Thought that i would share...

This is a wells fargo 1970s union Pacific accurate 176 brass buckle. I bought a bunch of military pins a few years back and this was in the package. I spent 10.00 for the lot. From what i gather, it's only about 20.00 in value but interesting nonetheless. An addition to my future train room.

 

Very interesting Javaman!

 

Oops...correction. Eerie pacific, not union Pacific. Need more coffee.

 

Don't drink too much!

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news...ffeine-how-much-coffee-can-kill-you/99975022/

 

Here's another Erie-Pacific RR buckle with the same printing on the back, but the hook, workings on the back, are different. Both of them seem to have on the back: "AJCUAVE J78." Not at all sure if the 2nd letter is a "J" or if the 6th letter is a "V" or "U."

http://www.ebay.com/itm/352034738305?rmvSB=true

--- Susan

Yours:


The one on eBay:

 

Is that the one for 19.00?

 

I try to keep it just under the limit. Kinda like "break neck speed." Dont know just how fast that is but i sure as heck wanna stay 1mph under it. Lol

 

No, price is $9.99. Looks like it's original price was $12.99. It didn't sell so it's price was lower. Here is another that didn't sell for $15.00 resulting is price lowered to $7.95.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw...gn=-1&saslc=1&_salic=1&_sop=12&_dmd=1&_ipg=50

--- Susan

 

I think you will find that the metal in these is largely spelter, not brass, even though they have a goldish look.

 

Thanks...i didn't figure it was of value except to someone who collects railroading memorabilia

 

I'm pretty sure that the words on the back are "ACCURATE xx76."
You can make out the T and the first C if you look closely.
Maybe 5176, as one ebay listing says.
Apparently Accurate was a manufacturer of belt buckles.
Two other examples of their logo:

 

In a lamp discussion thread I found mention of metal lamp bases with the logo "Accurate Casting Company 4450."
This information in a post may pertain to your buckle also, but it should be noted that the next post quotes someone who appears to have insider knowledge, claiming that Accurate was a US casting company. But for what it is worth, here is one opinion:
"Accurate Casting Co. was not the manufacturer of these lamps - they only produced the metal parts. The company - located in Offshore China (Taiwan) - was established 1972 and already taken over and closed between 1985 and 1986. In those few years they (next to other things) supplied three larger lamp manufacturers in Taiwan which in turn supplied various US stores under different (store) brands."

 

But wait; maybe that is incorrect. Here's someone who claims to have better info. The numbering system mentioned for lamp parts seems consistent with the buckle marking; on lamp parts one finds the word Accurate or ACC and a four-digit ID number:
"Here is some authentic information on anything that has a stamp in the metal ACC. ACC, or Accurate Casting Company was in Long Island City until the late 1980s, and before that, it was in Manhattan. Only the metal parts were made by Accurate Casting Company. The metal parts are a white metal or pot metal as it is sometimes called.

The reason I know all this is that I am the son of the owner of Accurate Casting Company. The location was on 5- 20 46 Road, Long Island City, New York - right next to the giant Pepsi sign on the East River. ACC also made things for Lee Co.- they made belt buckles and key chains, trophies, statues, book ends and lamp parts until all the brothers got greedy and let other family members’ inexperience in sales to run the business into the ground.

As for ‘antique’ status, ACC products are probably more like ‘vintage’. Also, if you go to garage sales and estate sales, don’t let the people running the sales tell you that it is an antique. Sellers are asking a crazy amount of money for the belt buckles and key chains, which is not worth it because millions were made and these items are all over the place and are really only worth about $4 to $6 each..... millions were made from the late 1940s all the way up to the late 80s when the factory closed." (Emphasis added)
From http://www.artifactcollectors.com/accurate-casting-company-622.html

 

Awesome info folks...it gains a ton of value when you learn about it. 4-6 dollars just became invaluable.

 

I see also that there are a variety of different railroads and scenes that they used on them and that the start bid varies from 6-20 bucks. That's where i got confused. I was looking at a union pacific buckle.

 

Erie Pacific means it's a fantasy piece on a good day; the Erie ran east of the Mississippi. My granddad worked in the Erie Lackawanna machine shop in Newark NJ. These buckles were everywhere in the 70s, all brand new.

 

Very good, evelyb. I completely missed that fantasy connection of Erie to the Pacific.

--- Susan

 

Erie Atlantic maybe, Erie Lackawanna definitely. Erie Pacific... not exactly. If someone found a piece from a real pre-WWII Erie-connected short line, it could be serious money.