T206 Time Machine

[Mattymc727]

I couldn’t fall asleep last night, and had a fun idea in my head that I thought would be a fun discussion post….Im going to add parameters to it that might make it nonsensical, but relatable to this forum.

Essentially, if you stumbled upon a Time Machine that could only go back to 1909-1911, what resources would you need to bring with you to maximize your purchasing power of cigarette packs and thus your collection of NM T206? Perhaps a real Honus Wagner…

Clearly, modern currency wouldn’t work, and I don’t believe Gold would help due to the Gold Standard. So what abundant resource in 2023 could you bring that would maximize your 1910 equity and get you more buying power?

Bonus! What would you wear as to not get caught right away as a time traveler!

[joshleon]

I'd bring a PSA 9 52 Mantle!

[BobbyStrawberry]

Gray's Sports Almanac is all you need

[Mattymc727]

Where could you realistically bet on sports in 1910?

Originally Posted by BobbyStrawberry

Gray's Sports Almanac is all you need

[butchie_t]

Cash, and buy the tobacco company. Or at least a couple of them.

All cards, all the time.

[ullmandds]

Originally Posted by butchie_t

Cash, and buy the tobacco company. Or at least a couple of them.

All cards, all the time.

you'd have to bring cash older than 1909...which could be a challenge. i'd bring cigarettes...to trade for the cards.

[raulus]

Originally Posted by butchie_t

Cash, and buy the tobacco company. Or at least a couple of them.

All cards, all the time.

So let's say that you manage to buy up millions of mint T206 cards, and bring them back to the present. Including a gigantic stash of Wagners.

Does your intervention suddenly impact the market, like with the BSF, except with a much larger existing supply and demand?

And does a T206 Wagner no longer have the same cachet?

[BobbyStrawberry]

Originally Posted by Mattymc727

Where could you realistically bet on sports in 1910?

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but pre-Black Sox, I believe gambling was quite prevalent around the game. (Although not officially sanctioned the way it is now.)

[Mattymc727]

You certainly have to start with something other than cash. 2023 cash is funny money to someone in 1910.

Gold won’t work either. Were silver or diamonds more valuable then?

Food might be a commodity. Modern food production probably makes something super cheap in 2023 very valuable in 1909…

[Mattymc727]

Originally Posted by BobbyStrawberry

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but pre-Black Sox, I believe gambling was quite prevalent around the game. (Although not officially sanctioned the way it is now.)

You are probably right, although i thought it was “illegal” back then. Be careful not to get the bookies and gangs on your tail for taking advantage of them!

[Casey2296]

-
I would take back old stock certificates from now defunct companies like American Caramel, Union Pacific, American Steel & Wire, etc. that were valuable in 1910 and put them up as collateral to start a tobacco shop in New York.

Once I had the shop set up I would offer a 1 cent discount to tobacco buyers to open their pack and leave their T206's with me.

The rest, as they say, would be History...

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by Casey2296

-I would take back old stock certificates from now defunct companies like American Caramel, Union Pacific, American Steel & Wire, etc. that were valuable in 1910 and put them up as collateral to start a tobacco shop in New York.

Once I had the shop set up I would offer a 1 cent discount to tobacco buyers to open their pack and leave their T206's with me.

Great idea!

[esd10]

Take morgan city dollars but a boat load of them and go too the tobacco or printing companies and just buy directly from them as uncut sheets.

[Yoda]

I would go down to my local Salvation Army kitchen and look at the available clothing for sale, choosing an old pair of work boots, a tattered flannel work shirt and baggie trousers. For this trip I will go Commando. You never know.
My hook will be the gross of brand new, top-of-the-line, quality controlled tested condoms.
Then I will travel America, after researching the most popular smoke shops, and try to deal as follows:
4 condoms for Honus
3 " for Eddie P. and Joe D. Nat'l.
2 for all other Hof'ers. You know who they are but the 1909 crowd certainly doesn't.
1. for commons
Potential legal problems may arise but I think it is worth the trip.

[JollyElm]

Originally Posted by Yoda

I would go down to my local Salvation Army kitchen and look at the available clothing for sale, choosing an old pair of work boots, a tattered flannel work shirt and baggie trousers. For this trip I will go Commando. You never know.
My hook will be the gross of brand new, top-of-the-line, quality controlled tested condoms.
Then I will travel America, after researching the most popular smoke shops, and try to deal as follows:
4 condoms for Honus
3 " for Eddie P. and Joe D. Nat'l.
2 for all other Hof'ers. You know who they are but the 1909 crowd certainly doesn't.
1. for commons
Potential legal problems may arise but I think it is worth the trip.

Of all of the countless stories told by people about the dream of time travel, I believe yours is the first one in history to mention the possible legal problems that may result!!! My gawd, I cannot stop laughing!!!!!!!

[ZachS]

1. Get a job as clerk at a tobacco shop
2. Tell all customers that you save the cards for kids (most smokers prob tossed the cards anyway)
3. Keep the cards... sorry, kids
4. Profit

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by Mattymc727

Essentially, if you stumbled upon a Time Machine that could only go back to 1909-1911, what resources would you need to bring with you to maximize your purchasing power of cigarette packs and thus your collection of NM T206? Perhaps a real Honus Wagner…

Clearly, modern currency wouldn’t work, and I don’t believe Gold would help due to the Gold Standard. So what abundant resource in 2023 could you bring that would maximize your 1910 equity and get you more buying power?

What did a pack of cigarettes cost back in 1909? A nickel? All you'd need to do therefore is canvass several coin dealers in your area for junk pre-1910 pennies and nickels. Most coin dealers have bins of junk pennies and nickels that they sell at a slight premium to face value. I doubt that you'd need to pay much more than double face value if you were buying $10 worth. The only problem would be finding good quantities of pre-1910 junk penny and nickel coinage in one spot.