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Post by oldirish33 on Jul 15, 2022 12:33:28 GMT -5
Your SIL is lucky to have you helping as you can Jeff and to give advice if/when wanted. I don't want to be that guy. Its hard though. I have no doubts that selling the rarer, more valuable pieces in my collection whether at auction, on line, private sale, etc. would be relatively easy. Its the "meat and potatoes" items in my collection, the ones most collectors also have that results in lots of work for little reward (i.e. eBay.) I recently gave about 40 loose, mostly PW models (none probably worth more than $20) to a local charity for a fundraiser, with the instructions not to sell for more than $5 each and feel free to give them away to kids. The feedback I got was fantastic, kids love them and they sold them all for $1 each and were very happy. That was a quick and easy way for me to get rid of a number of models with little value and get some personal satisfaction in the delight that ensued. I'm thinking I will do that again! But what if you have a large collection and no one to pass it on to. I'll share a couple stories (I can because its my thread). I have a friend in his mid-80's (lives in Canton Jeff) that has no sons and two grandsons that have no interest in the books, art and models he has collected over the years. His greatest fear is that when he is gone they will have two piles for his stuff, one for recycling and the other for the trash. He has a notebook titled " I'm gone, Now What?" Seriously. He has tried to identify pieces that are of value and who the family can call on to help liquidate his property estate. I know my name is in there and I have offered to dive back with a truck and trailer if needed to save valuable items from being dumped. He is being proactive and has been giving away items to those he knows will appreciate them and I have received some of his art, but we all have limits as to how much we can accept that won't end up in storage and become a problem for our heirs later on. I have another friend locally in his mid-80's as well who has the equivalent in size to my collection, only mostly American cars, primarily 40's, 50's & 60's. He also has no heirs and would like his collection to remain intact. That's a pretty tall order. He had one museum that had agreed to take the collection but they closed due to Covid. He know thinks that the LeMay Museum near Seattle Washington will take his collection. Like most museums, space and money are issues and they usually aren't keen on agreeing to keep a collection in tact in perpetuity. They aren't in a position to just accept large non-cash donations of stuff and keep it forever. To strike a deal, they would also like an endowment (no idea how much) to cover the costs of storage and display. He wants to wait until he's gone to make the donation. I tell him he should do it now before they change their mind and it ends up getting spread to the winds anyway. There really is no clear lesson in these stories, just serve as examples of some of the challenges collectors face when mortality is looking at them eyeball to eyeball. As the population ages, we will see more automobilia come into the market. Some of it will be welcomed into the hands of new collector owners, what doesn't find its way to the shelves of the charity 2nd hand store will probably spend more of its life in an attic or dump. Sad, but that I believe is the stark reality of most of what gets collected. I think the hard part is knowing when to let go of things so they don't end up in the second category. I'd like to keep this thread going and hear from others experiences, plans, success at selling or giving away all or part of their collection.
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Post by oldirish33 on Jul 15, 2022 12:39:14 GMT -5
With apologies to Jerry but this post echoes much of my past. I also discovered Model Time in Croydon, I would drive over there in the mid-70's in my hotted up Anglia 105E and treat myself to something. I lived in a town called Eltham in SE London and a pair of brothers opened a shop that had a large slot racing track so as a young lad I would go and have a look. Later they had some foreign diecast models such as Tekno, Solido, Politoys etc but they were quite expensive and I was still at school. I was determined to buy some though and slowly I did, still have them too. There was also a model shop at Brands Hatch and occasionally I had saved enough to buy a Solido. Then you mention St Martins, I used to pop over from my office in the City and buy a Solido then one day I went in, looked for the usual display cabinet and Kathleen said that the models were in the new mezzanine which I hadn't even noticed! I was quite shy then and when I went to pay we had a chat and they said that they had noticed me for a while but that I never hung around. That chat has ended up as a friendship to this day. I even worked there on Saturdays from 2005-07, it was only supposed to be for a few weeks. We may even have been in the store at the same time. Sadly Kath has health issues with dementia now which is terribly sad. Our local toyfair is this Sunday, I already have two items reserved plus no doubt there will be many more that catch my eye and deplete my wallet. Oh well it's only money . Apologies to Jerry once again. No apologies needed at all Paul. I love these stories! Its all part of the collective history of our hobby, which sadly isn't well documented. I find these stories and experiences very interesting and love to read them. Keep them coming!
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Post by DeadCanDanceR on Jul 16, 2022 9:08:13 GMT -5
Lots to learn and think about from all these stories! Thanks for sharing them!
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Post by JSB33 on Jul 16, 2022 9:53:23 GMT -5
Jerry, I did learn something from my visit with you, I like your numbering system to match the box and the model. I hope before my time comes i can do that with the more valuable stuff. But I really want to make it easy for those I leave behind. I only have a daughter and I doubt very much she would want to devote massive amounts of her time shifting my stuff. Its not just the models, its the books, tools, tools and more tools, guns and the rest of the stuff one accumulates. Thinking an auction situation is the cure all.
If your friend in Canton needs some local help, I would be glad to talk with him.
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Post by oldirish33 on Jul 16, 2022 9:58:03 GMT -5
Jerry, I did learn something from my visit with you, I like your numbering system to match the box and the model. I hope before my time comes i can do that with the more valuable stuff. But I really want to make it easy for those I leave behind. I only have a daughter and I doubt very much she would want to devote massive amounts of her time shifting my stuff. Its not just the models, its the books, tools, tools and more tools, guns and the rest of the stuff one accumulates. Thinking an auction situation is the cure all. If your friend in Canton needs some local help, I would be glad to talk with him. I'm not sure I can take all the credit, I may have gotten the idea from Ian. I will pass along your offer of help. Thanks!
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Post by GBOAC002 on Jul 16, 2022 17:03:12 GMT -5
Thanks to Paul for bringing me up to speed re Kath and Ralph. Their shop in St. Martins Lane, London was certainly instrumental in the expansion of my collection as they would reserve models secure in the knowledge that as soon as they arrived I would be in to pay and collect. I think they had a couple of goes at Sandown Park Toy Fair but that's an awful lot of hassle and expense in what was semi retirement for them..
Whenever I visited relatives in the West Country I would also drop into St George's Models, Bristol, (UK) which was predominantly a Model Railway stockist but with a healthy selection of 1:43 diecast including mint used. They also did swap meets. Again friendly folk and always happy to reserve items. The husband and wife business thing worked well for them too and I'm sure model railways was way more profitable for them than diecast.
I'll also mention Model Road and Rail Shop at Worcester Park which was sometimes worth a half hour drive. They 'folded' after a few years..
Apols again to Jerry for this diversion from your thread..
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Post by WallOfCars on Jul 16, 2022 18:23:35 GMT -5
Thank you Jerry for taking our thoughts and discussion in this direction. This is timely as I am really 'feeling' the physical weight of my collection right now. Having ALL of my remaining personal effects (including all the cars) residing in my Dad's home, we have never felt more claustrophobic. Tiny house lifestyle aside, I have profound gratitude to my Father while we co-habitate. While I am planning a much larger house than Dad's place, I continue to grapple with the value of all this 'stuff'. You're wise enough to display and enjoy and so generously share with us on the forum. All of mine have pretty much just sat in boxes from the first purchase in late 1990s to my most recent. Indeed, the new place will have a large space for all things cars, but as I age, I sometimes wonder if I should trim 'all or some of the fat' while still above grade? Would I be just as happy with 300 cars as I would with 1,000? Especially if those 300 were beautifully and purposely displayed? I brought that topic up several times on the old forum and had many thoughtful suggestions. Of course, those sadly became moot once I sold my home. Thinking this way also would simplify the 'process' when I am gone someday. I have no heirs and very little family. I could just not worry about it, but I'm just not inclined to approach anything that way
As so many are struggling right now with inflation and the shrinking middle-class, I guess I tend to question my own 'frivolous' spending a little more than even a few years ago. Thankfully there are very few new releases that even catch my attention, so my wallet if safe.
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Post by oldirish33 on Jul 17, 2022 12:01:03 GMT -5
Thank you Jerry for taking our thoughts and discussion in this direction. This is timely as I am really 'feeling' the physical weight of my collection right now. Having ALL of my remaining personal effects (including all the cars) residing in my Dad's home, we have never felt more claustrophobic. Tiny house lifestyle aside, I have profound gratitude to my Father while we co-habitate. While I am planning a much larger house than Dad's place, I continue to grapple with the value of all this 'stuff'. You're wise enough to display and enjoy and so generously share with us on the forum. All of mine have pretty much just sat in boxes from the first purchase in late 1990s to my most recent. Indeed, the new place will have a large space for all things cars, but as I age, I sometimes wonder if I should trim 'all or some of the fat' while still above grade? Would I be just as happy with 300 cars as I would with 1,000? Especially if those 300 were beautifully and purposely displayed? I brought that topic up several times on the old forum and had many thoughtful suggestions. Of course, those sadly became moot once I sold my home. Thinking this way also would simplify the 'process' when I am gone someday. I have no heirs and very little family. I could just not worry about it, but I'm just not inclined to approach anything that way
As so many are struggling right now with inflation and the shrinking middle-class, I guess I tend to question my own 'frivolous' spending a little more than even a few years ago. Thankfully there are very few new releases that even catch my attention, so my wallet if safe.
As I told someone recently, I didn't get a place to finally display my models until I bought a house on my own in 2007 when I was in my mid-50's. When my wife and I decided to give up city life and move to a property in the country to retire to, I didn't get the space I have now until 2019 and I was 65. So, its taken me awhile to get to where I am and I understand not having a place and space to do what you want with your 'stuff'. Once you get your house built BB, that will change and it will be worth the wait. I can't do anything about the aging though. I am in the same camp as you about quality over quantity. Without trying to sound boastful, I have been fortunate to have the means to indulge my hobbies and that has often meant buying without a clear path or direction. The end result has been the large eclectic collection I have today. If I am honest, I think part of it came from all the years when I couldn't because I either didn't have the income, the spouse at the time didn't approve, or I had kids in college and money got spent elsewhere. Once I was free of those constraints I went a bit crazy. It was part compensating and part trying to impress, but I was never sure who it was I wanted to impress and why. I think its taken me until the last year and a half or so to realize there is no contest to acquire the most stuff. While not wanting to burden heirs is a good part of it, its also the realization that I don't enjoy my collection to the fullest because I can't see the trees for the forest. I have definitely decided that I would be much happier with my collection if there wasn't so much and I could allocate the space I have to "show case" what I really value and treasure. So, as I have been taking pictures of my cases for this thread, I have been putting sticky notes on the pieces I am ready to pass along. While this isn't a novel idea, I have set up a "passionate about" scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the most passionate about a piece. Anything I rate a 3 or lower gets a sticky note. I am then going to box those models up and figure out how I want to liquidate them. That has led me to the realization that these photos will likely be the last time the entire collection will be seen in its entirety. However, I am okay with that. As the old saying goes, been there, got the t-shirt. This thread is and will always welcome additional thoughts and ideas about your collection, or the hobby in general. That said, here are some additional images (sorry for the poor quality and reflections): These images are from the wall cases and cabinets in my workshop. The first is my Porsche case, which contains my Brumos collection, as well as cars for the most part I have seen race in the IMSA series when new at Portland (PIR) or Laguna Seca. I was going to have a raced at PIR section, but lost interest in that idea beyond the cars I already collected. This cabinet was a piece of furniture (wardrobe) that was given to me by a neighbor that was moving. I added some lights and converted it into a display cabinet. It houses my baseball figure collection, some of my smaller dioramas and the large Le Mans paddock diorama I made years ago. I never have done what was to be a companion piece, the pits and probably won't. I had intended to put it all in a coffee table with a glass top to allow looking down on the piece. Before I could start cutting the table however, my wife gave our daughter the coffee table. Its unlikely I will try and source another table and very likely this piece will get dismantled and/or cut down to a smaller size. Sitting on top of that cabinet is this case which contains the bulk of my Ecurie Ecosse collection. Besides having Scottish blood on my mother's side of the family, my interest in EE of course was kindled by their campaign of Jaguars in the 50's, but also in the cars and history since their epic Le Mans wins. I have also over the years become friends with Mike Wilds who drove for the revived EE in the 80's and Graham Gould who was one of the principals in the new EE. The EE emblem is proudly displayed on all my 1:1 vehicles! FYI, I bought this model ship case on Amazon for a very reasonable price. It came unassembled, but was very easy to assemble. Top quality cases. This small case contains my Jagermeister collection, as well as my Lancia collection (most) with some Porsche 917/10K's in-between. Sitting on top of that small case is this Le Mans diorama from 1963 with the Cunningham Jaguars and a smaller one from 1962 with the Aston Martin. Those signs light up. Never have figured out what to do with them, just thought they were cool. There is a wrecker that goes with that wrecked Volvo. Must be out on another call. This case contains Jaguar concept cars, as well as some Jaguar overflow that doesn't fit elsewhere. This is just the tip of the Jaguar iceberg! Before there was Jaguars in my life however, there were a string of MG's and Austin Healeys. Sitting on top of my large book case is this 1/8 scale replica of the 1954 Austin Healey 100 I restored and owned for over twenty years. This is the crown jewel in my collection. Above it are some very special items to me. The Austin Healey watercolor was the first piece of automotive art I bought and the first professional piece done by Alan Nies. I had Donald Healey sign it and regret not having his sons Geoff, Brian and John sign it as well. Below it is a Marx Rider of the Range (Roy Rogers) figure and horse which replaced the one I got in 1960 on my birthday. While the horse and rider are gone from that time, the saddle on this horse is the one I had as a kid. The small yellow and blue cowboy was a clay figure I made in school for my Dad in 1960 as well. My first scale figure! Plenty more to see in the workshop, stay tuned!
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Post by Tom on Jul 17, 2022 13:20:53 GMT -5
I'm drooling uncontrollably.
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Post by DeadCanDanceR on Jul 17, 2022 16:46:46 GMT -5
Fabulous collection, Jerry! Thanks for sharing it with us!
I loved your Jaguar concepts, your beautiful, huge Austin Healey 100 model and that fabulous Ecurie Ecosse display.
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Post by oldirish33 on Jul 17, 2022 18:15:30 GMT -5
Fabulous collection, Jerry! Thanks for sharing it with us! I loved your Jaguar concepts, your beautiful, huge Austin Healey 100 model and that fabulous Ecurie Ecosse display. Thanks Julio! The AH 100 model cost more than I paid for the 1:1 car originally. 😁
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Post by Alfaholic on Jul 17, 2022 20:37:36 GMT -5
Now that you are retired Jerry, ever thought of starting a consultancy business specialising in arranging Forum members collections . I'm happy to be at the top of the list . Wonderful work and an amazing collection.
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Post by oldirish33 on Jul 17, 2022 21:49:54 GMT -5
Now that you are retired Jerry, ever thought of starting a consultancy business specialising in arranging Forum members collections . I'm happy to be at the top of the list . Wonderful work and an amazing collection. In my experience, consultants are hired to tell the client things they don't want to hear, suggest things they don't want to do and take the blame when things don't improve. That said, I'd be happy to do it for my travel expenses, being put up in a nice Hilton and a generous meal allowance. I have always wanted to see Australia. 🦘 🤣
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Post by Alfaholic on Jul 17, 2022 22:18:20 GMT -5
Now that you are retired Jerry, ever thought of starting a consultancy business specialising in arranging Forum members collections . I'm happy to be at the top of the list . Wonderful work and an amazing collection. In my experience, consultants are hired to tell the client things they don't want to hear, suggest things they don't want to do and take the blame when things don't improve. That said, I'd be happy to do it for my travel expenses, being put up in a nice Hilton and a generous meal allowance. I have always wanted to see Australia. 🦘 🤣 Hmmmmm, the nearest Hilton is over an hour away in Canberra, but if you'll accept the slightly less salubrious "Royal Mail, let's talk Don't worry, that's an old photo so the drunk from out the front won't annoy you, but his hair is longer these days!!
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Post by oldirish33 on Jul 17, 2022 22:35:25 GMT -5
A hotel above a bar. What could possibly go wrong with that arrangement? If you will vouch for their character, I can lower my expectations. Who's the dude? Is that you?
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