Well done Ben...nice early sign and cheap too

The final auction price of anything is governed by what the last bidder is prepared to pay - no one else is prepared to pay that price. Sometimes two bidders can push the price beyond actual value, in other words that item will take a long time in years to increase by any decent amount. I have over paid back in the 1980s because I was against another bidder who wasn't prepared to stop.
Fred Kite

That's what happened to the Stepney Tyres sign. It was absolute madness that it went to over £9000.

As Fred says, an item is only worth what someone is prepared to pay for it. But even if you can afford a very high price for a sign, I'd personally find it difficult to justify spending several thousand pounds just to own it and put it on the wall UNLESS I felt reasonably confident of getting a good part of that back when it came to selling. My view is that if I can sell and - on average - lose not more than say 20%, then that's not unreasonable. I collect mainly for enjoyment not profit and I'm content if that costs me a bit in the end. Nice of course if you can make a bit on some signs but all that does is cover for the losses on others - unless you are one of those collectors who bought well years ago when prices were low. The problem is that, like all collectables/antiques, fashions come and go. The blue and white transfer pottery I bought in the 70s and 80s is now worth about a third. I think the really high prices we now see with enamels are due in large part to lack of quality items available - but that could change. I get the impressions that most of the really good enamels collections are held by relatively few individuals, many of whom are not what I'd call young!!! What happens in time when these collections hit the market? Are there the buyers to support high prices? I don't know.

On a slightly different angle its quite funny really ? I know its a hobby but most of us if we are honest probably still see collecting as bit of an investment, or perhaps a safe haven, or somewhere to put a bit of dosh instead of frittering it away, generally that would be fair would'nt it ?

If we had all bought shares, or gold or diamonds we would all be buzzing if prices had sky rocketed , Most of us are sitting on moderate, good or fantastic collections that have been built up over the years with some items bought at very lowly prices but somehow we / some people are not happy now prices have risen .... strange

Personally i don't consider prices other people pay when looking for stuff for me. I wheel and deal to fund better pieces, and if i see a piece I always consider what I want to pay before asking or looking at the price. Also I dont personally chase particular items or themes. I honestly just wait until summat pops up if its not me I can always sell it or swap it .

To me collecting is about getting up early , hunting pieces down and burning shoe leather. I appreciate some people can only build a collection by buying at auction, ebay etc because of circumstance, work , time family etc . But probably if you have only ever " bought " your collection relatively speaking you are used to paying those high prices !?

Is that a maker's mark bottom right on that Sunlight sign Benbush321?

Thanks Trixon

Enamels remain red hot it seems!

I dont think they have ever dropped in prices..