Hi All, I've been given some old points that have electric motors built in that look like they have brass track, one has Atlas on it. as I do n scale I wondered if anyone knows what I could expect to ask on ebay. I have about 7 or 8 I don't know if they work electric wise so would have to be sold as is, any ideas please. Colin
If all Atlas, all will say Atlas. Check the code...make sure something odd isn't included. Old ones were code 100. I have boxes full of switches (points), crossings, all sorts of stuff. Those were given to you for a reason, just like they were given to me. The folks who gave them probably felt badly about trying to sell them. Locally, I would have to look for some time before I found anyone using code 100 brass in Half Zero. Code 83 or smaller, NS rail usually. I would say the evilbait listing fees exceed the value, unless you have something extra special, like a Tawnee-Brighton number 27 left in Code 91 Titanium, but those are very rare indeed.
Yeah, if there's a local train show you could put them on the table and ask a low price per piece. Like 1 US dollar. wouldn't do it online. I've encountered lots and lots of people doing code 100. It is far from dead and I've encountered a handful of people with very old brass based layouts, but it's rare. I have encountered a fair number that use brass in stagging and similar. If treated with no ox or similar it holds up as well or better than NS. A member on MRH actually did a long term study on it and confirmed. But the reason people are doing that is because brass saves them a lot of money. So that should tell you what to expect
Plus, it most likely relay. As they upgraded the mainline with NS, they had boxes of this stuff...and it was no cost...so they re-used it. Around here, the only brass 100 I see is when the local nmra folk sponsor an estate sale. I have, in boxes, at least two full railroads of brass 100. All given to me or owned by us in days gone by. You go on-line, you can find stuff with a very high asking (rare, out of production), but no sales. Maybe you could steer him to one of those lots and lots of folks who use brass 100....maybe they'll buy it. BUT: International shipping will far exceed the value of those items. Dave
I didn't say there were lots of people using brass 100. I said there were lots of people using Code 100. Honestly, I'm pretty sure Code 100 NS still outsells 83 by a wide margin. We could ask Paul Graf. It's a cost thing. Code 83 costs more. Older engines with Pizza Cutters may not work. I did say I've seen all brass layouts. mostly old 4x8s that people have had for years. I also as I said have seen and read of lots of people using Brass, because as you say, they had it or got it free/cheap and with proper prep it is as good or better than NS. I've never seen it for sale online, but I've also never looked. I would hope people have all given up on that by now. And, it's brass flex that I see being used. Rarely snaptrack or switches. Put the brass in the staging yard. Treat with no-ox, enjoy cheap worry free ops for years. In fact, I know people that do Code 83 on the visible layout, but everything in staging is 100 either NS or Brass. Again, for cost.
Thank you everyone for your expert views these things don't owe me anything as a friend got them at a bootsale for a £1 about $1.5. so it doesn't matter if I throw them in the bin.
That's what I was trying to tell you. Cost is minimal, resale is questionable. You may find some local who is doing a full-on vintage pike and needs them, but it might take a while. Those things work very well UNcleaned for abandoned or disused trackage.
