CW Burfle says "If an item has been disassembled to the point of disturbing tabs, staking or rivets, then as far as I am concerned the item really cannot grade very high as a collectors item, and isn't likely to be something I'd be interested in owning as such. It might make a great piece for operating. (I have both)."
Taht makes me wonder how fussy actually are collectors. Some can afford to buy only C-7 unaltered, but how many fo us are collectors who would like to have a certain set of pieces and will buy what is affordable even if it's not perfect.
I'm a collector to a modest extent. I wasn't going to cllect when I began this activity five years ago. Later I decided to collect what is in the 1948 catalog - my last year of playing with Lionel before a 60+ year side trip into HO model railroading.
But I'm not trying to have much like new. I'd rather have my collection on the rails and looking like what a sixth grade boy would have had after several years of use.
I bought my GG1 for $200. The stripes are faded as are most but still discernable. It has a few dings, but from three feet away it looks good - I've seen the real thing in operation and they didn't ever look like new. I'm happier having a realistic looking GG! than I would be with one that is perfect and took another $300 away from other things I can do with that money.
