1/03/2009

Learn How To Value Antique Lionel Trains - Model Trains

By Stanley Jenkins

Are you searching for some place or someone to trade your antique Lionel trains? Perhaps you have discovered a gold mine at your neighborhood garage sales event! Or possibly you've discovered a box in the attic filled with these antique Lionel trains. How do you uncover their actual full value?

When it gets down to it, their value, or their selling price, will very much depend on different things, not the least of which is how much the buyer is prepared to pay you to get it. The most driven purchasers will of course pay more than somebody who is not passionate about it.

The last person you want to sell your used Lionel train to is some of those individuals who post adverts saying "I buy trains!". These people are in the business of paying the lowest possible cost, and then trading as high as possible. You most in all probability will not get a good price here.

Who you DO want to speak to is trusted collectors of antique Lionel trains. They are most liable to leave you a moderate price, and in this group of people is where you are likewise most likely to acquire a motivated purchaser. You may have a localized group of collectors in your own arena. Hobby shops that deal in used Lionel trains, or supply parts and add-on for them, can run you in seeing the proper collectors.

At Present that you acknowledge where to see a purchaser, here are whatsoever leads to assist you put a price on your old Lionel train.

The Train Collectors Association has strict grading criteria that are observed by the proper train collectors in setting valuations. They separate the total range of conditions into 7 classes, ranging from brand new and unused (mint condition) to junk, with whatsoever operational areas (poor condition). The 7 classes are: Mint, Like New, Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor. Your train will fall someplace into one of these families.

In addition, there are 2 outstanding guides advertised each yr that can assist you to check a value for your antique Lionel train. These newspaper publishers are well respected in this arena, and have been writing these guides for many yr. The 2 guides are:

TM's Lionel Price and Rarity Guide - Volume one or Volume two, betting on the date your Lionel train was constructed

Greenberg's Pocket Price Guide to Lionel Trains

There are particular affairs you can do which can make a huge difference in your trading cost. Say your train is in mint condition, plus you have the particular package, you will get the steepest price manageable. So do not ever so cast away the box if you have 1. As Well, clean your train so that there is zero dust, soil, dirt, or old built up oil on it. A clean and beaming train that doesn't move can oft command a high selling cost than a dirty 1 that functions. In addition, sometimes just cleaning it up and making minor amends can reestablish that old train to a more worthy condition.

You can get an excellent guide for fixing your old Lionel train at LionelManuals.com. The guide is actually 2 CDs full of instructions, blueprints, parts lists, and detailed diagrams for every Lionel train ready-made from 1906 through 1986. It makes restoring your train simple, and can easily double or triple the price you can get for your train. With several of these receivable trains, doing the elementary amends can in reality bring you thousands of dollars more when you deal it.

So you see, there is a lot that goes into committing a value on your used Lionel train. Your well reckon to get a huge trading cost is to do your research on your train, check the verified guides, make contact with a collectors club, and deliver a restored, clean and polished train to a fiery collector.

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