another note on this. It would be a good idea for all of us to document our kits. what year, finish, sizes, configuration, etc..... In case I get hit by a truck or something my kids will have data and hopefully will do a little research and sell them for what they are worth, Instead of selling them in a garage sale for nothing. If I live another 30-40 yrs perhaps ill sell something then, and maybe the market will be crazy high by then. x-mas3

One more thing, Do not tell our wives about this conversation! LoLoLoLo

Every time i buy a kit. I check the market via ebay and show her what this kit is going for and it's an investment. Investment or no, I love the drums and cant stop buying them. I give $400 for a kit and its selling for $999 on ebay or even more sometimes. I let her help me pick the wrap on my current restoration so she will be involved and appreciate it more. I dont want her to get to thinkin i spend more on drums than i do her. Laughing H

thats the problem as im 59 and i think on the same lines as u do i have a lot of collectible and vintage instruments classic cars old stuff a little bit of everything

a lot of everything i told my son what i have and dont let it go for dirt as the market will always bear up to current value and as u say photographs and as much docs as u can muster for if you have to claim it on insurance u need to have proof of what its worth or u wont get diddly my wife is clueless if im not careful this stiff will end up in the good will or a garage sale for ??( mam how much for this old drum oh u can have for 50 cents ty have a god day )and the guy is smiling all the way home just a example as ive seen it before o ye document and talk to family members and insurance co.. maybe even a additional writer so lets go into the new year with the Grace of god and know these are just material things and the real value is family and life God bless everyone and have a great holiday and happy ,prosperous and healthy new year long life to all keep them hands moving it will ward off arthritis !!!!!x-mas3

Poppy!

You hit the nail on the head with the 'check eBay and show the wife how good a deal you got!'!

In the way far back 70's I owned an antique clock shop. I was lucky enough to have picked up a number of clocks before things got insane with the prices. Good running, restored clocks that were around 100 years old were at a premium. And the good thing for me was everyone wanted one. I made a good pile of change, for a while. Then around '78 things went to 'heck'. I had been fortunate. I'd sold off most of my 'chaff' and just had the items I didn't mind keeping anyway. After about ten years, the market returned. However, it has never reached the fevered pace it had in the mid 70's.

Drums are heading the same way. I've only been watching this for the last couple years, since I retired, but you can see the cycle. At the moment, lots of drums ore coming out of the woodwork, closets, garages... Nobody's got money and prices are down. Like many, but not all folks on this forum, I like to buy the kit 'soiled' and fix it. That's about half the fun IMHO. Playing them is the other half. Storing them is the pain.

Long story short: These should not be used to fund your retirement. There are far to many outside influences that will effect the value of the drums, as we're seeing now. Have fun with them, play 'em. Just remember you can't eat 'em.

Poppy, I've got a '66 Mustang, and I've never had so many people stop by or stick notes on it wanting to buy it. Some of them just want a cool car. Most of them are looking for the deal. And yes, the deals do dry up. As with anything not being made any longer, the deals are harder to find as time goes on. Until... the idiots start playing with the economy again.

Merry Christmas!

That's another beautiful part of collecting the things you like; It's not just another monetary investment. If you like collecting drums, then a major part of the "payback" is the fun and enjoyment they bring. It's the intangible part of the attraction to the object(s). Not everyone shares the same attraction, obviously...and, sometimes, that's the way an old snare drum or cymbal or drum set turns up after many years of being stored away. Someone finally cleans out Grampa's attic and lo and behold! The same thing will happen when we go. As much as we would want our prize collections to continue....sadly, they will end one day.

Some people spend their lives preparing for the future. Then, one day, before they realize it, it's the future. I would rather live in the present and enjoy it. That way, when the future gets here, the past will look good! See?x-mas3

The "payoff" of collecting vintage drums is partly intangible. I have high hopes that certain rare drums and drum sets will continue to increase in value, too, but I haven't "lost" anything no matter what happens. That, in and of itself, makes collecting vintage drums a good investment for me.

Have fun. Time is running out. Burger Kin

Not having too much of a collection myself compared to others, I tried never collecting too much on purpose. When I did, I found myself buying things I really didn't need waisting money. I just love the challenge of trying to complete a kit that wasn't. First it was Hot Wheels, Sports Cards, Non Sports Cards, Comic Books, etc. It's just what I'm obsessed with now because I've realized I really love playing. Then as time is running out, better start worrying about my health! I'm going to be a Grampa soon. I'm looking forward to showing them the few kits I have and passing them down. When I'm gone, it wont matter to me where all this stuff went! I'm determined to have fun until then and maybe be shot by a young jealous husband or something! (joke) Happy Holidays everyone.

:Santa:

I am a noob at "collecting". All the drums I have gathered in the last 5 years have all been drums that had a sentimental value to them.So I am more of a "collector" than a reseller.Some items I bought were at the top of the drum "bubble" so to speak. So I see certain items being actually sold for half what I paid.But that is ok because it is true that the value of an item is what someone is willing to pay for it. I bought a Slingy kit for more than what is was worth on an open market, but it was THE kit I had as a 10 year old.Had to have it.

So there are still deals out there and always will be,even in a bad economy.

I believe the items we all have in our possession will be worth more in future years. Mostly because they are in good hands. So keep em dry,clean and playable and enjoy them.

Merry Christmas ,Cheers,BigE

big e thats the way i fel at this point in my life its the intrinsic value that sometime means more than money a in my holly wood it makes me remember the far past with my dad and me really tugs on the heart strings and makes me well with pride the way my da cared about what i wanted to do and irst choice even if we cold not afford it