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howdy all I need a little help with a Max Gray KMT Kusan 2-8-4 brass 2 rail berkshire NKP w/box it belonged to a friend of mine who passed away last year and I am selling his collection for his wife..what I know about 2 rail you can put in a thimble.. can someone tell me what the approximate value of this engine and tender mite be i don't want to give it away but I don't want to ask for more than it's worth  thank you for any help much appreciated   Steve

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Steve,

Assuming it is in good condition it should be worth over $500 and less than $1000. I realize that is a wide range but that should give you some idea in case someone offers you $250. If you are offered close to $1000 take it.

 

If I were selling it at a show I would probably ask $895. Ebay would probably be your best option.

thank you both for your replies and your time if I remember I'll get some pics and post them ..I do some train shows but mostly those that offer all scales for sale Butch box probably does have KTM on box but as I get older letters seem to transpose themselves as I read them ha  thanks again Rheil and Butch  much appreciated enjoy your day  Steve

Steve--

 

I remember seeing Max Grey engines in The Red Caboose on 44th St just west of 5th Av Manhattan NYC, in the early 60s--between 60 and 64.  These were unpainted brass O gage engines-- I particularly recall one (or more) that had 4 driven axles and a massive boiler.  It may have been a Niagara or other Northern-type.  Unpainted of course.  The detail was amazing--I'd have to say museum quality.  At least one engine in the store was $1000 I clearly remember--probably this one; others a bit less--high hundreds 800 or 900.

 

In those days the starting salary for an engineer was $6000; otherwise a degree was worth half that so I was told; a Baltimore row house fairly new about $10,000. 

On that basis I'd think that engine would be worth a lot more today.  But on the other hand, scale freight cars can be had when found sometimes for less than even ten dollars used but assembled (less than an All-Nation boxcar kit @12.50(?) plus trucks for $3(?) and 2 Lionel conversion couplers ($1) which I bought instead, in those times).  For what all that is worth...

 

--Frank

 

 

thank you all for info you provided and sorry i took so long to reply train shows almost done lol i see what u mean Bob about weight in boiler-- i have some pics attached and as you can see(maybe) the steps on one side by steam chest is missing and a ladder on tender is missing-- the pilot and trailing trucks are there and trucks for tender are there thanks again everyone   Steve

 

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The Japanese builder was KTM - not KMT.  The importer was Max Gray.  After Max Gray passed away US Hobbies imported KTM O scale models, including a rerun of the NKP Berkshire.  At O scale shows and on eBay US Hobbies versions of KTM locomotives generally bring higher prices than the earlier Max Gray imports as they have improved  gearboxes and better quality brass castings.  KTM locomotive prices have fallen in recent years as they lack the finer details of more recent brass imports (like cab interiors) but with a little work make for good layout quality "runners" as they were solidly built.  Many O scalers, especially those using DCC,  replace the old open frame KTM motors with higher torque/lower current draw Pittman can motors for improved performance.

 

Ed Rappe.

Last edited by Keystoned Ed

I think the estimates for that loco are good.   I was at the Cleveland show 2 weeks ago, and one did not sell there for $750 that had a decent paint job.     I think I would settle for that amount with no problem.    One of my friends was trying to sell it.   

 

When they came in the early 60s, they probably sold for much less than $200.    I remember ads for the later USHobbies locos listing them for $196 for a couple different ones in the late 60s.     A $1000 engine in those days would probably be a custom built one of a kind model of something special.   A model of something the importers were ignoring.

Agreed - USH models have taken a major hit from the days of $4000 cab forwards and AC-9s.  But eBay routinely maximizes prices.  Broken ladders are not a great selling point - be better to fix them before selling.

 

My Max Gray MT-4 cost $239 in 1961.  It went all the way to $1200 in value, and is now around $800.  It is roughly equivalent to the NKP Berk.

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