Office of Steam Forum for Model & Toy Steam Gas & Hot Air Engines

I think most of us see the handwriting on the wall...our love of steam and mini mechanical wonders might well end with our own deaths.  I have 3 kids and 3 grandkids and see NO interest what so ever from them.  Given this and my age (68)...I decided a couple of years ago to drastically pare down my collectible steam items, model trains, clocks, black powder cannons, die cast construction vehicles etc. etc.  I took the proceeds and paid off a newly acquired boat I can enjoy out my back door with kids and grandkids...we have really enjoyed it this summer!!   I got back 75% maybe of what I had invested in the items sold...figured that was the price of admission and 20 years of enjoying them.  No regrets...I still have 27 steam items (had over 100 at one time), about half the clocks, most of the trains, none of the diecast and ALL the black powder...I do love a good bang!!!

At least my stuff sold better than my late wife's collection of 300 dolls...as best I can figure it, I got 10% back on what she paid for them...again, an aging market and lots of estate sales flooding the market.  I worked with an auction house to get rid of 2/3 of them as they just were not selling on eBay.  Having worked with an auction house, I have told my kids when I croak...just call them up, they will even come and pick up and document the pieces for future sale.  Easy for them vs. trying to sell individually.  Only keeper will be my Jensen 51 Replica which my son has laid claim to when the time comes...otherwise all else is off to the auction house.  No tears on my part...just my interests by and large did not transfer to the kids or grandkids...so be it, they have different interests and that's OK...I simply want the process of unloading my collectibles to be simple for them and generate some cash they will surely welcome.

Rog