Norton posted:Most all of my HO brass purchased new 40 years ago have yet to come up the price I paid for them.
HO brass prices of 40 years ago, adjusted for 40 years of inflation, are not a pleasant reminder of your 'investment'....considering their current secondary market sales prices.
According to the C.O.L. calculator, a $100 price in 1976 would rise to $425 in 2016. 
I believe an HO PFM Santa Fe 2-8-0 (ubiquitous, I know) was my first brass acquisition about 50 years ago. Even though it has basically languished in its box since then and could probably come close to the equally ubiquitous 'mint' rating, the thought of getting 4.25 times the original price is laughable....if not totally depressing. Ain't gonna happen, not ever, zip, nada!
I'm with Bob2's pithy comment...
"Hobbies and investments are rarely compatible. Hobbies are for fun."
...and that's the way it was for me 50 years ago....and still is. 
There's enough else in this world to be depressed about....but not my hobby purchases!
Also just an opinion.
KD
