Talk about overpriced.... (1 Viewer)

theBaron

theBaron

Major
Joined
Mar 27, 2008
Messages
10,461
If you're a homecaster, like me, or know anything about the history of home casting molds, and the Schneider Brothers, you'll get a chuckle from this auction:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/380383819266?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

I had half a mind to contact the seller and suggest gently and politely that she may have set the opening bid a little high, but decided it would be better to bookmark the auction and see how it ends. If someone actually bids, it'll be even more entertaining.

Prost!
Brad
 
theBaron said:
If you're a homecaster, like me, or know anything about the history of home casting molds, and the Schneider Brothers, you'll get a chuckle from this auction:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/380383819266?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

I had half a mind to contact the seller and suggest gently and politely that she may have set the opening bid a little high, but decided it would be better to bookmark the auction and see how it ends. If someone actually bids, it'll be even more entertaining.

Prost!
Brad
Click to expand...

I bookmarked it too. Very funny!
 
WOW...

1 x homecast and home painted figures and asking for $275

He must be 'dreaming'

:D:D:D

Maybe I should go into production ???

John
 
He just has the decimal point a couple of clicks over into the wrong place{sm2}
Either that - or he's an incurable optimist!^&grin johnnybach
 
Could be a juuuust a little overpriced, but never underestimate the lunatic factor where a consumer is involved. :D:D:D -- Al
 
For someone like me who knows nothing of the history of home casting molds or the Schneider Brothers, what are these figures worth?

Terry
 
Phantom Warrior said:
For someone like me who knows nothing of the history of home casting molds or the Schneider Brothers, what are these figures worth?

Terry
Click to expand...

That's a fair question, Terry! Johnnybach was spot on, regarding the decimal point. I wouldn't pay more than a dollar apiece for these.

If I may offer a little background...

Schneider Bros., of Leipzig, made bronze molds for hobbyists to cast toy soldiers at home. They operated from around 1890 until 1945. By 1900, their molds were available here in the US, and were also being copied. You can still find the original molds, as well as buy copies and reproductions (in zinc or aluminum alloys) today. They featured Imperial Germans, like these, also Bavarians with their crested Raupenhelm, Prussian Jäger, and Saxon Schützen, with their distinctive shakos with the horsehair plumes. They also had French, British in tin hats and Americans in campaign hats, Turks/Egyptians in fezzes, and civilian subjects.

There were some homecasters who sold their figures, and those can be dated, but with loose figures like these, there's virtually no way to tell how long ago, or how recently, they were cast and painting.

Many homecasts are often made with a poor quality alloy, like using old fishing sinkers or tire weights. And some of the poorer-quality mold copies produce castings with very soft detail. They're usually good for nothing other than melting down.

For this set, considering that they're homecasts, but the casting is relatively crisp, and the quality of the painting isn't too bad, I would say that $20 is a fair price for the set. I think the seller really has no idea, and is just doing what a lot of flea market sellers do--call it "old" and slap a high price on it as a result.

Prost!
Brad
 
Interesting. Thanks for the info.

Terry
theBaron said:
That's a fair question, Terry! Johnnybach was spot on, regarding the decimal point. I wouldn't pay more than a dollar apiece for these.

If I may offer a little background...

Schneider Bros., of Leipzig, made bronze molds for hobbyists to cast toy soldiers at home. They operated from around 1890 until 1945. By 1900, their molds were available here in the US, and were also being copied. You can still find the original molds, as well as buy copies and reproductions (in zinc or aluminum alloys) today. They featured Imperial Germans, like these, also Bavarians with their crested Raupenhelm, Prussian Jäger, and Saxon Schützen, with their distinctive shakos with the horsehair plumes. They also had French, British in tin hats and Americans in campaign hats, Turks/Egyptians in fezzes, and civilian subjects.

There were some homecasters who sold their figures, and those can be dated, but with loose figures like these, there's virtually no way to tell how long ago, or how recently, they were cast and painting.

Many homecasts are often made with a poor quality alloy, like using old fishing sinkers or tire weights. And some of the poorer-quality mold copies produce castings with very soft detail. They're usually good for nothing other than melting down.

For this set, considering that they're homecasts, but the casting is relatively crisp, and the quality of the painting isn't too bad, I would say that $20 is a fair price for the set. I think the seller really has no idea, and is just doing what a lot of flea market sellers do--call it "old" and slap a high price on it as a result.

Prost!
Brad
Click to expand...
 
Hi Guys,
Regarding the Russian Elephant stop looking at the negative of the $29,900 price tag. After all the postage is free :D :D:D:D:D:D:D However it says "to pick up the cargo in the nearest airport"^&confuse
Regards
Brett
 
Just about the best sculpted elephant I've see, but the wife says if I've got that kind of spare cash, she can think of better ways to spend it!!!!!!!!!!^&grin

Martin
 
Ah - yes - that's much more like it Brad. Clearly, some folks get confused about where the decimal point should go. If those particular offerings were on sale in the UK - I might be very tempted to put in an offer for them.

Given my dismal history on bidding for offerings from the USA, however, I don't think I will bother on this ocassion. Besides, if I were to do so, rather like Martin's wife, I fear - my own "La Commandate" would be asking where I had managed to hide that sorta money.............

"Woodman - spare that tree!!!" grinjohnnybach
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 2 (members: 0, guests: 2)
Community platform by XenForo® © 2010-2024 XenForo Ltd.
Back
Top