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Topic starter
13/07/2024 5:03 pm
Well, I didn't plan on spending 5 and a half hours glued to my iPad today following (and participating in) the action in today's Lloyd Ralston auction of 500 pieces from the Raymond Paszkiewics, Jr. collection. We're told, by the way, that this is the first in a series of exclusive auctions of his collection so there's more to come.
I've found in attending auctions live that there are generally two types of bidders - the collectors and the dealers/resellers. The third group are the curious onlookers who are completely puzzled watching grown men spending lots of money on toy cars. They came in to "buy a few cars for the grandkids" and didn't realize it wasn't going to be that kind of estate auction. More often than not, the collectors win because the dealers know they have to keep their spend to about 50% of what they can sell it for. Collectors don't care about margins or resale. I think that played out today, too. But whether you were a collector or a dealer, we can all agree that there were many great deals to be had among the cream of the cream of the crop of high end white metal and resin models.
Here are some thoughts from today. You may agree or disagree so please chime in...
- High end white metal held its own. So did classic resin from Europe.
- If you were a new Brooklin collector, this day was for you. Those lots generally sold for well under market value. I'm guessing that's where the dealers scored because all of us collectors already have them. Western collectors also fared well.
- There was probably a little nostalgia related to the final pricing for the Victory Models.
- Modern resin from Kess, Esval, Autocult, Matrix, Automodello, Bizarre, Goldvarg, Stamp, and GLM held its own. While still under retail value (even with the 18% buyer's premium), some lots sold close to actual cost, assuming you could still find them for sale on the open market. I'm guessing we should be prepared to see some pop up on eBay from your favorite dealers.
- Orphan cars are very much loved by collectors.
- Schrock Bros. collectors are at a whole different level of passion. Granted, there were some really unusual and hard to find pieces, and gavel prices reflected that.
- I realized there are some brands I was wholly unfamiliar with and I had no idea what drove their collectability. Look at these two lots from Record. One sold for $475 (plus buyer's premium) and the very next one only cleared only $50
I am bracing for my final bill. I started to lose track of what I won, but it was a bit more than I probably realize. But the good news is that I filled some holes in my collection at some very fair prices. I snagged 2 of the 3 B & G Duesenbergs (the other one I already bought from Frank in Chicago). I also bought a handful of Conquest, MiniMarque, Madison, USA Models, and Design Studio models because, well, they were selling for under $100 each.
13/07/2024 5:46 pm
I won 10 lots (13 models) and didn't go over $160 on anything. I got 10 white metal models and three resin ones, the latter including a pair of Esvals where I wanted only one and will sell off the other. Strangely I did not get any Victory, La Familia, or MOC/DS/USA/American models though these were plentiful and sometimes quite reasonable. And every car represents a 1:1 from 1938 or earlier. I got two brands I do not presently own, New Bank and Heco. Once shipped here, I hope to post a few.
Randy those two yellow Records going for $475 are a mystery to me. The highest price I saw was $800 (pre-commission) for MOC-77, 1942 Chrysler barrelback woody (you would expect it to go for this much). But a lot of MOC and allied brands went for less than $200, sometimes even less than $100.
Topic starter
13/07/2024 6:05 pm
@mg-harv A couple of the Schrock (smaller scale) stuff went really high. The lowboy sold for $1,050 and the PDH dump truck went for $1,100 plus buyer's premium. The auction estimates were $200-$300 each.
John Kuvakas and Harv Goranson reacted
13/07/2024 6:24 pm
@randyrusk I ghuess I should have said the highest 1/43 was $800. Those Shrock models are nice but 1/72 ain't for me.
Karl Schnelle and John Kuvakas reacted
13/07/2024 7:10 pm
Congratulations on your finds and wins! I was outbid in all 10 of my bids but I'm not too disappointed as I had set a ceiling and stuck to it.
Michael Majdalany
San Francisco, CA
John Kuvakas reacted
13/07/2024 7:17 pm
I noticed the two yellow Record Pontiacs and could not help thinking that an experienced modeler was going to have fun repainting and brightworking them: there can be no other explanation. Certainly in France they're not so rare. I also noticed Schrock Studebakers skyrocketing - the two over $1000 were an eyepopper!
Sadly, my target purchase was right at the end (page 21) so I had to be careful and thus lost out on some desired pieces. Even then, I had a high bid on Lloyd Ralston site and it sold for less on Live Auctions so I'm waiting to see if I got it and am sinking some strong scotch to recover my bearings. Still, I know I've bagged a nice Rolls.
Please keep us informed if round 2 comes up.
Randy Rusk and John Kuvakas reacted
13/07/2024 8:09 pm
I bid on 5 Alfa Romeo lots and won only 1. I tried to hold firm on my maximums and not get carried away... But like Randy, I set glued to the screen for far too long seeing which final bids were high, which were low! I would have liked a small Schrock but not at those prices. Some nice resin CCCC went for low prices - Ray used them to make some or all of his stuff, if I remember correctly.
A few years ago, he sent me all the photos he could find of his Victory, etc, models for hobbyDB. I should scavenge any others from today as well, before they are lost to the ravages of time...
13/07/2024 8:16 pm
Well, last night, I through in a bid on a pair of NEOs and two USA Models of early 50s Ford Crestliners to fill in some gaps on my shelves. Thought I was in the ballpark but obviously not, none were won. I'll watch Ebay and see if these show up later from model flippers. Yes, it was entertaining to watch, if disappointing. I think the buyer's premium is 25% not 18%. Some frequent bidders must have spent tens of thousands!
John F. Quilter
Eugene, Oregon USA
13/07/2024 9:14 pm
@karl You're quite right, some spectacular French & Swiss resins - CCC , MA , and metal Idem went for silly low prices ! I could not help but think there remains a misunderstanding between US and European thinking.
Karl Schnelle and John Kuvakas reacted
13/07/2024 9:46 pm
I was wondering if there were models from Conquest, Madison, WMCE, and Highway Travellers, and if yes, do you remember the selling prices.
Ed Davis
Inverness, Illinois, USA
Topic starter
13/07/2024 10:09 pm
@john-quilter It’s 18% if you pay by money order or check. It’s 21% if you pay by credit or debit card.
John Kuvakas reacted
Topic starter
13/07/2024 10:10 pm
@ed-davis Check the hyperlink in my original post. It takes you directly to all the sale prices.
John Kuvakas reacted
13/07/2024 10:38 pm
I clicked on the hyperlink and looked at the prices. Interesting numbers. Thanks.
Ed Davis
Inverness, Illinois, USA
John Kuvakas reacted
13/07/2024 10:56 pm
@ed-davis Check the hyperlink in my original post. It takes you directly to all the sale prices.
Looking at these selling prices over these 21 pages, it is a clear indication that collecting scale models has never been an investment. Some bidders did good deals. The looser is the estate who was probably expecting way much.
13/07/2024 11:13 pm
At one time buying as an investment might have been ok, but for now I agree with you. I was surprised at how low prices were for some Conquest, Minimarque, and MOC models. The important thing now is to buy what you like and enjoy them.
Ed Davis
Inverness, Illinois, USA
Karl Schnelle and John Kuvakas reacted
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