#173143
Tue Feb 02 2010 07:36 PM
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Got a call from an elderly gentleman that wanted to sell his thermometer collection, so I went and looked today! I know very little about the value of these things, so I thought I'd better post it here and see if any of you can give me some advice on this. There are approximately 150 thermometers total and all are in working condition. There are 3 very old wooden ones, about 3 or 4 porcelain ones and the rest are painted steel. Most are advertising a store or business and very few have to do with gas & oil. The man wants $2000 for the collection and that equates to $13.33 per thermometer. He stated that the price was considerably below what he had paid over the years and I can surely believe that!! My question is whether or not there is a good enough market out there for thermometers, that it would make it worth my time to try and resell all of these and retain my sanity?? LOL Thoughts anyone???
Everything Cities Service Specializing in old Gas Pumps kwfrith@gondtc.com Cell#-701-739-6133
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Please - NO offers to Buy or Sell in this forum category
Statements such as, "I'm thinking about selling this." are considered an offer to sell.
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Looks like a few good one in there. I don't about your sanity to try and resell. Looks like a lot of work to me.
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There are repro and fantasy ones there. Also the local generic looking ones are hard to flip sometimes. You might get your investment back but it will be a lot of work.
Looking for photos, etc from 60s era Shell-A-Rama gas station and Pal's Diner, Rt. 17 Mahwah, NJ & US or state highway signs, shields, route markers
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IMO all those small ones are not worth much I see some repos. couple decent ones but sure looks like would not be worth it to me I would not even pay a grand for all those but thats my opinion.
WTB. Arizona quarts,Indian signs/cans, Musgo/Shell/Speedway 79,graphic signs/cans,#616-886-4917...
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I think Metro is right. There's a few good ones in the collection, but there are tooooooo many of the small generic type to fool with. Just my opinion. To make money for your time there would have to be a lot more of the porcelain and large good branded tin type...Dale
Wanted: Champion Spark plug, Shell, Pennzoil, Kendall, and Woco Pep signs...Dale Stephens
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I only see two or three that are desirable.
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russ is right could count on one hand the better ones 500or so at best
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You have to get that EX-LAX one! John
Wanted: Original Jenney Gas, Husky, Marathon, and Frontier Globes
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Kevin I have to agree with everyone here so far. The few ones that are decent are not worth the total you will have invested in it.
Wanted Owens Motor Oil & Mobiloil Gargoyle. Brad Ralston & my website is www.petrobarn.com
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hey kevin---i collect thermometers besides everything else i`m into..their is a few from what i could see that look decent and could probably keep or make some money but i agree with everyone else on the price is too high for too many common ones,,it would take you awhile to see them and return your investment..if you bought them for $500.00 ,i think you could make some money,,i see about 15 especially the beverage ones that would sell but i really can`t see the condition of them.. have to think about all the time listing,and shipping??? do you have a lot of spare time?..i don`t think so!!! lol... GOOD LUCK~~~!!!! ALAN
Big Al`s Garage Always looking for:: Veedol-Tydol-Tidex-Cycol-Tycol.
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I don't know s... about thermometers, but even I would not put out that kind of money for what he has. You sound like you are considering selling some of them, or investing in them. I can give you many things that will bring in much more money than you will ever see out of these.
Too many small items, that are really not worth anything, not enough big dollars items to return your investment.
For years I would seek gas pump literature, and at most swap meets the literature was usually in in a box underneath the table. I would always look through the box, looking for one item that I could sell that would pay for the whole box. This way, one sale would make me even, and anything else I could sell would be profit. If you are trying to invest in something that you expect to sell, to buy say that next globe, you are looking at too many things to sell even before you break even.
Jack Sim
Author, 1st & 2nd editions of Gas Pump ID book, 3rd edition is now available at www.gaspumpbible.comAir Meter ID book also available
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I AGREE WITH EVERYBODY ABOUT PRICE....JUST BUY THE EXLAX ONE!
I PICKED UP A LOCAL GENERIC THERMOMETER THE OTHER DAY....$1! (BUT BROKEN TUBE). I WANTED IT MOSTLY FOR THE LOCAL AD & COMPANY ON IT.
DOC @ THE AMERICAN GARAGE
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If I owned this collection and was selling it off at the swap meets this year, these are the prices I would expect to get from the the better pieces
Ducks unlimited 35 John Deere 50 Dr pepper 125 elephant fert 50 round pepsi 60 nesbits 50 white rc 45 blue rc 40 rainbow 60 pepsi 20 fatman 25 7up 50 prestone 70 bubble up 60 bubble up 50 kist 75 mission 50 biltrite 75 ex lax 180 rc cola 150 tums 40 grant batteries 30 red seal batteries 160 stihl 45 rc 40
this is just an opinion.... Tried to base on condition shown, and I would have a some extra on top of the prices to give buyers some bargaining room. I could probally move this lust in a year at the swap meets here in the north east. Nothing in the collection earth shattering or scarce. Well worth $500, I would stay away if he is firm on $2000...... Good luck
see me at Mason Dixon Gas, Spring Carlisle M114-115, and Hershey C4E-35.
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ARE BOTH THOSE IHC FARMALL TRACTOR ONES REPRO'S?
DOC @ THE AMERICAN GARAGE
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You will some of the little ones to your grave if you try to sell them individually!!!! LoL. People do buy them though, the evidence is in the picture!!!
see me at Mason Dixon Gas, Spring Carlisle M114-115, and Hershey C4E-35.
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