Sheesh

John, were you the winning bidder? lol, Tom

That is so cool. But that price!!!!!! Oh my! I’m glad that I now have a picture of this little gem and it didn’t really cost me a thing. Thanks for sharing.

No way!! Its out of the box!!

Now..... if it was still sealed in the box.......

@Tom Jasper posted:

John, were you the winning bidder? lol, Tom

Why do you think I'm looking for gold paperclips?

I wonder what the tie-in is with the plane ? The only Lionel planes that I can think of would be the prewar 50 or 55 and the postwar 6800.  Neither of those would justify the placement of the plane in such a prominent location?

You think this is crazy, wait till they list the trains 😂😂😂😂🚂🚂🚂

I'm still trying to wrap my brain around an auction that has a set of MTH "Blue Goose" passenger cars for $2,450 with the 2-car add-on listed for $1,500. In the final analysis, it's only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.

@AGHRMatt posted:

I'm still trying to wrap my brain around an auction that has a set of MTH "Blue Goose" passenger cars for $2,450 with the 2-car add-on listed for $1,500. In the final analysis, it's only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.

That's only asking prices, this was a selling price for a pretty small item that doesn't even run on the rails.

I find it interesting that prices like this still shocks folks.  For a hard core Lionel collector this is probably a sought after item, and at least two folks thought so.  If they have the discretionary funds to chase after every item Lionel produced (train and non-train), then let them have their fun.  Who knows, this may have been a bargain.  Better than $8.3 million for that stupid stamp.

That plane, like the UP M-10,000, were symbols of the modern age, with which Lionel wanted to be associated.

John I will supply a can of gold paint and you can make your own paperclips to put in the fine desk top ornament or paper wight what ever you chose just send me a picture so I know the paint did not go to waste!!!

All kinds of "collectibles" bring bizarre prices, paid by those with too much disposable income... while a Rembrandt MAY appreciate ahead of inflation and be a legit investment, the above comments from Lionel enthusiasts, indicate market may not exist when the estate puts that in a yard sale.

Is there a history of this "paper clip" holder?  In reality it looks like it could have been sitting on JLC's desk itself.  For a collector I could see the value if  it has a history.

@MartyE posted:

Is there a history of this "paper clip" holder?  In reality it looks like it could have been sitting on JLC's desk itself.  For a collector I could see the value if it has a history.

From the eBay description, apparently it wasn't on JLC's desk.

This belonged to my dad and sat in his home office for decades. He probably got it from his dad who was a salesman and likely dealt with Manhattan M&C, the company that manufactured this.

If you buy it, John, gold paper clips are available.

OK, fess up John.  How many of them did you buy?   

George

Only one, still looking for another for a matching set.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

From the eBay description, apparently it wasn't on JLC's desk.

This belonged to my dad and sat in his home office for decades. He probably got it from his dad who was a salesman and likely dealt with Manhattan M&C, the company that manufactured this.

Well it's certainly something you don't see everyday and looks like it is vintage.  I could see a collector wanting it.

Well, . . . I guess it's a matter of perspective.

I am constantly stunned that you guys pay up to $1,000 for a locomotive.  :-)

(At least the paperclip holder holds something.)

Mannyrock

And then there's THIS little nugget.

I could do a lot more with $18K.

@RSJB18 posted:

And then there's THIS little nugget.

I could do a lot more with $18K.

Now, there's a true example of the old saying:  A fool and his money are soon parted!

Regarding the paperclip holder....

It is a hard to find collectible with the airplane intact.   Here's the picture of one that sold for around $1200 a while back on a collectible trading site.  The airplane is missing.  You can see the mounting holes for it.

"De plane! De plane!"

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Why do you think I'm looking for gold paperclips?

Isn't that from the famous Francis Ford Coppola film,  "A Pile O' Clips Now"? 

Mitch

@RSJB18 posted:

And then there's THIS little nugget.

I could do a lot more with $18K.

Judging from our charge card , I think my wife has a couple of THISs on the wall somewhere in front of me !!??!!  😉

Every time I think that we train collectors/etc. (of all stripes and degrees) are out of our minds, I run across a Barrett-Jackson auction show and see old Fords going for millions and millions. Yeah, I know that some are bought just to re-sell, but that just kicks the oddness down the road. I mean, I liked Steve McQueen and I enjoyed Bullitt, but not that much. (And anyway, I was pulling for the Charger.)

The Lionel paper clip holder must be special in a way I do not grasp, even a little bit. Still, interesting.

@Mannyrock posted:

Well, . . . I guess it's a matter of perspective.

I am constantly stunned that you guys pay up to $1,000 for a locomotive.  :-)

(At least the paperclip holder holds something.)

Mannyrock

Well ........ most of my locomotives do hold smoke fluid

@D500 posted:

Every time I think that we train collectors/etc. (of all stripes and degrees) are out of our minds, I run across a Barrett-Jackson auction show and see old Fords going for millions and millions. Yeah, I know that some are bought just to re-sell, but that just kicks the oddness down the road. I mean, I liked Steve McQueen and I enjoyed Bullitt, but not that much. (And anyway, I was pulling for the Charger.)

The Lionel paper clip holder must be special in a way I do not grasp, even a little bit. Still, interesting.

But the Mustang sure sounded nicer! 😉

Curt

I think those here who think people buy these items in the hope that they will appreciate in value are missing the point of collecting. The few real collectors that I know collect for the joy it brings them to find something rare, or to get that one hard to find in excellent condition boxcar to complete the set.  They will let their families figure out what to do with their "stuff" when they die.

And for those who think there are folks that have too much disposable income, there are a lot of retirees with a lot of disposable income out there.  Invested well, kids are gone, they don't need a new car every year, downsized their home, and probably the best thing: good health insurance.  Depending on which database web site you look at, there may be up to 20 million millionaires in the us (788 billionaires).  They need to spend their money on something.

Now, I wish I was one of them but I'm not.  So I have to pass on that paper clip holder.

@Dallas Joseph posted:

Judging from our charge card , I think my wife has a couple of THISs on the wall somewhere in front of me !!??!!  😉

Now we need someone to come up with invisible trains so we don't have to sneak them past the CEO everytime we buy new ones. 😂😂

@juniata guy posted:

But the Mustang sure sounded nicer! 😉

Curt

Im sure there was a nice sound from the Mustang since Steve was driving it .........but the Charger had better styling points.

Funny how this works;

A collector has an item for sale and is asking $2,500, and he claims he's giving it away at that price.

But if you have the same item for sale, the same collector will offer you $75.00, tell you he's doing you a favor and is going to loose his shirt trying to re-sell it.

Lot of truth up above! :-)

@RSJB18 posted:

Now we need someone to come up with invisible trains so we don't have to sneak them past the CEO everytime we buy new ones. 😂😂

You just need to start doing repairs and upgrades.  That way you can claim it's just another repair/upgrade coming in and you'll get money for it when it's done!  Of course, you do have to occasionally be seen shipping something back out!

The empty box alone might bring $250.

@Mannyrock posted:

Well, . . . I guess it's a matter of perspective.

I am constantly stunned that you guys pay up to $1,000 for a locomotive.  :-)

...who's electronics will someday be obsolete...and/or not be repairable/replaceable.

...who's zinc alloy parts may crack, crumble, deteriorate...and not be repairable/replaceable.

...who's inheriting spouse will recall you paying "Less than $100" for.

...which WILL only be worth "Less than $100" after multiple volume re-runs of the same...but enhanced...hit the market.

...which 3 months later on the same auction site brings only $250...as a C-10 rated item.

...etc.

...etc.

Been there.  Done that.

Do You Put Gold Paperclips In This?

Only if they are used to clip green paper with more than one zero on the corners.

Everything, including us, are progressing towards entropy and decay.

@Tinplate Art posted:

Everything, including us, are progressing towards entropy and decay.

Well heck!!! And here I had myself convinced I was improving with age! 🤔

Curt

I'm holding out for the rumored, but never seen, larger soap dish variant...

@RSJB18 posted:

Now we need someone to come up with invisible trains so we don't have to sneak them past the CEO everytime we buy new ones. 😂😂

I've got 10 of those sets IN STOCK.  They're only $10,000 each, and they run very quietly on O27 minimum diameter track.  I've also got 10 sets of extra add-on cars.  Each numbered set consists of 4 cars priced at a steal of only $500.  Of course, you get a numbered Certificate of Authenticity with each set of either the main set (that includes the Steam Locomotive, Tender, 4 cars, and a caboose), and the add-on set (which includes 4 more freight cars).  Imaginary whistles, headlights, and RailSounds-like sound system available at a nominal cost and made-to-order.

Contact me through my e-mail address for full details.