T206 Time Machine

Rhotchkiss · #1 12-07-2023, 07:24 PM

I would love to how many proofs there are. I bet the Collins, which would be amazing to own, is not the only proof card never mass produced.

Smarti5051 · #2 12-07-2023, 08:45 PM

My first thought would be to travel back in time to shortly before the T206s started being produced, then do whatever is necessary to begin working for one of the printing companies. Once production started, wait for the memo requiring all Honus Wagner cards to be destroyed. On that day, volunteer to help with pulling and discarding all produced copies. At the end of the day, toss them into the trash and swing by that night and raid the dumpster. If you can't get a job inside, just keep checking the trash nightly for however long it takes. I imagine a few months at a printing company would make for a nice retirement. Maybe even tell the boss your son is a baseball fan, so you will work for less if you can take home some cards after each shift.

If that option is not feasible, become a day trader using historical daily reports of stock performance. I imagine the 1910 range, there were alot of sharp ups and downs in the market, so you hit every up and avoid every drop. You should be able to keep doubling your money every few week or so. Or, wait 10 years, travel back in 1920, start day trading and then start buying Coca Cola shares at $40/ea. Those shares are worth about $10 million each today.

But, one thought occurred to me. If you have a time machine, would a 110 year old card present differently than one that has spent 110 years degrading? I have to think the vibrancy of the ink and the cardboard has changed over the years, even if well preserved. Would brand new T206 cards seem fake when compared to other examples?

Casey2296 · #3 12-07-2023, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smarti5051

But, one thought occurred to me. If you have a time machine, would a 110 year old card present differently than one that has spent 110 years degrading? I have to think the vibrancy of the ink and the cardboard has changed over the years, even if well preserved. Would brand new T206 cards seem fake when compared to other examples?

Good point, might be BSF all over again.

Eric72 · #4 12-07-2023, 09:07 PM

While you're there, don't forget to snag some copies of the T206 Evans to go along with Wagner, Cobb, Matty and the like.

iwantitiwinit · #5 12-08-2023, 06:48 AM

A 1912 wsj.

darwinbulldog · #6 12-08-2023, 08:35 AM

I was also thinking Morgan silver dollars. Really nice ROI assuming you can pick up a huge stash of T206s (or a sizeable stash of unopened cigarette packs for that matter) for one silver dollar.

I've often wondered what would have been the best thing I could have spent my money on at my first card show in April of 1986. I bought a Will Clark card, a 1972 Ty Cobb card, and a pack of 1986 Donruss (all commons as it turned out). I must have had about a $5 budget. I figure if I could have found them, I would have done best to have picked up 5 of the 1984-85 Star #101 Michael Jordans, and then my $5 would be worth six figures today.

ullmandds · #7 12-08-2023, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darwinbulldog

I was also thinking Morgan silver dollars. Really nice ROI assuming you can pick up a huge stash of T206s (or a sizeable stash of unopened cigarette packs for that matter) for one silver dollar.

I've often wondered what would have been the best thing I could have spent my money on at my first card show in April of 1986. I bought a Will Clark card, a 1972 Ty Cobb card, and a pack of 1986 Donruss (all commons as it turned out). I must have had about a $5 budget. I figure if I could have found them, I would have done best to have picked up 5 of the 1984-85 Star #101 Michael Jordans, and then my $5 would be worth six figures today.

thats a funny thought! I attempted to trade my whole collection at the time in the late 70's for a 76' babe ruth. she said NO!!!!
some of my earliest memories at shows prob late 70's-early 80's i picked up a fake mayo cross for $2...and a beaten t206 matty for $2. This was basically my budget!

steve B · #8 12-08-2023, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iwantitiwinit

A 1912 wsj.

Similar to my idea, what's inexpensive for us, but would have a lot of value then, and be easily transportable.

Knowledge.

Like what inventions will take hold, what won't. A few printing secrets, like hey ALC, don't give those scammers 17K for their bogus aluminum plate system (from a real case where they bought a process that didn't and would never work, and sued the "inventors" who ran off with the proceeds. )

Maybe one trip swapping the info for a few select items... Wagner, a couple other cards, a sheet or two, like a piedmont sheet and a Drum sheet.

Maybe a couple trips, one to sell, then one once the proof happened as you said, collecting the pay and buying cards on the secondary market. An offer of 5 or 10 cents each for old baseball cards should bring out a lot of sellers.

ullmandds · #9 12-07-2023, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

I would love to how many proofs there are. I bet the Collins, which would be amazing to own, is not the only proof card never mass produced.

Isn't there a dozen or so proofs that werent mass produced? I thought Keith O had them?

Rhotchkiss · #10 12-08-2023, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ullmandds

Isn't there a dozen or so proofs that werent mass produced? I thought Keith O had them?

Not sure, but sounds a little familiar.

Eric72 · #11 12-09-2023, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ullmandds

Isn't there a dozen or so proofs that werent mass produced? I thought Keith O had them?

I believe this might be one of the articles:

https://t206resource.com/Olbermann%20Proofs.html

Mattymc727 · #12 09-06-2024, 02:09 PM

One other thought….

What time frame would you want to go back to to maximize your access?

June of 1909 to find a Wagner and Plank before they disappeared?

packs · #13 09-06-2024, 02:19 PM

I don't know if you'd need to buy cigarettes to get the cards. A lot of people probably tossed them when they opened the packs. I wish I could remember the name of the short story but it was written in the time period and there was a scene where the narrator passed groups of kids bugging people buying smokes for the cards.

Mark17 · #14 09-06-2024, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mattymc727

One other thought�.

What time frame would you want to go back to to maximize your access?

June of 1909 to find a Wagner and Plank before they disappeared?

I'd like to drop in on Cy Berger just before he dumped the cases of 1952 Topps. I could get them free.

Pat R · #15 09-06-2024, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mattymc727

One other thought�.

What time frame would you want to go back to to maximize your access?

June of 1909 to find a Wagner and Plank before they disappeared?

While Wagner was only available for a very short period in my opinion he wasn't included in the initial printing of the T206's and it would have to be later than June 1909 but that's just my opinion based off some T206 research.

Atlanta Journal August 13 1909
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abroome · #16 09-06-2024, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pat R

While Wagner was only available for a very short period in my opinion he wasn't included in the initial printing of the T206's and it would have to be later than June 1909 but that's just my opinion based off some T206 research.

Atlanta Journal August 13 1909
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[/IMG]

Random info: the "B" signature on the drawings in the article belongs to the cartoonist Alfred Brewerton (1881-1960). He worked for the Journal during this period.

Pat R · #17 09-06-2024, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abroome

Random info: the "B" signature on the drawings in the article belongs to the cartoonist Alfred Brewerton (1881-1960). He worked for the Journal during this period.

Interesting, thanks for that information Andy.

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