Model engine valuation

Hello engine addicted

A guy he is owner of company producing some automotive parts
ask me to lend him my engine models to decorate his pavilion
somewhere on far East exhibition .
When i asked "what in case if an engine is lost or stolen during transport ?"
he answered " tell me price and i will refund money to you"
I do not want to tell him some far fetched prices so i have decided to ask
you guys how to evaluate model engine.
YOUR OPINION IS HIGHLY VALUATED .
Thank you

This question has been asked many times before and the answer is not really simple. A model engine is worth what someone is willing to pay. No sarcasm intended but really you need to find models similar to yours and find out what people are willing to pay for them.

That is the difficult part - finding models that are similar to yours. Places like eBay, local auctions etc are a place to start. But realistically that is not so easy. Two craftsmen making the identical engine from castings or barstock may produce two very different products.

IMHO valuations of model engines are very much like those for art, crafts etc. A reference such as a well established maker brings more interest but most of us model builders are starving artists - craftsmen.

But since you are doing this guy a favor, ask yourself, "If this guy lost all my model engines, how much money would I want to get paid"?

Good luck in your efforts

Cheers,
Phil

Like Phil said a difficult question to give a difinative answer.

There was an e-bay auction a while back where a large collection was sold. these were well made models af real IC engines V-8s ofenhausers Volkswagenthe engines radial aircraft engines etc. IIRC average selling price was US $10,000.
It would probably not be unfair to SAY in the neighborhood of a Thousand dollars US per cylnder for a well made IC engine of a recognizable design.


George luhrs has made limited edition museum quality models his 1/8 scale of the 2HP stover sold for $2500 each.
He currently has a miniature engine that is similar to a 1950s brigs and stratton engine for sale for $950

Questions to ask yourself some comes to your shop and want a copy of one of you engines what price tag would you ask. what is the cost of material to make it how many hours.

You say your friend makes auto parts . So he manages a machine shop. What is his shop rate.

Another option is have him secure an insurance policy to cover loss damage or theft. With you being the sole beneficiary.

Also do not tempt your friend if you say an engine is worth say $ 5,000 and your friend a busnessman at a high end trade show is offered say $10,000 or even $15,00 dollars for your fine example of an engine from some newly rich Asian businessman there will be temtaion for your fiend to sell the engine. your engine got lost you get the agreed value of your engine and he made an easy 5g or whatever profit.

What you think of a far fetched price could seem like a a bargain basement price to an asian collector who also makes big money on auto parts and would gladly pay to have your engine sit on his desk.
I wish there was a simple formula or simple answer but there is not. All I can say the higher the value you place on your work the more reasons there are for your friend to bring them back to you in one piece.
Tin

I sold on Ebay France a few months ago a small steam engine, the final bid was 360 €, the purchaser, a British, sold it the following month on Ebay UK, with a winning bid of £ 544 , ie the double of the first!
this guy, a true steam buff very active in forum and steam meeting knew he could easily sell it in his network for that price...

Without a network around you of regular purchases and sales, finding the right price for a model is an impossible mission.
If the price on the market is not easy to find, the price to be ask for loss or theft is downright impossible to define : how to charge the time spent, quality level, trials and errors, tooling etc.

Maybe the real question is what is the engine worth to a Asian collector attending a auto trade show. ???
Tin

I built a hit & Miss single cylinder engine, spent about !000 hours doing so. I don't know about you but even being retired I think that my time spent should be worth at least $10 an hour. Your engine looks like you have more time into it than mine.

thank you guys a lot
Kadora

Needless to say, try to make sure they are difficult to walk off with. Screwed down, in locked display cases, etc.