What's with Graflex prices lately?

pfillery

Active Member
Looked on eBay at completed sold listings and couldn't believe the prices lately. Over $1000 U.S. For a 3 cell and $240+ for a clamp, base, red button etc sold individually.

Is is it just because of ep7 or is there another reason?
 
Yes, it's because of TFA, especially since one was shown in the trailer and teasers (and what is believed to happen in the movie with one).
 
I saw a promo for merchandise showing one of the new characters with a graflex based lightsaber but apart from the one preview haven't seen much on it.

Whats ts supposed to happen with one?
 
Gosh I picked the wrong time to want to build a lightsaber. I can't believe the price hike and am now kicking myself for never picking up any!
 
It's been widely discussed in the TFA Trailer Graflex thread for sure. I'm guessing prices will only increase especially if we see more of it Monday!
 
Unfortunately the prices are only good for real Graflex's. I tried to sell a replica (Larbel) twice in the last 3 weeks on eBay, the second time with a starting bid of $299, and not even 1 bid.
 
Don't worry prices will come down. Start searching your neighborhood vintage camera supplies. After I discovered a friend of a friend had several I found out that
a lot of vintage camera guys are total hoarders. I found another 2 at another vintage camera shop as well. Check local vintage camera swap meets too. There are a lot of guys out there. More than us for sure. Just don't let them know what you want it for and make sure to brush up on some other flash brands as well. Seem disinterested and hem and haw, buy another camera flash as well. There are some really cool ones you can make a prop out of. You should easily get it for under 25 bucks if you play your cards right. Oh and look at other items first. Now go out and look, it's super fun.


P.S.

remember the only reason people are willing to spend that
scratch is because we are driving up the prices by buying them.
be patient and you'll get one reasonably priced
 
I thought that prices had tapered for a week or two, actually. At least they seemed to have stopped climbing and climbing. Like rnbuda said, I think that will probably go away again after Monday and it shouldn't have enough time to die down again before TFA comes out.
 
If Disney will keep pushing new SW movies with lightsabers and Graflexes in them, the prices will never go back and be as low as they were once.
 
What I have seen and I just got one.

Before trailer Mint $300. That seemed to be the max even as they got more rare.

After trailer shot through roof. $700, $800, $1,000 not uncommon.

They seem to have come down as huge amounts of Replicas are coming out like Korbanth and Roman.

I just picked up a mint, complete vintage Graflex for $500. I was gonna get it at $300 and looking at MR, other replicas coming, etc. I said screw it and it was worth the $200 extra I was gonna have to pay. I got Korbanth's FX Graflex coming as well as two Roman's but I thought it would be awesome to have a real one. $800 no way. $500 okay I can talk myself into that since I have an all real parts set of Macros, Droid Caller, torch, etc.


There are numerous mint ones on Ebay for around $500 these days.

They will likely go up when the film comes out but they seem to be hovering around the $500 mark. Some are going for more and some non mint ones are too but be patient and you can snag one for that.

I am sure some have gotten ones for much better deals but this is what I tracked.

Tom

- - - Updated - - -

The one I mentioned I got for $500 was on Ebay about two weeks ago.

Just FYI




Tom
 
Picked mine up for 400. Managed to score a pretty good deal on mine, I think. Saw it as a buy it now option for 400, scooped it up real quick after I saw all of the other bids of over 600.
 
This may be just me, but what is the draw of a real graflex over a replica? At least, what is the draw that makes it worth 5 times as much? They're only selling for that much because some people are prepared to pay it.
 
People need to be careful of picking up some of the Graflexes that have been selling on eBay lately. A couple of sellers have been refinishing/sanding the surface of their flashes and then failing to mention that in their listings. If you look closely, some of the details are all softened from sanding and they have more of a matte finish. I've seen one where the slider button was all rounded on the edges and another where the lines on the clamp were missing.

This may be just me, but what is the draw of a real graflex over a replica? At least, what is the draw that makes it worth 5 times as much? They're only selling for that much because some people are prepared to pay it.

It's really no different than any other prop made from a found item. Some people just prefer the real thing over than a replica. For instance, the newer replicas of the rifle grenade for the Obi saber are 99% accurate, but I'd still rather have a real one even if it's not quite as accurate to the one used on the saber.
 
I have 2, the first I bought before the new trilogy for $50 but I had to modify a bottom for it, the second I got after the trilogies at a estate sale for $3. The last one I saw came with a camera for $150, these show up at the antique swap meets regularly, it seems that if you try to just buy the flash they know about the light sabers. My advice is if you are patient you will find it cheap
 
I watch the prices pretty closely and they have come down a little bit from a few weeks ago. Right now you can expect to pay about $500 usd for one in decent condition, a couple weeks ago it was closer to $700 for serviceable condition. I would expect that the price will jump up again with the new trailer coming out in a few days.

I was able to piece together one for $360 in nearly mint condition. I bought a complete 2 cell in excellent shape for $180 a few months back and recently snagged a 3 cell bottom in excellent shape for $180. I haven't decided what to do with it just yet, I may just wait until TFA comes out before I make that decision. It will be either an ESB or TFA saber because I've already built a ANH saber. I don't have the heart to hack up such a nice condition graflex for a vader stunt ROTJ.
 
Ok... I don't know if people are trying to make a statement about the current market price and demand for Graflex's, trying to be funny, or just plain stupid...

There's a guy on evilBay who wants $10k... that's one followed by FOUR zeros... for just the top HALF of a flash...

:facepalm
 
Its only crazy if it doesn't sell. Never underestimate people who just have to have it now. The funny thing is, if TFA ends up being a total dud or just doesn't have a lasting impact, the price of vintage flashes will probably come down back to what they were before last April.
 
Its only crazy if it doesn't sell. Never underestimate people who just have to have it now. The funny thing is, if TFA ends up being a total dud or just doesn't have a lasting impact, the price of vintage flashes will probably come down back to what they were before last April.

Got into this hobby only a month before JJ was announced as director... so glad I didn't get in now. I heart my graflex's... folmer patent or not.
 
Ok... I don't know if people are trying to make a statement about the current market price and demand for Graflex's, trying to be funny, or just plain stupid...

There's a guy on evilBay who wants $10k... that's one followed by FOUR zeros... for just the top HALF of a flash...

:facepalm

Then there's this monstrosity that the guy CLAIMS was a real G R A F L E X and keeps dropping in price because why would anybody want it?

....and camera guys get mad at US.

s-l1600.jpg
 
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