The Nighthawk posted:As an early IVES collector finding an unmolested original set is a real prize! Most have been "upgraded" by previous collectors switching out cars or parts to make the set more desirable. There is nothing wrong with that to most, but for me I prefer a set to be as it left the factory. With my genre of choice, locating a 100+ year old train still in the original owners family does not happen often! The set pictured below surfaced at a poorly advertised estate sale in NY. I was glad to have it, and thrilled with the price. It was made in 1911. I had spent over 2 years trying to match up a set of three Harvard series cars. Finding matching colors and lettering was hard enough, but the patina was near impossible to match.
THIS is a beautiful set. The ONLY thing that would make it more appealing to me is if it were "No 1117" instead of "No 17". I'm TRYING to limit my focus to the electric trains, BUT I find I REALLY like the early Ives clockworks...even more the pre-1900 stuff. But jeesh...where does one draw the line??? 
