I've been steadily building a little collection of private owner wagons from South Wales collieries. I've just discovered the, now defunct, Mathieson Models. There are a few listed on Ebay, but they all seem to be in pairs. Is this how they were originally sold? They seem to fetch pretty high prices - but I'm reluctant to pay top dollar for a pair of wagons when I'm only interested in one of them.
I presume you know about these??
http://www.robbiesrollingstock.co.uk/New%20Wales.htm (http://www.robbiesrollingstock.co.uk/New%20Wales.htm)
I've seen the Robbie's Rolling Stock website - but don't know much about them. Has anybody bought any of his wagons and if so, what do you think?
Quote from: TalyllynJon on January 13, 2019, 12:31:56 PM
I've seen the Robbie's Rolling Stock website - but don't know much about them. Has anybody bought any of his wagons and if so, what do you think?
Here is a post with pic:
https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=6331.4500 (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=6331.4500)
Quote from: TalyllynJon on January 12, 2019, 11:05:02 PM
I've been steadily building a little collection of private owner wagons from South Wales collieries. I've just discovered the, now defunct, Mathieson Models. There are a few listed on Ebay, but they all seem to be in pairs. Is this how they were originally sold? They seem to fetch pretty high prices - but I'm reluctant to pay top dollar for a pair of wagons when I'm only interested in one of them.
I've loads of their wagons and they were all bought individually.
Quote from: TalyllynJon on January 13, 2019, 12:31:56 PM
I've seen the Robbie's Rolling Stock website - but don't know much about them. Has anybody bought any of his wagons and if so, what do you think?
He doesn't sell wagons, just the transfers. They are primarily designed for Peco wagons but he will resize them for you to fit other makes. Easy to use, one piece transfer.
The Mathieson wagons were sold individually and are great models if you can find them. They represent an earlier shorter wheelbase wagon than the Peco model and add variety to a rake. The transparent couplings are great.
Since you can't print white with a regular printer Robbie's transfers are transparent where white lettering is needed and you have to paint the wagon gloss white before applying them. He is a great guy to do business with and will make new designs for you and add them to his catalogue after so you can get custom transfers for obscure collieries or merchants.
In 2017 I bought a couple of pairs of Mathiesons from eBay. Same seller and similar price to the current listings. They are very nice, though personally I'm not convinced the transparent couplings are actually an improvement - I think it actually draws attention to them.
I'd say if they're the wagons you particularly want then buy them while they're available, if you end up with duplicates you can always try selling them on on here, on ebay, at an exhibition or whatever. Or maybe renumber one of the pair?
Hi
I have used Robbies transfers on numerous wagons with great success, see link below
https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=22317.0 (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=22317.0)
Mathieson Models was a one-man show and produced a range of fabulous wagons featuring Welsh collieries. He stopped production around 6 years ago. I got several of them, the clear couplers are definitely unique. They are indeed now a bit hard to find perhaps because they are so collectable. It may well be that these, like Micro-Trains Line stock on the American side, attract collectors who push the second-hand prices up.
Robbie used to sell wagons but lately has gone over to transfers. He did special commission wagons for several people. I would imagine he would do the same for transfers.
Omar / anaes20.
Robbie made two custom transfers for me -- for Atso-Cad's LNER brick wagon and for one of the coal merchants at Welwyn North. I am a very happy customer!
Thanks for all the useful comments guys. I've just snapped up a pair of Mathieson Models wagons on Ebay (got outbid on another pair!).
Mathieson Models wagons arrived this morning. They are lovely little things, so I'll definitely be on the lookout for more.
I picked up a few Mathieson Models wagons last year. Mostly on eBay and mostly for about £10-£15. Not cheap for a small, open wagon, but they're nice models and quite rare. There seems to a bunch of them turning up on eBay at the moment, but they seem to be selling for about £30 each which is mad! What's going on?
Quote from: TalyllynJon on January 15, 2020, 11:21:30 PM
There seems to a bunch of them turning up on eBay at the moment, but they seem to be selling for about £30 each which is mad! What's going on?
Are they actually selling at that price or just listed but going round and round without selling? If selling then it just indicates the perceived rarity/desirability I guess.
Actually selling!. I guess there must be a couple of collectors with deep pockets who're willing to bid mad money for them. Ebay is a bit like that sometimes - I was outbid on a loco last year - I reckoned it was worth about £75 but it sold for well over £100. A couple of days later there was another identical one, but I didn't bother bidding because I thought it would be too expensive - it went for under £50!
Sort of reinforces my thoughts that I'm glad I can't work eBay :uneasy:
Well I have a few Mathieson models in the stash...might end of selling them.
In the meantime, glad to hear Robbie's Rolling stock is still going. I might order some up!
Quote from: TalyllynJon on January 13, 2019, 12:31:56 PM
I've seen the Robbie's Rolling Stock website - but don't know much about them. Has anybody bought any of his wagons and if so, what do you think?
His wagons are absolutely awesome.. well painted and decals are spot on. I can say how great a model they are. I have had robbie make wagons up custom made for family and friends as gifts, he even did a special wedding anniversary wagon for my mum and dad. You cant go wromng with a robbies rolling stock wagon
The Mathieson models on ebay have appearred to be largely from one seller. They've been putting them on ebay for a couple of years now with a timely (and clever) gap between advertisements. They must have a fair old stash of them or maybe, just maybe, somebody now has the rights to further produce them?
I think I read a while back that approaches had been made to the owner of Mathieson production rights, but they didn't want to sell. Perhaps something has changed here, accounting for their ongoing periodic appearance on ebay?
What an addition they could potentially make to the NGS stable of wagons.
I don't own any of them, but have to say they do look cracking models in their variety of P.O. logos.
The Wagon Yard - https://thewagonyard.co.uk/ (https://thewagonyard.co.uk/) has a few Mathieson wagons in stock of the Welsh variety.
I check their website regularly - they often have interesting items. Think I've already got all of their South Wales stock.
Quote from: ntpntpntp on January 15, 2020, 11:27:21 PM
Quote from: TalyllynJon on January 15, 2020, 11:21:30 PM
There seems to a bunch of them turning up on eBay at the moment, but they seem to be selling for about £30 each which is mad! What's going on?
Are they actually selling at that price or just listed but going round and round without selling? If selling then it just indicates the perceived rarity/desirability I guess.
They are actually selling at that price ... I sold 10 recently and was amazed at the bids I got!
Alex
There's a Mathieson Models Gurnos wagon on eBay - 1 day to go and the bidding is already up to £65!!!!!!! For a small, N gauge, open wagon! WTF?! (that's nearly as much as new Graham Farish prices!!!)
Quote from: TalyllynJon on March 02, 2020, 10:17:21 AM
There's a Mathieson Models Gurnos wagon on eBay - 1 day to go and the bidding is already up to £65!!!!!!! For a small, N gauge, open wagon! WTF?! (that's nearly as much as new Graham Farish prices!!!)
https://www.ebay.co.uk/bfl/viewbids/392704461066?item=392704461066&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2565 (https://www.ebay.co.uk/bfl/viewbids/392704461066?item=392704461066&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2565)
Just two bidders who obviously REALLY want that particular livery... (which is one I've not seen before so perhaps a rarity explaining the desire)
Remember at auction, the 'value' of an item is slightly more than the
second richest/daftest/most desperate bidder is willing to pay...
Same Ebay seller has a fair number listed at Buy It Now £16 which would seem a bargain compared to £30 or +£60!!!!
Quote from: Fardap on March 02, 2020, 01:51:37 PM
Same Ebay seller has a fair number listed at Buy It Now £16 which would seem a bargain compared to £30 or +£60!!!!
hardly the sellers fault that one person is willing to pay £63 for that particular livery and another is willing to pay even more!
Do bear in mind that some Mathieson liveries are extremely rare - as few as 25 made vs IIRC 250 for the most common. I've never seen this one before so guessing it is one of the rarest, and hence the price differential to other listings
Quote from: PLD on March 02, 2020, 05:29:36 PM
Quote from: Fardap on March 02, 2020, 01:51:37 PM
Same Ebay seller has a fair number listed at Buy It Now £16 which would seem a bargain compared to £30 or +£60!!!!
hardly the sellers fault that one person is willing to pay £63 for that particular livery and another is willing to pay even more!
Do bear in mind that some Mathieson liveries are extremely rare - as few as 25 made vs IIRC 250 for the most common. I've never seen this one before so guessing it is one of the rarest, and hence the price differential to other listings
Oh I wasn't laying blame just thought the £16 buys were bargains compared to the massive £60+ that as you rightly say is market forces and what someone is willing to pay.
They look nice models but not sure I would go £16 for one either, but then haven't seen one in the flesh either.
Those are crazy prices for a little wagon...but hey, if you want it then you want it!
I will dig out my collection of Mathieson wagons next time I am back in the US (where they are stored). Time to cash in! ;)
One question, why did Mathieson stop producing???
Quote from: Doc Pye on March 03, 2020, 09:59:47 AM
One question, why did Mathieson stop producing???
Because they realised that by stopping production and creating rare items they could make a killing on Ebay :D
John P
From Rails of Sheffield this morning......
We are pleased to announce new exclusive
N Gauge Mathieson RCH 7 Plank Wagons
A brand new limited edition of Mathieson Models RCH wagons available only from Rails of Sheffield. RCH wagons like these were found all over the rail network during the heyday of coal. These authentic scale models feature top quality manufacturing and accurate scale representation.
Only 200 of each livery will be produced and they will only be available from Rails of Sheffield.
Expected Q2 2022
Ten models are available to pre-order now.
£19.95 each
Clear couplings?
Quote from: Bealman on September 11, 2021, 10:29:38 AM
Clear couplings?
Difficult to tell from the ad, but I'm not sure Mathieson have ever done anything but clear couplings
https://railsofsheffield.com/collections/n-gauge-wagons-freight/brand_mathieson
Black couplings this time...
Yes I had the Rails email too. Good to know the tooling hadn't totally vanished.
They're not really my thing (not German :) ) but I do have 3 or 4 stashed somewhere and they are very nice apart from the silly clear couplings.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/113/3459-110921131522.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=113733)
Big fan of the original wagons.
I see the new ones have both brake handles same end, anyone know when these were last allowed?
Thanks, Graham
Quote from: gram on January 25, 2022, 10:07:47 AM
Big fan of the original wagons.
I see the new ones have both brake handles same end, anyone know when these were last allowed?
Where have you seen photos showing that? These aren't new tooling but just new liveries of the original wagons which had brake handles at opposing ends.
OK thanks, was going by the diagrams on Rails website.