BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Aaahhh, me.........

It has been several years since Your's Truly has purchased any "original" transit collectible from eBay.

The prices dealers now ask for most items are light-years beyond astronomical; items that, a few decades back, might have cost less than $20, now command prices in the HUNDREDS (if not THOUSANDS)

Even sections of roller curtains (which I used to purchase at the NYCTM for under a dollar 40 years ago, now command prices at near $100 or more.

Signboxes (buses and subway) with curtains still intact, now command THOUSANDS.

As I am a lifelong bachelor, I always enjoyed the fact that I could spend a little more of transit items than a fellow, say, with a family.

Today, however, the hobby has largely become far too expensive for me; the prices now asked far exceed what an "average" collector can afford.

Even transit-related books (mostly printed, of course, in China, Korea, and Mexico) are now well over $50.

Nowadays, I pretty much (transit-wise) collect only the cheapest books, as well as reasonably-priced toys, models, etc)

When I look at the impressive collection I have built in the span of four decades, I realize that it would be impossible to duplicate my collection for what I originally payed, forty-odd years ago.

Too, most of what I have had for years would be nearly impossible to find today.

A novice collector of modest means, just starting out in the hobby today, is going to find out that the selection of items available are going to be far out of his reach, for the most part.

VERY fortunate I was ALWAYS a collector, and started waaaayyyy back in the late 1970s.......

'NYO"

["AA HUDSON TERMINAL"

["WATCH YOUR STEP"]

["BUS STOP"]

["SHUTTLE"]

["NEW YORK VIA TUNNEL"]

[Cyberider]

NYO:

I haven't priced anything lately but I'm sure you're right. As long as there are dealers or "flippers" involved the prices must go higher.

Fortunately for me, I've stopped collecting things. I've got enough stuff from the good old days to satisfy me and what I don't have I can see or watch online.

When we kick the bucket, whoever cleans up after us will probably throw away all that "nasty old stuff" anyway.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Cyberider:

Not long ago, I saw for sale on eBay a steel frame from a front sign box of a prewar IND car; it was devoid of its roller curtains, and was, to be frank, nothing more than a piece of rusted junk.....and YET, the dealer wanted well over $100 for it.......it was a piece of JUNK, pure and simple!

I've also seen old enamel subway station signs going for well over three and four thousand dollars......and look at the vast multitude that were simply tossed in a dumpster, when replaced by modern signs.

If you find bus roller curtains online for sale (no sign box) they will easily set you back a few hundred......VERY little out there these days for the collector of "fixed" financial means.....again, I MORE than treasure what I DO have!

"NYO"

["22 JERSEY CITY"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

And this is why much of what I've accumulated in terms of my knowledge has been "online" through pics and such.

[Cyberider]

Much appreciated, W.B.!

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

.....one of the reasons roller curtains (bus/subway) have become so increasingly rare and overpriced these days is because, back in the day, many buses/subway cars were scrapped with their roller curtains still intact.

Then, too, there was the countless roller curtains which were simply tossed in the trash, after being removed from condemned equipment.

So much valuable transit history simply reduced to trash............

"NYO"

["SHUTTLE"]