Old Catalogs-Any Value?
#1
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Old Catalogs-Any Value?
In the process of getting life's stuff pared down to a reasonable level, I have come across various old product brochures, QBP dealer catalogs, Campy product brochures from the 90's and early 2000, Rivendell catalogs, VAR tool product catalog, etc, etc. Is there any demand for stuff like this? Any value to collectors?
#2
Me duelen las nalgas

Joined: Aug 2015
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From: Texas
Bikes: Centurion Ironman, Trek 5900, Univega Via Carisma, Globe Carmel
Might be for someone with the time and inclination to scan them and host the catalogs and brochures online for future reference. If I'm recalling correctly, Google still maintains free Blogspot/Blogger accounts indefinitely, so those are possibilities for archives, along with the Internet Archive site.
Just depends on time and inclination. I always intended to scan and covert some hobbyist literature to PDF but never got around to it.
Just depends on time and inclination. I always intended to scan and covert some hobbyist literature to PDF but never got around to it.
#5
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Value in catalogs
The Bicycle Museum of America is located in New Bremen Ohio.
Was fortunate to visit there on a cross country drive.
If the catalogs contain images of logos from manufacturers they could be used to reproduce decals for restoration projects.
Was fortunate to visit there on a cross country drive.
If the catalogs contain images of logos from manufacturers they could be used to reproduce decals for restoration projects.
#6
Old fart



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I don't know how much "value" one might attribute to the old catalogs, but they can at least be useful.
A decade or so ago Sheldon Brown and I collaborated on putting a 1980s vintage VAR catalog on line on Sheldons's web site, and since then it has seemed to be a useful contribution to our community. I suspect other catalogs could prove to be similarly useful.
A decade or so ago Sheldon Brown and I collaborated on putting a 1980s vintage VAR catalog on line on Sheldons's web site, and since then it has seemed to be a useful contribution to our community. I suspect other catalogs could prove to be similarly useful.
#7
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Bikes: Bikes??? Thought this was social media?!?
I would buy catalogs from any of the manufacturers of bikes in my sig line, assuming the years were close to the bikes I own (at least the pre-1990 bikes)
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Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
#8
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From: Marin County, California
Bikes: Breezer Repack 650-B, 2011 Gary Fisher Rumblefish II, Gary Fisher HiFi 29er, 1983 Ritchey Annapurna, 1994 Ritchey P-21, 1978 Breezer #2, 1975 Colnago, Ritchey P-29er
In the process of getting life's stuff pared down to a reasonable level, I have come across various old product brochures, QBP dealer catalogs, Campy product brochures from the 90's and early 2000, Rivendell catalogs, VAR tool product catalog, etc, etc. Is there any demand for stuff like this? Any value to collectors?
#9
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From: SW Ohio
Bicycle Museum of America
@TiHabanero
Anything from Ten Speed Drive Imports?
#10
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Digitization is the best way to preserve them and make them accessible to people. Of course there's no money in it though. People usually only buy catalogs if they have a dream bike they can't afford, or they want a matching catalog for their dream bike.
#11
I would also vote for digitization or sending them to an appropriate archive. Old catalogs are like old newspapers, as objects they may not have any resale value but if preserved they have a value as a source of information about the past.
#12
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From: Central Virginia
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There is a market for old brochures and catalogs. Just look for eBay listings of the stuff you have. As noted above Campy catalogs from the early 90’s and before will sell. I like the old catalogs, etc and have bought stuff for parts and bikes that I own. I like using my own catalogs for reference rather than sifting through online stuff.
Definitely don’t throw it away. If you have Campy catalogs no 17 or lower, I’ll buy it!
Definitely don’t throw it away. If you have Campy catalogs no 17 or lower, I’ll buy it!
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N = '96 Colnago C40, '04 Wilier Alpe D'Huez, '10 Colnago EPS, '85 Merckx Pro, '89 Merckx Century, '86 Tommasini Professional, '04 Teschner Aero FX Pro, '05 Alan Carbon Cross, '86 De Rosa Professional, '95 Gios Compact Pro, '95 Carrera Zeus, 81 Masi Gran Criterium, 81 Merckx Pro, 89 Cinelli Supercorsa, 83 Bianchi Specialissima, VO Randonneur, Ritchey Breakaway Steel, Rivendell Rambouillet, Heron Randonneur, 92 Ciöcc Columbus EL
N = '96 Colnago C40, '04 Wilier Alpe D'Huez, '10 Colnago EPS, '85 Merckx Pro, '89 Merckx Century, '86 Tommasini Professional, '04 Teschner Aero FX Pro, '05 Alan Carbon Cross, '86 De Rosa Professional, '95 Gios Compact Pro, '95 Carrera Zeus, 81 Masi Gran Criterium, 81 Merckx Pro, 89 Cinelli Supercorsa, 83 Bianchi Specialissima, VO Randonneur, Ritchey Breakaway Steel, Rivendell Rambouillet, Heron Randonneur, 92 Ciöcc Columbus EL
#13
If you want to sell them...
Most things have value, to somebody. The question is how much value, and how easy/profitable is it for the seller to extract that value. If you do an ebay search for completed auctions for the items in your stash, you'll get an idea which are common, which are rare, and which may have value.
There's always the issue of how much value you place on your time. Doing an ebay listing for a catalog that only nets $4-$5 may not make sense, especially if you're employed and making more than minimum wage. If you're retired, have lots of spare time, etc, maybe your time/$$$ threshold is lower.
Maybe you do some triage. Sell the 10pcs that may gross $10-$20+, forget about the many more that barely bring $5.
Most things have value, to somebody. The question is how much value, and how easy/profitable is it for the seller to extract that value. If you do an ebay search for completed auctions for the items in your stash, you'll get an idea which are common, which are rare, and which may have value.
There's always the issue of how much value you place on your time. Doing an ebay listing for a catalog that only nets $4-$5 may not make sense, especially if you're employed and making more than minimum wage. If you're retired, have lots of spare time, etc, maybe your time/$$$ threshold is lower.
Maybe you do some triage. Sell the 10pcs that may gross $10-$20+, forget about the many more that barely bring $5.
#14
If you can be bothered scanning them, Mark Bulgier at bulgier.net is usually happy to put them up on his catalogs page: https://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/ (it isn't working at the moment.) At least, he's put up catalog scans that I've sent him in the past. Check what he has before you start scanning though, there are a fair few there.
Velobase also has a scanned catalogs page, but you would have to sign up to contribute: https://velobase.com/Resource_Tools/CatalogScans.aspx
Velobase also has a scanned catalogs page, but you would have to sign up to contribute: https://velobase.com/Resource_Tools/CatalogScans.aspx
#15
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Also lots of scanned catalogs at Welcome to Velo-Pages..... No use duplicating if you go the scanning route.
#16
1/2 as far in 2x the time


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From: Northern Bergen County, NJ
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In the process of getting life's stuff pared down to a reasonable level, I have come across various old product brochures, QBP dealer catalogs, Campy product brochures from the 90's and early 2000, Rivendell catalogs, VAR tool product catalog, etc, etc. Is there any demand for stuff like this? Any value to collectors?
I like having the tear sheets of bikes I own., and pass them along to new owner when I sell the bike. But I'm happy enough with a downloaded image. Amazing the amount of gaps in brochures, data, specs... from less than 50 years ago.
#17
1/2 as far in 2x the time


Joined: Nov 2013
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From: Northern Bergen County, NJ
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Also lots of scanned catalogs at Welcome to Velo-Pages..... No use duplicating if you go the scanning route.
#18
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From: Kips Bay, NY
Bikes: Ritchey Swiss Cross | Teesdale Kona Hot | Haro Extreme | Specialized Stumpjumper Comp | Cannondale F1000 | Shogun 1000 | Cannondale M500 | Norco Charger | Marin Muirwoods 29er | Shogun Kaze | Breezer Lightning
In the process of getting life's stuff pared down to a reasonable level, I have come across various old product brochures, QBP dealer catalogs, Campy product brochures from the 90's and early 2000, Rivendell catalogs, VAR tool product catalog, etc, etc. Is there any demand for stuff like this? Any value to collectors?
Do you have a Supergo/Bikepro catalog from about 93 or 94? I'm looking for one of those.
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