dennis Chandler- source of the "Lionel Experience" collection??  First off- he is a member of the Lionel Collectors Club of America where on their website you can see postings by him, occasionally with pictures of the Lionel collection.

His career has been made in music- writing and performing songs for local radio, TV and causes- including the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame, where his band recorded songs promoting the Hall in the first place.

Here are parts of an article written in his hometown (Cleveland) about him:

Where’d he come from?.. Where’s he been?.. Where’s he going?..

"The answer to that last question for this multi-faceted man is: Wherever the music takes him. Whether as a solo pianist…or… as keyboardist/ guitarist or as bandleader performing with his popular “Stratophonics” band, with every booking he takes, he gets to make… all the music he loves! One can see in Dennis’ varied itinerary; his love of (musical) diversity."

"For now, Dennis’ really enjoying the increased interest in Roots Rock and Blues, too. ...from many of rock’s originators… bluesmen like Bo Diddley, Lonnie Mack, Robert “Jr.” Lockwood and Bill “Honky Tonk” Doggett to name a few of his personal favorite teachers… and of course, B.B. King."

"...Riverside Academy of Music asked him to teach a Master Class. Titled “Mastering the Blues”, Dennis taught blues guitar, piano and organ.  He enjoys going from inner city to outer suburb, teaching the children of today where their music came from, yesterday’s blues. For the past 15 years, Dennis has been doing his series of concerts called “Blues in the Schools” ...

"Dennis’ diverse musical background has always come to serve him well, helping him to please any audience, like those in attendance at receptions for then-president George Bush, Reverend Jesse Jackson, later then-president Bill Clinton and again for then-first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton...the the sole musical entertainment. "

And, trains!!

This is outstanding!   Thanks for sharing this with us.   I can look forward to a visit to Painsville!

Very interesting! I trust the folks up there in the Painsville area will keep us posted on developments in a timely fashion.

Perhaps what I find most interesting about the article is the name of the vice president of the organization, who gave the interview. I recognize that name. He's a forum member here, but he spends most of online time on trains.com forum.

C W Burfle posted:

I don't understand the article.
The collection is worth 1.3 million but at auction it would yield 3 million, yet the owner sold it to the museum for $650,000?

Regardless: best of luck on raising the funds to house this expansive collection.

To some people...Money isn't everything!!!

To some people...Money isn't everything!!!

That doesn't explain the 1.3 million versus 3 million.

OK- I'll offer some answers:

1.  Maybe the writer of the article got some things wrong, it happens.  Those IN the article never get to see it before publication.  So, maybe the figures are incorrect??

2.  IF the ENTIRE COLLECTION is as complete as indicated ("every Lionel release 1945-69"), any ONE piece as part of that collection would be worth more IN the collection than by itself, and the total of the collection therefore higher- $ 3+million.  A 1956 Wabash AB F3 set - Like new- worth $ 595 might be worth $ 1000 as part of this collection, IN this collection.  And the "auction" value of each piece separately would be less.

3.  The owner (Chandler) is still alive and kicking- and he might be happy to get his money out of it ($ 900,000), regardless of what it might sell for.  He will get to see the rest of us enjoy it.  That's worth something to him, I expect.  Like the man said: "money isn't everything".

But the bottom line is, IF the people in Painesville pull this off, it will be something many of US would be willing to drive a long way to see.  I wish them well!!

Pretty cool.

C W Burfle posted:

To some people...Money isn't everything!!!

That doesn't explain the 1.3 million versus 3 million.

You weren't paying attention. The key word is "Auction". That explains it very succinctly!

I'll go up to Painesville to see the museum if they get it going!  Looks great, Mike!  Thank you for posting!!!

I am a member of the Painesville Railroad Museum and here is a video put together by one of our members about this project as well as some of the history. 

Thanks for the video, Bryan! Very informative, instructive, and helpful in seeing what the project is all about.

WOW again!!!

That collection is as extensive and complete as one in Tucson, it would be a great attraction once open to the public. I'm glad that it is being opened for public viewing and letting the public see and learn about the Great Postwar era.

Big Jim posted:

C W Burfle posted:

To some people...Money isn't everything!!!

That doesn't explain the 1.3 million versus 3 million.

You weren't paying attention. The key word is "Auction". That explains it very succinctly!

I guess people must overpay significantly at auctions then.

C W Burfle posted:

I guess people must overpay significantly at auctions then.

Sometimes they do, C W, sometimes they do! I have certainly seen it happen many times, both at train auctions and other types. Get a couple of motivated bidders together and anything can happen!

Looks like this will be amazing!

-Dave

Allan Miller posted:

C W Burfle posted:

I guess people must overpay significantly at auctions then.

Sometimes they do, C W, sometimes they do! I have certainly seen it happen many times, both at train auctions and other types. Get a couple of motivated bidders together and anything can happen!

Yes, I've been in attendance at some local auctions where bidding wars broke out. On more than one occasion the participants knew and disliked each other. 

I guess I shouldn't have been taken aback by the multiple values. On antique roadshow sometimes they give retail value, other times insurance value, and other times auction value.

Regardless, I hope they raise the money to purchase the collection and expand to house it. I'd certainly visit if I was ever in the area.