LYNBROOK, N.Y. – The two most popular areas of Lionel train collecting – the post-World War II era, followed by the prewar era – demonstrated their resilience at Weiss Auctions’ Vintage Toy Trains sale December 21. Complete results are available at LiveAuctioneers.
As lifetime collections continue to come to market, houses such as Weiss have taken the approach of realistic estimates in an attempt to court sideline watchers into the fray. And it’s worked – many items given lowball estimates well exceeded their potential, creating strong bidding activity both in-house and online via LiveAuctioneers.
Built between 1910 and 1916, Lionel’s no. 10 Interurban was usually paired with a no. 1010 unpowered coach. In this unboxed solo example, Weiss had placed a reasonable $800-$1,600 estimate for a play-worn but largely original no. 10 that had rubber-stamped lettering – often missing due to hands rubbing them off during the years – which was still prominent. A determined bidder opened with a $3,800 offer, setting off a short but furious battle with another suitor. In the end, the no. 10 hammered for $4,250 ($5,100 with buyer’s premium), making it the top lot of the sale.
Offered in the heyday of Standard gauge production, Lionel’s State Set – featuring Pullman coaches with American states on their nameboards – was one of the most costly items a buyer could purchase. This set of three cars – California, New York and Colorado – were variously missing interior details such as chairs and clerestory windows, but were generally in good-minus condition. Weiss placed a $600-$1,000 estimate on the unboxed set, but once again, bidding began well ahead of the high number, at $3,250, and kept going until a final hammer of $3,800 ($4,560 with buyer’s premium).
Electric trains require regular servicing to stay in operating condition. To facilitate this, The Lionel Corporation (manufacturer of Lionel trains from 1900 to 1969, when they divested their remaining toy manufacturing operations to General Mills) set up a network of authorized service stations – generally the same retailers who sold the sets seasonally or year-round. The no. 5C test set was used by service personnel to diagnose both locomotives and operating cars, and in later years has become a valued tool for collectors to maintain their fleets. Estimated at $300-$600, this no. 5C sold for $1,350 ($1,620 with buyer’s premium), needing only a new cord and a healthy cleaning.
A like-new but unboxed Lionel no. 2341 Jersey Central Fairbanks-Morse TrainMaster dual-motor diesel was another star performer. Once again carrying a modest $500-$1,000 estimate for a test run-only example with no screw cracks (the plastic shell would often break at the screw-mounting points to the frame) and a clean battery compartment (no long-term storage with a decaying D-cell to power the horn unit), it hammered for a solid $2,300 ($2,760 with buyer’s premium).
