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 Posted - September 05 2008 : 12:26:18 AM
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I have a solid brass presumably working steam engine (never played with). Purchased by my grandfather in 1963 for $400 (price tag still on it). It's an Akane U.S.R.A. 2-10-2 Heavy. I have a friend that hassles me to buy it, but I'd like to know a little more about it's history, quality, reputation, value, and anything else you know about it. I've looked at the box for 20 years and I know nothing about it. Any information would be really appreciated. Thanks,
Jessica
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Posted - September 05 2008 : 01:55:11 AM
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I'm not a brass expert, and I'm not sure we have any here, but a guy named Tom White on the Model Railroader forum has plenty of Akane brass, so he'd be more likely to know it's history. You can pose the question in the main forum, or shoot him a private message and say Nelson sent you.
http://cs.trains.com/forums/1369811/ShowPost.aspx
The Tyco Depot
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Posted - September 05 2008 : 09:45:17 AM
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Welcome to the forum.
I'm familiar with brass but far from an expert. Looking back to Akane (AH-kah-NAY for those not familiar) prices in my back issues of MR, $40-90 was a more common price so I don't believe the price tag is original unless it is an O scale model---or---if it is HO, that he purchased it a little later, in the late 60s, early 70s. Pictures of it with a coin next to it would help a lot.
Most early brass had crude detailing by today's standards but it was the only way to get odd locomotives. It wasn't unusual for models to be made only from photographs, only to have the builders add details that were on the locomotive just behind the one being modeled.
They usually didn't run very well either. Once, a builder accidentally ran a series that had 1.5 volt motors installed. A subsequent recall netted only a 10% return, nailing down the idea that brass is primarily a collector's market.
While they don't fetch what they used to, older brass still are highly collectible and command a good price, especially if it is found to have one of the aforementioned gaffs. Do some research on your own if you want to insure a good return on what you have. I own a '70s era PFM/United HOn3 C&S 2-6-0 Mogul that I've watched go from $260 to $160 in a year so they are not a rock solid investment like gold or oil stocks.
These guys might be a bigger help than I >>> http://daveayers.com/Modeling/index.html
Edited by - shaygetz on September 05 2008 09:45:46 AM
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Posted - September 05 2008 : 8:03:23 PM
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Hi Jessica. I have had some experience with brass over the years. The Akane product were not the best quality but, they did offer some unique engines. The details like shawgetz mention, is not the most detailed but, was better then the Diecast engines of the time. "The Brown Book of Brass Locomotives" from 1994 states the engine's retail in 1963 was around $70 The average resale price was around $250-$300 depending on condition. But, like shawgetz mentioned it varies like the stock market. There is an Akane engine just like yours on eBay here is the link:
http://cgi.ebay.com/BRASS-AKANE-U-S-R-A-2-10-2-HEAVY-HO-STEAM-LOCOMOTIVE_W0QQitemZ320293661582QQihZ011QQcategoryZ78178QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
The auction is over in two days. You may want to watch and see what the final amount is. It will give you some idea as to what the current price might be. Carl
Numquam Immoderatio Satis Est
(Too Much Is Never Enough )
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Posted - September 07 2008 : 8:17:47 PM
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Well, the final amount was $292. Not bad. The brown book was pretty much right on. Not knowing the exact condition of your engine, this would be a good idea of it's value.
http://cgi.ebay.com/BRASS-AKANE-U-S-R-A-2-10-2-HEAVY-HO-STEAM-LOCOMOTIVE_W0QQitemZ320293661582QQihZ011QQcategoryZ78178QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Hope this helps you with your decision. Carl
Numquam Immoderatio Satis Est
(Too Much Is Never Enough )
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Posted - September 07 2008 : 9:05:45 PM
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That's about what I figured, the market has softened for early brass a bit since last year. With BLI and Spectrum, there just isn't the interest in the younger modelers to tinker with these old birds when one can get it painted, with sound for about the same price.
Nice lokey nonetheless. Hope you find a good home for it.
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Posted - September 08 2008 : 08:51:21 AM
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Jessica n Dean
Here is a little information on the Internet about Akane. These models were imported by Internatonal Model (IMP).
http://www.hoseeker.org/internationalmodelinc/impcatalog196%20page05.jpg
http://www.hoseeker.org/otherhotrains.html
Larry
http://www.hoseeker.org/
Edited by - HOseeker on September 08 2008 08:51:57 AM
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