'47 Hextube

[TR6SC]

This thread started a couple of weeks ago in another area of CABE. This is really where it belongs. I bought this Silver King in the '80s. I was always too broke to chrome plate it, and I didn't know how to polish metal. Well, I'm still too broke to chrome plate this bike, so I dipped it into liquid Mercury. Check this out. I made the little rivets out of small stainless bolts!

 

[momona]

Curious.... How much were these hextube's going for in the 80's... Of you don't mind.

 

[Andrew Gorman]

The mercury won't last is as toxic as hell. Please keep kids away from it at least.

 

[TR6SC]

Curious.... How much were these hextube's going for in the 80's... Of you don't mind.

Funny that I have forgotten. I do remember that it was pricey, but everything was for me. Seems like maybe $300. The old money makes no sense in today's economy. It took a lot of work to make that kind of money. It was back when the Dow Jones had broken 1000 only 8 or 9 years earlier. That number was like breaking the 4 minute mile. Let's just say you could buy a lot of loaves of bread with that money.

 

[momona]

Google says that is the equivalent of about a $1000 today.

 

[TR6SC]

Google says that is the equivalent of about a $1000 today.

What are they going for today? Back then you could pay your rent with $300. What does rent cost now? Inflation suggests that the increase in value often is a decrease in the initial investment. The skyrockets of today are the investments we should have made. The VW van, or the 356 Porsche would have made us money. I sold an oddball high wheel in 1994 for $8000. I bought one of the same in 2015 for $6000. Whoever bought that bike back then is not keeping up with inflation. And what will my $6000 turn into in 20 years? Who knows? The point, I believe, is in the emotional investment. The years of ownership outweigh a loss or gain in dollars. What's a Wingbar frame worth? There's one on eBay for $2500. Is that a month's rent?

 

[Freqman1]

I think for a really nice one that is correct to include a real deal headlight about $2k would be the upper limit. Although always a popular bike it seems to me the market for these has cooled in the past few years. I know some will point to the poor specimen that sold at Copake a few years ago for $5k but I consider that an anomaly. That bike was bought by the BMA who overpaid for a lot of stuff. I don't believe you can apply a linear inflation model to collectibles because of a lot of variables. The Bluebird is a good case in point. 20 years ago these brought around $12k which is just about what they bring now. Some of the more obscure stuff has found greater appreciation in recent years e.g. Huffman Safetys and Super Streamlines. Personally I don't look at bikes, or any of my collectibles, as investments. Thats why I have a 401k, IRAs, and stocks. Sure, at the end of the day I would like to see something back to leave to my heirs but this is a hobby meant for enjoyment. Worrying about whether I'm going to get my money back saps the fun out of it! V/r Shawn

 

[TR6SC]

I think for a really nice one that is correct to include a real deal headlight about $2k would be the upper limit. Although always a popular bike it seems to me the market for these has cooled in the past few years. I know some will point to the poor specimen that sold at Copake a few years ago for $5k but I consider that an anomaly. That bike was bought by the BMA who overpaid for a lot of stuff. I don't believe you can apply a linear inflation model to collectibles because of a lot of variables. The Bluebird is a good case in point. 20 years ago these brought around $12k which is just about what they bring now. Some of the more obscure stuff has found greater appreciation in recent years e.g. Huffman Safetys and Super Streamlines. Personally I don't look at bikes, or any of my collectibles, as investments. Thats why I have a 401k, IRAs, and stocks. Sure, at the end of the day I would like to see something back to leave to my heirs but this is a hobby meant for enjoyment. Worrying about whether I'm going to get my money back saps the fun out of it! V/r Shawn

Amen.

 

[TR6SC]

In 1947 the Silver King came with fender rivets that cost almost nothing. Today 8 of them cost me $15! AND, I had to polish them myself. Good value.

 

[Freqman1]

Yea and I think a set of the 'acorn' axle nuts are about $70! V/r Shawn