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
