If only I had a time machine.......

[Roger Payne]

Canadian forummer xsniper suggested we might all want to shed a tear (& wish we had a time machine) at the prices in the enclosed ad from the 1960's. He wasn't too sure about uploading an image, so here it is. Open it up, then look down the LHS towards the bottom........

Do you remember them Warren??

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Warren]

Gord Cummins at Crown Surplus in Calgary is where a lot of my kit came from over the years.
Mind you, you really had to dig deep in your pocket to find $90.00 for the snipers and the $4.00 in gas money for the 400 mile drive to Calgary.
Plus, Gord was a real great guy and on occasion he would let you into the sheds at the back to root around.
Deac 34's were $25.00 each if I recall.......
Oh, this was in the late 50's, early 60's.....
I believe the son still runs the business
Gord even had a Centurian tank that was a runner with all new running gear, among other bits of armour, but that is another story best told over a pint with old friends

[browningautorifle]

Gord Cummins at Crown Surplus in Calgary

I remember well strolling through his hallowed halls. The Cent with the spare barrel lying beside it. The tail turret from a Lanc standing in the corner...guns intact...

[Warren]

Jim: we can no longer claim we are only 29 years old and holding.
Well, you at least..
There was also a carrier or two and more than one ferrets as well.
Jacques Littlefield bought most of the armour.
Apparently he was in store and asked if it was for sale.
Gord gave him some ridiculous sky high price and Littlefield asked if he would take a cheque.
The rest is history.
I think the Centurian ended up with the Coors collection not that many years ago.
Some nice stuff has come out of Canada including the complete running engine for a Tiger..
To only be 60 years younger and know what I know now and have a few $ in my pocket.

[browningautorifle]

Jacques Littlefield

We should be so lucky as to have something a guy like him wants. I was just lucky enough to have stumbled into the right places at the right times I guess...know a few people.

[Piscoda14]

If only we new

[Promo]

Interesting to see a Garand at $ 120 while at the same time the No. 4 T is $ 90. With nowadays knowledge clearly the T's would had been the better investment.

[Eaglelord17]

Part of collecting though isn't what is the better 'investment' rather what you enjoy collecting. I have technically lost money on some of the trades and sales I have made, but I don't feel as though I have because I am happy with the result.

For example I once traded a RC K98k for a Portuguese M1904/39 in the grease. Technically even at that point the RC was worth more. Today the RC is worth significantly more but the M1904/39 hasn't really increased that much in value. That being said, I consider the M1904/39 a significantly better gun and the condition significantly better so to me I did better than the other guy.

[Promo]

Part of collecting though isn't what is the better 'investment' rather what you enjoy collecting. I have technically lost money on some of the trades and sales I have made, but I don't feel as though I have because I am happy with the result.

I did not intend to make a financial investment comparison, but to point out how the demand over the years had changed the ratio. Don't you consider it interesting that the ratio back then was for 4T to M1 was 3:4 whereas nowadays it is 2:1 (just a very rough estimate), or you may call it from 3:4 to a 12:4, if that helps understanding it better.

[Eaglelord17]

I did not intend to make a financial investment comparison, but to point out how the demand over the years had changed the ratio. Don't you consider it interesting that the ratio back then was for 4T to M1 was 3:4 whereas nowadays it is 2:1 (just a very rough estimate), or you may call it from 3:4 to a 12:4, if that helps understanding it better.

Sorry for jumping on you a bit there. I just see too many people at the moment concerned not with collecting or being interested in what they are collecting, rather only what they think will be worth money and trying to make quick bucks on the backs of the people trying to collect. It is a big part of why prices are going up so much. It is also frustrating as it is causing those who do want to collect to either not be able to afford it, or to leave the hobby as there is other things they would rather spend equivalent money on.

Ex. when I started most milsurps were around 300-500$ with some being a bit more, but your average ones in that range. It was a blast, and you can afford to buy and sell and trade at least one a month for those prices. Now those same arms 10 years later are 800-1200$ or more and it results in much less collecting as many of us can't afford to collect at those prices. Whenever a dealer has something in stock at a reasonable price you see it bought instantly and someone immediately attempting to flip it for double the money. Really makes it difficult to enjoy it.