A Place To Find Fine Vintage Examples
Notes To Buyers:
MOBILE CUSTOMERS PLEASE READ: We Now have an 1100 sq ft storefront in Milford, CT. 457 Bridgeport, Ave, LEFT off I95 Exit 34.
NEW TO OUR INVENTORY IS AN N GAUGE COLLECTION. We have created a new inventory page for these items. We will be adding listings over the next 2 weeks or so.
Public STORE hours are Thursdays & Fridays 10am - 2PM, SATURDAY 12-5pm, SUNDAYS by appointment. We are closed Monday(for processing inventory and house calls), Tuesday and Wednesday in ny, Holiday schedule Closed November 28, 2024.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: (1) We have been very busy of late. If you make an offer on an item, When you hear back from us, we are now in negotiations. You must buy it immediately. If you NEED TIME TO THINK, You MUST tell us to put a hold on the item(S), or it/they may be bought away from you, as it’s still active on this website and in other places where we set up.
(2) PLEASE, if you see in the beginning of the text (In Negotiations, or SOLD TO…), do not buy it without asking if it is available. The financial service for thiS site is STRIPE. They are the most secure we have found, but they charge us a fee when you buy and if we have to refund(Both Ways). If you buy an item thus marked, we will now refund your purchase price, minus the fees we were charged for your error.
1)Placing an item in your cart, does NOT take it from inventory or hold it for you. Only contacting Mark via Contacts page or a Phone call, can put an item on hold.
TO SHOP MARK'S INVENTORY, USE THE INVENTORY LINK ABOVE
(On Mobile, use the 3 bars at the top left of the header)
About
Tobias Toys & Trains is the business of Mark Tobias, the proprietor. This website is a way Mark can offer his services and bring his inventory to a wider audience, and have control of the information discussed. Through this site, you can view and buy from the inventory, offer items to him for sale, read articles on collectibles Mark has authored, or contact Mark to discuss topics you have need of expertise in. We now have a store front at 457 Bridgeport Ave, Milford, CT 06460. Come see us in person!
Mark is a seasoned and knowledgeable dealer, broker & consultant with 40 years experience, who specializes in vintage toys and trains. He collects antiques and has knowledge in many other areas. His passion is helping folks dispose of their lifelong collections. He was an auctioneer for 35 years and knows many companies that are good and honest and many that are not. His services helps avoid the pitfalls of making a bad choice.
On occasion, Mark can help prep collections for auction with inventories and appraisals, organize them to maximize auction returns, or point out unusual pieces, so the auction house doesn’t miss a rare variation.
In addition, Mark is available to vet for auction houses as he has written over 160,000 cataloged lots and personally grades over 10,000 pieces per year.
Mark lectures on many subjects and is an animated and inspirational public speaker. Call to schedule him to speak at your event.
Contact Mark to discuss the possibilities!
BROKERING
If you have a significant vintage toy or train you want Mark to sell, here are some of the guidelines for this service:
1) The item or items must be valued by Mark at $1000 or more.
2) For this service, Mark receives 10% of the gross sale price, from you, the owner, and gets 10% from the buyer, for bringing them into the deal.
3) Choosing this service gives Mark Tobias an exclusive right to sell, which has an expiration date on the contract. This means if you sell it yourself, before the contact expiration date, Mark is due his commission on the sale from both sides.
4) It is preferable that Mark takes possession of your item(s) if its feasible, so buyers can be shown at will. For collections, You, the owner, must make the item(s) available for viewing by buyers, with a reasonable notice from Mark.
5) There are many variations in the brokerage contract, so Contact him directly for references and to discuss the possibilities and his availability as it relates to your situation.
AUcTION Planning
We can handle any collection, large or small
Overwhelmed with selling Your collection?
We can help in many ways
These services are complex and available at many levels. We can appraise or estimate your collection; write up inventories. If time allows, assemble and prep the collection, so it is ready for the auction company.
We can even sort & write the collection into auctionable lots, so the auction house only has to photo and upload the listings. We only perform the service that makes economical sense for you and your situation.
Depending on the collection and auction house chosen, Mark may not have to charge you for advanced services; the auction house may pick-up the tab; It all depends on the quality, value and/or the organizational level of your collection.
Contact him directly for references and to discuss the possibilities.