Hi Roberto,

As Paul has indicated, there is definitely a market for original boxes, sometimes these can fetch quite surprising amounts, often relative to what the missing contents are worth.

This is possibly the thread Paul is referring to between you previously...

https://www.marklin-users.net/forum/default.aspx?g=posts&t=9176

In most cases, (but not always) if an original box is with the item, it is at least referred to if not included in the pictures.

If there is any doubt, a question to the seller will confirm about the box although as I say, mostly if the box is included, it's as much a part of the auction as the item itself, particularly on vintage items compared to some newer items where the box may assume to be included.

It's common in German for this to be abbreviated as "OKT" (Original Karton) or "OVP" (Original Verpackung), and unfortunately, (for non-German speakers) they seem to have as many ways of expressing the same thing as we do with our confounded English!! Often an empty box is also referred to as 'leerkarton' and can make searching for these terms a bit of a hit and miss affair.

I remember some time ago reading somewhere (not here, wish I'd noted it) a discussion where the value of a box was set as a percentage of the value of the item, it might have been 10%-20% or even higher in some cases.

If you wanted to get a feel for the market, there is nothing to stop you from listing the box but set a reserve high enough that you are not at risk of it selling regrettably low, but you really ought to set your starting price low to encourage the bidders to get involved. But let's see what the response is from Paul and one or two others here who may be able to give better guidance.

A while ago we had a thread about 'orphan items'....

https://www.marklin-users.net/forum/yaf_postst18244_Orphan-items---what-do-you-have-that-remains-useless-but-you-still-hope.aspx

... such as boxes without items, sections of a bigger unit (tender with no loco etc) and it's always interesting to hear how one ended up with these items. Do you recall how the HS700 came your way? - and are you like me with my empty G800 box, hoping that one day the matching item will come your way? (knowing of course, with 100% certainty) that just as soon as you sell the box, you'll find it!!!! It's truly the stuff of nightmares.

Of course, someone here may put their hand up saying they have an HS700 with no box and offering to do a deal or trade that makes you both happy - the so-called 'LHP' or "love-of-hearts pricing".

So, to end the speculation, bring on the photo's, particularly of the label area, Paul has some helpful info regarding overlooked markings that can narrow down the dating of it.

Regards

Steve
melbourne

Hello all,

Thanks for the compliments Romano!

In a Dutch discussion about the importance (and value) of original boxes I found this link

http://sammler.blue-parr...owitabelle.php?jahr=2011

A list of sold items at ebay.de without and with the OVP.
It's in German, I know, but as you can see sometimes the items have sold for more without OVP?!

I also know that with the rarer items the value of the original box rises but sometimes locs fit in just fine in the wrong boxes

regards

Frank

Hello all

Here is an update about the sale of the LNER R700 Grandfather possesses... or rather possessed:
Today Grandfathers 'green loc' has been sold to a very happy collector at a price acceptable to all!
Eveybody happy:
The collector will provide a very good home for Grandfathers loc, which is, according to him, in the best possible state.
Grandfather because the loc has now a surrounding more fitting than a box in a cupboard at his attic.
Me: -Grandfather has some money to buy a nice set for his grandson.
-the whole search for backgrounds for this loc has infected me with the 'trainvirus'.
-I learned a great deal about model trains and, more specific, Märklin.
-I was been introduced to the phenomenon forum; a very positive experience, specifically at this forum!

By the way after 60 years+ at the attic the LNER R700 runs like it must have done 60+ years ago!
(ok, it needs some oil)
Even the light up front worked!

And the orange-red colour on this loc, earlier mentioned in this thread, was to be seen at several locs from the same period of this collector!

Here are a few photos of the loc in its new surrounding

best regards,
Frank

Hello Steve,

First I hope you haven't damaged the fair sex too much...

I linked this thread to the new proud owner. Unfortunately his understanding of the English language is rudimentary. He can look at the photos however, taken at his home. He made this for christmas time and did a wonderful job!!

As to the price it made: we agreed not to make that public at the forums.
A bit of an indication however seems fair: it did not quite sell for the price mentioned in Koll, but it sold for far more than half of that price (along with the rest of the 'shebang').
I Hope that's enough to satisfy your understandable curiosity?

Also a merry Chrismas and a great start of 2012 to you and your loved ones!

best regards
Frank

Thanks for all the kind replies, it realy helped us in the search to find the best possible buyer. We think the loc has found its place and we think it will not leave its new home for a long time to come.

Now as for a christmas gift: we celebrated St. Nicolaas (Dutch holiday, I believe Santa Claus came from this Saint, correct me if I'm wrong) and won't be giving each other gifts for Christmas.

We will take Grandfather and grandson to a train-fair in january or february (we have quite a lot train-fairs in the Netherlands; in fact a train-fair was the place we offered to exchange Grandfathers' set for a starter set..... We were lucky (at the time we were ofcourse complete nitwits on the subject of model railways), and decided to dig deeper after a merchant looked like this:
In the dutch 3rail forum we started a topic about how to recognize malevolent, greedy merchants, maybe interesting on this forum too? If there already is such a topic please link it to us).

There Grandfather and grandson will choose a starter set (and maybe more...).

First we will run it on our table, after our attic has been made suitable for our new hobby we will start to build a more comprehensive setting.

best regards
Frank

I feel sorry for us all!

regards
Frank

Hello Paul,

Looks great!
A great LMS-loc and lots of passengercars!
Even the non-train subjects (was it also mostly for the British market?) look great.

One question: how is it possible that items for the British market end up in the Netherlands? WW II?

By the way I visited your website and read a few articles. I was particulary appealed by the thorough research of this articles! Keep up the good work!

regards
Frank

Hello all,

For those who can read German.
Here is a link to a beautiful fairytail:

http://alte-modellbahnen...E-GESCHICHTE-R-LNRE.html

regards,
Frank