Classic & Vintage - Finding value of parts

Hello,
I have heard mention of being able to do searches on the 'bay for auctions that have ended to determine what things have gone for. I have some parts I may want to flip to help me realize my dream of a true piece of cycling history and art. Anyone care to give me a little tutorial on determining the worth of say this? I see that there are similar posts on the 'bay with a BIN price of around $140. Can it be so?

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2175/2063922493_6e06d25d94_o.jpg

Assuming you are registered with Ebay, click on "advanced search", enter the item you are looking for and check the box that says "search completed auctions". That should give you a fair idea of what the items are selling for.

Assuming you are registered with Ebay, click on "advanced search", enter the item you are looking for and check the box that says "search completed auctions". That should give you a fair idea of what the items are selling for.

Thanks!

Campagnolo parts-SR and N record from the 70's early 80's sell very well on Ebay.Simplest way is to put it on-you will get a good price-well over $100 for that seatpost and box-maybe $200.
I sold some mid late 70's SR parts about 1 year ago.I got about 2.5X what I paid for them in 1978.I paid about $100 for the SR brakes-only the levers were different-got about $300 for them. Same story on seat post,crankset,BB etc,.You will get far more on Ebay than you would get here.Many folks here are looking to buy and then sell for a profit(nothing wrong with that),so you will do better on ebay.Don't believe any BS about how much trouble it is to sell on ebay-it isn't-not for high interest Campy stuff.Set the auction up so you can ship overseas(Global Priority is maybe $25 for something like the seat post).You will get a better price that way,and it isn't much extra effort-just a short customs form.
Luck,
Charlie

Campagnolo parts-SR and N record from the 70's early 80's sell very well on Ebay.Simplest way is to put it on-you will get a good price-well over $100 for that seatpost and box-maybe $200.
I sold some mid late 70's SR parts about 1 year ago.I got about 2.5X what I paid for them in 1978.I paid about $100 for the SR brakes-only the levers were different-got about $300 for them. Same story on seat post,crankset,BB etc,.You will get far more on Ebay than you would get here.Many folks here are looking to buy and then sell for a profit(nothing wrong with that),so you will do better on ebay.Don't believe any BS about how much trouble it is to sell on ebay-it isn't-not for high interest Campy stuff.Set the auction up so you can ship overseas(Global Priority is maybe $25 for something like the seat post).You will get a better price that way,and it isn't much extra effort-just a short customs form.
Luck,
Charlie

Thanks for the insight!

I'll be watching for it on eBay. I have exactly the same post in better condition and the box. I have no idea what it's worth. Mine's a 26.4 and I'd rather have a Simplex. It's for my PX10.

I'll be watching for it on eBay. I have exactly the same post in better condition and the box. I have no idea what it's worth. Mine's a 26.4 and I'd rather have a Simplex. It's for my PX10.

Not Simplex, but how about Stronglight?

http://cgi.ebay.com/NOS-VINTAGE-STRONGLIGHT-SEATPOST-26-4-No-used_W0QQitemZ130178694644QQihZ003QQcategoryZ56197QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Neal

Not Simplex, but how about Stronglight?

http://cgi.ebay.com/NOS-VINTAGE-STRONGLIGHT-SEATPOST-26-4-No-used_W0QQitemZ130178694644QQihZ003QQcategoryZ56197QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Neal

You can't be serious. :rolleyes:

If you write an honest discription, take good pictures and start and action with a low minimum and no reserve you'll find out exactly what it's worth in about a week.

I'm not sure if this still applies, as I haven't been tracking parts like I used to, but if you sell during prime season (spring), you'll fetch a better price.

I picked up a wallpaper steamer at a real bargain by waiting till summer, instead of when I really needed it.

You can't be serious. :rolleyes:
Hey, maybe seller would include both the Laprade and the other one (is that the Stronglight? Or something altogether different?).

You can't be serious. :rolleyes:

Did you find it odd that the auction shows photos of two different posts?!

Neal

I'll be watching for it on eBay. I have exactly the same post in better condition and the box. I have no idea what it's worth. Mine's a 26.4 and I'd rather have a Simplex. It's for my PX10.

Why Simplex over Campagnolo? Is the Simplex rarer/harder to find?

Simplexes are rare and hard to find and they can be expensive if they're in good condition and have the riveted Simplex badge. They're kind of ugly, but more appropriate for my PX10. They hold the saddle very securely and they have good setback. I have an '80s Simplex on my Gitane. It's a conventional single bolt design and is beautifully made, but not as nice as that Super Record.

The post at the top that looks like a cheap Kalloy laprade with flutes is the Stronglight. The bottom one is the longest Simplex I've ever seen. It's a 26.6.

Thank you Dirtdrop. your Simplex response sent me out to the garage where I rediscovered my NOS 26.4 Simplex seatpost circa 1972. Absolutely perfect except for two small globs of sewup glue. My own 'Catch of the Day!

Thank you Dirtdrop. your Simplex response sent me out to the garage where I rediscovered my NOS 26.4 Simplex seatpost circa 1972. Absolutely perfect except for two small globs of sewup glue. My own 'Catch of the Day!

Wouldn't you rather have a Super Record?

Simplexes are rare and hard to find and they can be expensive if they're in good condition and have the riveted Simplex badge. They're kind of ugly, but more appropriate for my PX10. They hold the saddle very securely and they have good setback. I have an '80s Simplex on my Gitane. It's a conventional single bolt design and is beautifully made, but not as nice as that Super Record.

The post at the top that looks like a cheap Kalloy laprade with flutes is the Stronglight. The bottom one is the longest Simplex I've ever seen. It's a 26.6.

I just saw that Mel Pinto Imports carries new Simplex posts in 26.0, 26.2, and 26.6mm diameters. At $25, that's seems like a pretty good deal (but doesn't help in the search for a 26.4!).

http://www.melpintoimports.com/seatposts/simplexstronglightatax.html

Neal

I'll be watching for it on eBay. I have exactly the same post in better condition and the box. I have no idea what it's worth. Mine's a 26.4 and I'd rather have a Simplex. It's for my PX10.

I've got one as well. Still mounted in a 72/73 PX10 I'm going to part out. Looks brand new except for a few very light insertion scratches that should polish out. PM me if you're interested.

I've got another PX10 frame (this one is my size, but needs paint) that I'm planning to make into a Porteur so your post would be perfect for that.

The first PX10 is ALL there, except for the saddle, looks to have maybe 500 miles on it. I'd sell it whole except the previous owner engraved his name on the bars and SSN on the BB. Otherwise the bike is seriously minty.

The post at the top that looks like a cheap Kalloy laprade with flutes is the Stronglight.
Is this a joke? Sorry to be naive, but that post doesn't look like something that one would bother to auction to a foreign market! This seller must think that we Americans are as stupid and lacking in discernment as our leadership.

The one I'm looking for looks like this, but has an aluminum shaft. It's the one that came on my '74 PX10 when I bought it new. I replaced it with a Zeus right after I bought the bike because I thought the Simplex was ugly. I don't know what became of the Simplex, but it's been 30 odd years. Now I've come to appreciate oddball French components and I wish I still had it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Simplex-Seat-Post-Seatpost-26-6-mm-x-180mm-Long_W0QQitemZ150187943355QQihZ005QQcategoryZ56197QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

ahhh, you want one like this (http://cgi.ebay.com/NOS-26-4-180mm-Simplex-STC-seat-post_W0QQitemZ160180577985QQihZ006QQcategoryZ56197QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem), turns out mine looks very similar but alas, it is steel:(

I have one of those aluminum shaft Simplex posts on my Grand Jubile. The top of the post & the emblem still look great but unfortunately when I maxed out the post to get my fit, I found lots of zig-zag scratches that didn't all polish out. These posts don't come up very often and most are in worse shape than the one I have. Don

ahhh, you want one like this (http://cgi.ebay.com/NOS-26-4-180mm-Simplex-STC-seat-post_W0QQitemZ160180577985QQihZ006QQcategoryZ56197QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem), turns out mine looks very similar but alas, it is steel:(

I got $50 for my 27.2 Simplex on Ebay this summer. I had no clue mine was worth anything more than a few bucks.