Train Estate Auctions

Each one is different.  I've been to many, some are great, others not worth the drive.  If you go enough, you'll eventually score something great.  I request an auction list or pictures prior to the sale.  Most good estate auctions are well organized and have these lists.

One of my best large lot train purchases came at one of these auctions.  Not very many bidders, high quality trains (NIB desirable items) and an odd time of day made it worth the drive.  The deals were so good I bought more than fit in the truck-I had to ship items home.  I left my lab as collateral while I went to FedEx!

Some folks enjoy auctions.  Sounds like not your thing - me neither.

I do not even like to go to the grocery store - I order my clothes on-line.  I go to the gas station only because there is no other way to keep the Mustang running.

For train collectors, it is now trivially easy.  EBay, or the for sale forum here, or a want ad in a widely circulated magazine, and you can get anything you want.  Wasn't always that way.

Ted Maurer told me he sold 5 Million a year in Toy Trains.  Stout may sell the GLAMOUR TRAINS once a month, but Maurer sells 30-plus times a year.  Each auction is different as to Quality and Content, but I have many RARE trains thanks to Maurer!

This was an auctioneer I never heard of, with a big ad in an antique paper.....with the timing, and maybe under the radar for train collectors, it might have been a good

auction (IF THE TRAINS WERE THERE; they weren't, IMO).  I was after a non train item, but hoping for train icing on that cake,  but with a six hour round trip and a late night home return probable, I kissed it off.  My question here, and I have attended Stout and Maurer auctions, so am not addressing those, but this type (where I have also bought trains and other items), is that what you have usually found, mostly the leftovers, and not the good stuff, in these "nameless" estate auctions?  I don't do yard sales because you have to pan a lot of sand to find the gold, and that includes that well known U.S. 127 multistate yard sale from Ohio south. (I have, years ago, also found cheap trains in yard sales, but nothing wildly collectible... that is, worth the gas).  Of course, I understand "the hunt" may be part of the fun.  Per above, sounds like you have to pan a lot of sand (attend a lot of them) at these auctions, too.  (Of

course, I was ambivalent about leaving, and probably am experiencing NON-buyer's

remorse)

In my experience, its rare to pick up anything at an auction. Not only are there other collectors who will be bidding against you, there are also antique dealers / resellers who usually have an overinflated idea of the value of those trains. IMHO, the only time it makes sense to bother is when there is an item you really want, and are willing to pay the freight to obtain.

I have attended many of these type auctions.  I enjoyed them once I learned that the auctioneer wasn't ignoring my bid; he just wanted to play two bidders at a time.  I have been able to pick up some items, but mostly, there is somebody there willing to bid more than me.

One auction that did go sour was one where I had won a couple bids, then the auctioneer moved on to non-train items.  When he took a break I asked when he was going to sell more trains.  "Not tonight," he said.  "'I'm taking them somewhere else where I can get more money for them".  If I were the consignor maybe I could understand that point of view, but I never went to one of his auctions again. 

quote:

 If I were the consignor maybe I could understand that point of view, but I never went to one of his auctions again. 

Were I in your shoes, I'd go. After all, you won some lots. Sounds like an honest auctioneer.

Per the "TrainsRMe" experience, I attended an auction for a friend, to bid on a non

train item wanted, and saw things of interest to me.  The item my friend wanted went high and I passed, but the auctioneer soon stopped the auction and packed up, before the items I was interested in came up.  I somehow got the impression he was not happy with sale prices.   I wonder if there are state agencies that monitor these things?

Two I attended seemed to have a front row of favored antique dealers whose

bids were the only ones "seen".  Have not been back to one of those, either.

Maybe they operate on the P.T. Barnum principle?

These experiences definitely have led to my sour taste and distrust of these.

Mr. Burfle has briefly stated the pertinent situation, which I was well aware of.  But I

wasn't willing to stay that late on a crap shoot.

I've gone to a couple of estate auctions with a large selection of trains.   I recognized a number of train dealers at the auction.  They were all mad that one individual was buying the trains at too high of a price.  It was kind of funny to watch as the gentlemen was really only buying the trains at about 50% of the value.  The dealers wanted them at about 25% of the value.  My guess is that he was an average Joe like myself and was buying everything for his collection.  I don't mind bidding against the dealers.  They have to make a profit so I can gauge when they'll stop bidding.   I pick out a select few items and go after them.  

On a side note, I've gone to one particular auction where the auctioneer wasn't getting the price he wanted on some items.  He got so mad that he started selling items dirt cheap to the first person that bid.  It was almost comical.  People got some huge deals.

the non-train specialists tend to be hit or miss. There's one near me that I had luck with once, but struck out 4 other times. And they don't have details online, just a list of "LIonel Postwar" or something like that.

The time I had luck was the one time I wish I had more cash. The estate was from a collector of all things GG1. I picked up 2332 that is beautiful, but he also had every one Lionel ever made at least twice.

The funny part is that there were many passenger cars from congressional sets, but the auctioneer had them in lots of the same car. So there was a lot with 5 observation cars, another with 5 vista domes, etc. I brought to his attention that they should be put in lots according to how they were originally cataloged. The auctioneer shrugged his shoulders and said, "well, i already have absentee bids, so they'll sell just fine."

Tim

I am doing a video of the absentee bidder hooking up the FIVE observations!