@Ryan Selvius posted:I get the impression you shouldn’t be trusted with items of historical significance.
The perfect example is artwork. Collectors who own artwork are really just caretakers of it until they decide to sell it. If a collector owns an important painting but is unable to take care of it, the condition will degrade and it will eventually be lost to time. For the sake of preservation, that collector should either sell or donate the work to a person or museum that can care for it.In the case of model trains that are of significant rarity or historical importance, if we as a collective community of model train enthusiasts want these items to live beyond our individual existence for future generations to enjoy, then special care is needed which includes not destroying the original history.
Items where 100s or 1000s exist, I’m not concerned about being restored if the owner chooses to do so (especially if they are in poor condition). It’s the items where only a few dozen or less are known to exist that we need to be cognizant of how we care for these items.
Well said. Thankfully, those who can afford or recognize truly rare items are not going to buy them to repaint, restore or otherwise modify. Occasionally, a rare item may come into the possession of someone who doesn't know what he has, either through inheritance or happenstance. That person would do well to do a little research or use the services of an appraiser. After all, if it has no historical significance to him, he might as well sell it to someone who appreciates it and use the money to buy several cars which would equally please him.
But if you find an o gauge tinplate car for less than $100 or a set or engine for less than a few hundred on Ebay or at a train show, you can be pretty sure it's common and restoring it to it's further glory is fine,
