Sometimes I wonder...
 

Bikes like these....
http://tulsa.craigslist.org/bik/1290283078.html

I'm sure it barely if at all above depy. store junk and probably they were actually made elsewhere by some Asian concern by the thousands.
But....is there going to come a time when brands like this will be collectible because of the rarity of the label? I mean how many are there actually out there that have or will survive?
I have a mid 70's ten speed made by God knows who, sold and labeled by Western Auto Parts stores...long since defunct. I know!! I know!! not worth much in the future? How many have their true beginnings erased and untraceable due to mods,fixieism and just plain attrition?

The silence is deafening!


I guess that answers that!

Very doubtful. Just because there aren't many of something doesn't make it collectible. It first has to be desirable.

Price is determined by supply AND demand. Just being rare by itself doesn't mean anything.

For example...modern coins are very very uniform. Occasionally, there will be a mint error, and defective coins get into circulation. Those are rare and in demand, so they are worth some money. On the other hand, if you look at ancient coins, the dies were hand-carved, and variation is the norm. So a "defective" coin doesn't mean anything there.

You can weld up your own bike frames and make all kinds of one-of-a-kind bikes, but can't hardly give them away, then.

If you have some old bike that was the first of its kind or a desirable brand, it may be worth something. If it's just some department-store label made by makers unknown, not so likely.