Man this thing looks awesome. I don't know what I would ever do with it but it would be cool to own such a beautiful piece of olympic history. As of this posting it is going for $3,450.00 with 2 bids.
Description from the auction:
Up for auction is a classic piece of modern sports memorabilia and quite possibly the most beautiful torch ever designed. Once in a blue moon you see one pop up for sale or auction, but not one in this condition. This piece is an official issue 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Torch, number 4969 of 5000 made. This piece is being offered by my father who was the Chief Medical Officer at the baseball events during the '84 Olympics. As with all high ranking LAOOC members, he was presented with a torch at the conclusion of the games. He is downsizing his enormous Olympic collection due to his retirement move out of state with my mother. He plans to only retain his player memorabilia and pins. As with all 1984 torches, this one has been lit. Don't let someone fool you into believing that they have a brand new, never lit torch available. The Olympic flame was briefly carried by all manufactured L.A. torches, even those not in the official torch run from Greece. This includes the approximately 2000 special issue torches for dignitaries, LAOOC members and sponsors. After all, how can it be called an Olympic torch without having had the Olympic flame burn in it? There have been frequent reports of only 3000 torches being made but this is false. The initial production run was 3000 for the torch relay portion of the games. These were 'sold' to those who could afford the $2,500 donation (1982 dollars) to the LAOOC, which allowed the donor to run a short leg with the flame and keep his/her torch as a souvineer. The additional production of 2000 was used to reward those involved on different levels. This torch, with serial #4969, makes it one of the final few ever produced. Since this one was not part of the relay, it has been spared from damaging elements such as sun and rain, and has avoided sweat and dirt from prolonged human contact. The leather still smells new! The brass is flawless and the interior bowl only shows the faintest remnants of fire. It has been in storage in it's original case for 20 years, and comes with all paperwork and even extra Torch fuel!
Olympic memorbilia is some of the toughest pieces to come across for those not specifically involved in the games. It is also the hottest collectable in sports once again. Official tickets and metals to Olympic games have been selling for thousands at the brick and mortar auction houses. Due to their beauty and scarcity (people rarely part this this type of piece), torches continue to be the most popular and desired piece after individual Olympic pins. The 1984 torch was issued in a run of only 5000 which makes it one of the hardest to find in the last 30 years. Atlanta and Sydney for example, issued more than 15,000 torches.
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How was the torch lit?
How is the 1984 torch lit?
Here is a video...
http://youtu.be/cbbVk3AGVhE
Thanks for stopping by!
The flame was brought over from greece and lit the first torch and the flame was then passed from torch to torch. They kept the flame with them in the convoy leading the run in case like in one instance some jerk threw water on the runner and put out the flame or if it went out for any other reason. The number idea stated is wrong because I have the torch I ran with and it is number 4242.
I got one, I ran it myself- I won it at my school (Harvard, now Harvard Westlake)
I have the original official tank top too- I can't believe I fit into that thing. I've got
the black case, the brochure, the original box & two "Harvard carries the Torch"
T-shirts". #1980 of 5000. Call me if you really want it. Greg 810 813 1673
ooops - wrong serial # - the right one for the Harvard torch is 4431
Where is the serial # located on the torch?
The number can be found by twisting off the very bottom knob of the torch. It's engraved inside.
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