Large Scale Central

How and where do you store engine and rolling stock boxes

General Discussion
#61

QUESTION:

Is not the basis for keeping and storing the rolling stock and loco boxes an LGB collector axiom? I remember some fifteen years ago hearing the admonition “Be sure to save the box as anything you sell will be worth more in the original box!”

Like any other hobby, the collector side of it means just that: All and any part of the collected object adds value.

Me, I don’t collect.

Previous to the LGB saga, I saved a LGB loco box — one per type of loco – to ship a loco for any needed repair. Now, repairs are on me. The boxes are gone.

Wendell

#62

Repair and storage of boxes for repair reasons?
Boxes to ship a LGB loco – to where?
Am I accurate that Marklin does not offer a repair service?
WATTS has so stated they would repair and I think Li also.
Meanwhile, there is a listing of gears and parts via Walthers.
As to production actually representing any listing, I don’t know.
Massoth has offered a listing of motor parts.
Anyone with experience in attaining and successfully using a repair source for LGB?
Fortunately, I have been able to make any gear repairs, while infrequent, from parts purchased during the LGB era.

Wendell

#63

My whole attitude towards “collectors” and their “boxes” is perfectly summed up at 7:25

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZ8IjZ3tUas

Actually this is one of the best things on model railroading I’ve ever seen. :wink:

#64

The LGB knockoff box burned just fine – but I didn’t breathe the fumes!

#65

Victor, Great video thanks

#66

OK, boxes for sale, and no they don’t have cars in them ( already been told that someone was upset because they did not contain cars ) can not burn now, fire season, give me some estimates on what to ask, if you want photos, let me know, Bruce in southern OHIO ( smile )

The video was great!!!

#67

I think pretty much like Jon depending on the value of the contents and whether the box will protect whatever it was made for. Old Bachmann boxes were thrown away because the contents were less expensive and the boxes were not strong enough to reship in.

Most likely my trains will be around a lot longer than me so to me it is logical that the day will come when either I or my family end up having to sell everything. The boxes will make it easier to identify the contents; easier to ship them safely and assure the buyer that they will arrive in one piece.

I’ve bought a lot of used trains and I will pay more for something in the box because my experience has been that those who kept the boxes were more likely to keep their trains as the factories shipped them. For me it has nothing to do with collectors value and everything to do with condition.

I had a lot of storage space to begin with but now I have run out and new stuff often means throwing old boxes away to make room for the new. The trains that run outside and get the most wear and tear will probably be the first boxes to be thrown away. Its not about making money - just trying to keep the losses from this hobby to a minimum.

I thought the video was great but I disagree with his attitude toward collectors. I have never been a collector and I only owned one (now 2) locos that are for display (both bought used) but on the other hand I think we owe a lot to collectors for having kept a lot of trains where they are still available to us many years later. I bought several of my trains from estates and widows. If the guy who had collected them enjoyed his collecting I am happy for him just as I am now happy running the trains that previously were stored in boxes. Someday someone else will end up with my trains at used prices so we all win.

Jerry

Jon Radder said:
I'm in the 'keep 'em all' camp. It does help a lot to have the box if you ever plan on selling any of your stock.
#68

I keep boxes because I’ve been know to sell stuff in the classifieds…makes it alot easier to ship.

Repair LGB?..go to Massoth… great people to deal with people. http://www.massoth.com/index.usa.html

#69

This has been hashed, re-hashed, bashed to death!!! To each his own I say! I mark what I get in the Mail/UPS/UPS, cause as everyone knows, yer interests change, and now you have hopefully the original box, and or outer box to ship to someone else when you get tired of what you have and sell em off, to get newer, or new improved or used something you want!!! You know betterer stuff!! Hah LOL Out with the old (unless you like) In with the new STUFF!!! Hah LOL Regal

#70

Perhaps it has been hashed and re-hashed by others but I saw this topic for the first time today when I did a search for something totally unrelated and this topic was brought up by the search function.

Everyone is entitled to express their opinion on any topic - even an older one they just now happen to run across. That is not bashing anything to death.

What is wrong with someone who has not voiced an opinion earlier from voicing their opinion later - when they run across a topic for the first time - that happens to be of interest to them?

Jerry

Jerry Hansen said:
This has been hashed, re-hashed, bashed to death!!!
#71

Jerry, you gotta get out more often!!! Now don’t get defensive k, ??? Hah LOL Regal

#72

Rolling stock on the wall and left out on the layout.
Boxes, all of 'em, gone! I lost my pics of the burning LGB boxes when we lost the freight shed.
I don’t ship lokies. I get parts and repair them myself.

#73
John Bouck said:
I lost my pics of the burning LGB boxes when we lost the freight shed.
That is a damn shame too! Smash the box and throw it in the stove. I loved that post, don't remember which one it was but it was great!!!!

:wink:

#74

Jerry, above, made reference to collectors keeping products around. I thought of another aspect: Collectors are an influence as to the realism of products. If the Lionel Hudson is highly collectable, and the significant feature is its realism, then there is a demand based on price.
Now, will the Bachmann 3-truck Shay attain “collectibility” for that reason? How about the K-27? The Connie? Any LGB locos attaining high price because of rarity AND realism? The LGB “Crock” – in certain colors – is highly collectable, claims an LGB friend (he has two). Yet, is the realism of the loco the driving feature to it being “collected?”

The 1:29 (?) USA “Big Boy” may attain collectibility, even though it is not functional on a layout owned by the collector. Iit does command attention – both negative and positive. Then, the MTH “Big Boy” and “Challenger” are accepted “realistically” under the criteria of being 1:32.
But the 1:29 vs. 132 vs. 1:20 vs. 1:24 has disappeared from Garden RR’s reviews as to “authenticity.” So those using 1:32 as a realistic criteria speak to themselves and achieve plaudits from Mike and MTH.

I still think collectors have influenced realism.

You think?

Wendell

As to Aristo-Craft – what loco would be collectable? And why?

#75

Yeah John that is the one I was referring to!! I know you just bash, trash, and burn em. Like I says to each his own!!! Hah LOL Regal

#76

I may be totally wrong (it won’t be the first time) but I think the day of the collector as was previously known (typically LGB) may have passed.

Thanks to the quality and durability of LGB their trains will probably be around for a long long time somewhat like the old Lionel and American Flyer but I think their value now is more based on lack of availability and the end of German production. In spite of comments to the contrary I do not think the materials and quality control of Chinese LGB models (even pre-Marklin) were uniformly equal to German production.

Locos like the USA Hudson and Big Boy along with the Accucraft K4 and MTH Big Boys and Challengers may be taking the place of the old collector models in that they represent increasingly accurate scale models that are both durable enough to run and also detailed enough to qualify as display models.

After running Bubba’s USA Hudson over several years I was finally convinced that it was both excellently detailed and durable. I consider it to be “collectible” because of its attention to detail and I consider the USA Big Boy to be equally collectible even if it is too big to run on my layout.

MTH’s Big Boy and Challenger are less detailed (acknowledged by MTH by being Railking rather than Premier models) but to me also fall into the collector status because (in my opinion) the detail and expense of metal locos puts them into a class that is more than just garden locomotives.

I think that “collectors” have typically been willing and able to pay higher prices than average and that they have become more demanding in what they are willing to pay premium prices for. In that way I do think they have influenced realism.

The definitions of collectors and collectibles have become harder to define. In the past (as per the video) I think collecting and operating were mutually exclusive but today I think you can collect and operate your collection. What is a collector? What qualifies as a collection?

In my opinion if you either leave it in the box or if you put it up on display you have become a collector whether it is a Bachmann Ten Wheeler or a Big Boy.

Jerry

Wendell Hanks said:
The 1:29 (?) USA "Big Boy" may attain collectibility, even though it is not functional on a layout owned by the collector.

I still think collectors have influenced realism.

You think?

Wendell

As to Aristo-Craft – what loco would be collectable? And why?

#77

Having no basement nor attic, I had to find a way to store the rolling stock readily at hand but didn’t want to throw away the boxes. The garage seemed the only possible place to manage some space. The locs sit in cradles ready for use and the boxes are stored on large boards that I fixed on the ceiling. The ones from cars are flattenend so they take less space.

(http://www.lscdata.com/users/franchimontees/_forumfiles/storage_01.jpg)

(http://www.lscdata.com/users/franchimontees/_forumfiles/storage_02.jpg)

#78

The video that Vic posted Top Toys I believe? Had it right in terms of when I worked at Niagara Hobby in Buffalo. MANY of the Canadians shopping at the store would strip things out of the boxes…less taxes going back into Ontario if ti was not packaged and “new”…LOL

Chas