QUOTE (Richard Johnson @ 17 Dec 2007, 03:28)
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>*** Wrenn current "New" items are aimed squarely at collectors and take full advantage of the ability to charge based on perception rather than real hard value. REAL collectors will look for many things - when it was made, how many in each batch, what the tiny differerences between batches were, the packaging etc etc - so two apparently similar loco's or wagons may have two very different "values" to them.
Wrenn was based on the (very good for their time) Hornby Dublo tooling and was actually a failure in the "real market" ending up being dumped at any price and discounted heavily just to quit it -
Its only in the last few years that it has really become a collectible of significant value, and the dregs of Wrenn were bought and reintroduced to cash in on it with "new" wrenn cobbled together from whatever remaining parts could be found.
The current Wrenn mania is not logical to any modeller who cares about accurate modelling, but there are many who don't understand a more focussed approach to "scale modelling" either.
Wrenn "value" comes from nostalgia for some and rarity/collectible value for others - Its not wrong or right - its just the way Wrenn lovers or collectors view it, and that's their hobby and their pleasure... so in the above you answered your own question well I think.
Richard
As I remember, Wrenn prices went absolutely crazy for a while shortly after the original Wrenn company folded in 1992/3- I remember going to a toy collectors fair around that time and being amazed by the prices being asked for Wrenn locos...
As you said, nostalgia and collectible value is what it's about- in the same way that I have a friend whose model railway interests are totally centred around collecting and running 50's/60's Hornby Dublo. I know the small abount of Wrenn stock I've got is a long way from being up to modern standards, but I wouldn't dream of replacing them, and I'm quite happy to run it alongside the current Hornby equivalents. I'm glad I bought it at a time when you could pick them up reasonably cheaply secondhand though- I seem to remember my 'City of London' cost about 25 quid secondhand in the mid-80's....