WHAT IS IT WORTH? $$$$
I get emails coming in on a weekly basis offering all kinds of camera equipment but few people have any real idea of its value, so just what is it worth?
Answer: Not a lot!
I'd estimate about 80% of my collection has been "pick it up or it goes to the tip" deals. Collectors such as myself are few and far-inbetween and generally dont have deep pockets, more often than not we are people on low incomes, going broke spending our only spare pennys giving the gear a good home! I cringe at the prices some ask, i know they will never get it, and more often than not the item gets disposed of in the end rather than preserved by someone who cares.
Generally its not until you go back to the B&W turret camera era of the 50's and 60's that items become more valuable, and even then - it needs to be in perfect condition, complete and working (with spares) before you start to see much increase.
I'm seeing more and more equipment lost because of situations where people ask unreasonable amounts and eventually trashing the gear, in frustration as they didnt get the fortunes they were hoping for.
So, here are some examples of items i have been offered in the past and how i assess their potential value:
Marconi Mark VIII Camera Chain (working)
asking price by seller: $12,000 My estimated max value: $300 to $500
Reasons:
This is a 1970's color camera, made in large numbers and used until the 90's, there are a fair number working in collections and for display purposes doesnt mean much to the general public and not something a museum would seek as first choice. Why would a collector pay as much as a very decent modern high def digital camera for an item like this? The seller claimed he had several offers and a museum interested which is very unlikely since I've offered my entire collection as part of my estate to many museums, all of which showed little or no interest in these type of items.
RCA TK76 portable camera (unknown condition)
asking price by seller: $2,999 My estimated value: $50 to $150
Again, made in large numbers, and likely not working and needing a lot of time to repair - why would you pay as much as a low end high def camera for an worn and non working item older than myself? How would you justify it?
RCA TP66 Film Chain
asking price from seller: $1,000 My estimated value: $100
Many made, large and extremely heavy, costly to ship, many trashed on this basis. Doesnt mean much to look at by general public. Seller told me they had offers of more, much sought after item etc, sadly the item as often the case was trashed rather than sell for less.
Answer: Not a lot!
I'd estimate about 80% of my collection has been "pick it up or it goes to the tip" deals. Collectors such as myself are few and far-inbetween and generally dont have deep pockets, more often than not we are people on low incomes, going broke spending our only spare pennys giving the gear a good home! I cringe at the prices some ask, i know they will never get it, and more often than not the item gets disposed of in the end rather than preserved by someone who cares.
Generally its not until you go back to the B&W turret camera era of the 50's and 60's that items become more valuable, and even then - it needs to be in perfect condition, complete and working (with spares) before you start to see much increase.
I'm seeing more and more equipment lost because of situations where people ask unreasonable amounts and eventually trashing the gear, in frustration as they didnt get the fortunes they were hoping for.
So, here are some examples of items i have been offered in the past and how i assess their potential value:
Marconi Mark VIII Camera Chain (working)
asking price by seller: $12,000 My estimated max value: $300 to $500
Reasons:
This is a 1970's color camera, made in large numbers and used until the 90's, there are a fair number working in collections and for display purposes doesnt mean much to the general public and not something a museum would seek as first choice. Why would a collector pay as much as a very decent modern high def digital camera for an item like this? The seller claimed he had several offers and a museum interested which is very unlikely since I've offered my entire collection as part of my estate to many museums, all of which showed little or no interest in these type of items.
RCA TK76 portable camera (unknown condition)
asking price by seller: $2,999 My estimated value: $50 to $150
Again, made in large numbers, and likely not working and needing a lot of time to repair - why would you pay as much as a low end high def camera for an worn and non working item older than myself? How would you justify it?
RCA TP66 Film Chain
asking price from seller: $1,000 My estimated value: $100
Many made, large and extremely heavy, costly to ship, many trashed on this basis. Doesnt mean much to look at by general public. Seller told me they had offers of more, much sought after item etc, sadly the item as often the case was trashed rather than sell for less.
