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Author Topic: Dying Hobby  (Read 812 times)

Jim

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Re: Dying Hobby
« Reply #15 on: August 16, 2019, 07:45:15 pm »
Gary, its been a very interesting thread and thanks for kicking it off as its certainly got us all thinking.

Quote
I never considered my collection as an investment

I think that this would cover a lot of us, most of us really only spend our disposable income on our hobbies. It could have gone on poker machines, loose women, excess booze, horse racing etc etc

So we are lucky that we actually have something to show for our expenditure of our disposable incomes, that in itself is a lesson that may rub off onto our children and our grandchildren.
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Jim

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jkbixby

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Re: Dying Hobby
« Reply #16 on: August 16, 2019, 08:44:25 pm »
Gary, I think you got it right - glad you've come to the same conclusion I have.
Regards,
Larry

St Paul Steam

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Re: Dying Hobby
« Reply #17 on: August 16, 2019, 10:34:05 pm »
I agree Gary, brilliant synopsis.
Bruce, St. Paul Indiana, USA
"Originality thrives in seclusion free of outside influences beating upon us to cripple the creative mind."
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Jim

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Re: Dying Hobby
« Reply #18 on: August 16, 2019, 10:47:43 pm »
Gary, I just went through some of your train videos/layout. Absolutely stunning mate, there's a lot of hours in there!

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Jim

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Benchmark

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Re: Dying Hobby
« Reply #19 on: August 17, 2019, 03:24:51 am »
This post really got me thinking too. My shed is packed full of ' junk' I have collected, purchased and built over the years. Some of which are not very valuable in monetary terms but are extremely rare with a few one off examples that are custom made. I have tried to catalogue my steam engines on my website but that's just a fraction of the hobby stuff. My wife does not really bother with my models and knows nothing of their value. I have 2 sons , the older one has zero interest but the youngest is often in the shed with me building and experimenting so maybe he will keep them.

Dr.Rev.DelmarMacReady

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Re: Dying Hobby
« Reply #20 on: August 17, 2019, 07:03:47 am »
And remember...There are still newcomers to this hobby, who enjoy it very much. And to tell them it is a dead hobby (the same things I heard when I got into Garden Railroads) is a disservice to them- and to your hard work and effort in helping BUILD this great hobby.
Bennydaheeb

Jim

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Re: Dying Hobby
« Reply #21 on: August 17, 2019, 07:10:56 am »
I wish all the people who keep outbidding me on ebay thought it was a dead hobby 😁
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Jim

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CBWho

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Re: Dying Hobby
« Reply #22 on: August 17, 2019, 07:44:21 am »
Haha so true!
I don't see how people say the prices have fallen. I think they've gone up. I haven't seen a good deal on eBay in quite a while.

oilfield_steam

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Re: Dying Hobby
« Reply #23 on: August 17, 2019, 08:54:06 am »
It is thanks for forums like this that we all do what we can to keep the hobby active.  Hats off to Gil.
Scott

Dr.Rev.DelmarMacReady

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Re: Dying Hobby
« Reply #24 on: August 17, 2019, 02:43:20 pm »
It is thanks for forums like this that we all do what we can to keep the hobby active.  Hats off to Gil.

Amen to that.
Bennydaheeb

St Paul Steam

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Re: Dying Hobby
« Reply #25 on: August 17, 2019, 05:58:44 pm »
It is thanks for forums like this that we all do what we can to keep the hobby active.  Hats off to Gil.

Amen to that.
Yes , quite agree 😊
Bruce, St. Paul Indiana, USA
"Originality thrives in seclusion free of outside influences beating upon us to cripple the creative mind."
  Nikola Tesla

Nick

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Re: Dying Hobby
« Reply #26 on: August 17, 2019, 08:01:01 pm »
Haha so true!
I don't see how people say the prices have fallen. I think they've gone up. I haven't seen a good deal on eBay in quite a while.

Prices have dropped a lot since the '07-'09-ish years of the hobby... All I know is my wife and kids better hope this hobby doesn't die because then I'll be able to afford more and fill the whole house instead of just one room  ;) :D :D
Nick

Nick

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Re: Dying Hobby
« Reply #27 on: August 17, 2019, 08:05:09 pm »
I also feel there will always be toy collectors out there, maybe not steamers like us... but how many toys have been made from the 70's onward that will be collectible or even survive 50 years? Most of the toys my kids get are junk and don't last more than a few hours... I try to find good old/beat up metal toys at flea markets and garage sales for them instead. I think a lot of the Morton Hirschberg collection went to the tin toy collectors instead of us steamers and unfortunately will likely never be used the way they were intended...
Nick

CBWho

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Re: Dying Hobby
« Reply #28 on: August 17, 2019, 08:48:16 pm »
"Prices have dropped a lot since the '07-'09-ish years of the hobby..." <--- pump the brakes

Everything collectible dropped in price during the big recession. It was the worst economically since the great depression. It has nothing to do with people dropping in or out of the hobby. That's 10 years ago too! Euro prices have gone up since I've been searching German eBay over the last year or so.

Honestly, the more I think about it, prices are a terrible gauge of the number of people in the hobby.

Nick

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Re: Dying Hobby
« Reply #29 on: August 17, 2019, 08:52:59 pm »
That recession took place from 07-09, BUT that was when I observed PEAK prices in steam toys and will admit that I paid a lot more in that time period for some engines than what I should have. Shouldn't the prices have been lower in that period??
Nick