Parts? He has parts? And he didn’t share!
Years ago I read a post by someone who put a USA motor block under his Aristo locomotive. I don’t remember much about the post, because back then Aristo was still around and still selling motor blocks. But it can be done. I don’t know how difficult it would be though.
Scott had a fair amount of parts I believe at the Aristo closure. I recall a good model shop in my area who in his Railway Modeller advert always quoted “that a phone call was always worthwhile”.
He was right then and that still applies nowadays. It seems we are getting far too hooked on the web expecting to be told rather than enquiring about products thus losing the personal contact which, in my view, can be so very important.
Maybe I am missing something about parts. Lewis posted on the Aristro forum that all parts were in the hands of Navin and he would repair Aristro stock as long as the parts lasted. Scott also noted at York a year ago he had no parts on hand and would not for the near future, thus, he could only take back in trade defective stock. Thus, I am confused as to where the discussion started about him having parts.
As for Scott’s future, it is very questionable at this time. He scrounged up a few thousand dollars to buy already manufactured stock. But, three problems have occurred: 1) He needs funds to buy full lots ie 250 Dash 9s, or larger lots for rolling stock. His own words. 2) he burned up all profits from the sale of his purchases in overhead. storage facility, heat, lights, phone, internet services, advertizing, insurance, and shipping. He stated he was paying single item shipping as he did not have enough for a partical container. 3) Forced to get immediate returns, he sold most of his stock to retailers such a Trainworld, Reindeer Pass, Robbie, ect at not much over his costs. This reduced much of his anticipated capital.
I wish him luck, but it appears he is sinking fast.
Thomas, reading back (a wondrous thing!!) this is where the discussion of parts came from. So, he may still have some stuff.
I was under the same impression as you as to where the bulk of the parts “went”, they “stayed” with the owner of the company, Lewis, and are now owned by the owner of Crest-Electronics, Lewis… they may have physically moved, but under the same ownership.
Perhaps Scott got some parts along with the eggliners, C16, Fa’s? Who knows?
Greg
Vincent D’Agostino said:
Someone just posted on FB that there garden railroad club was invited by Scott Polk to visit the warehouse and look for parts they may need…
Greg, it would be great if he did, but Scott noted he would not be ordering any in the near future. This was evident when the SF FA came in. Scott posted no bolcks came with the order. Secondly, a club member went to York looking for parts for the 45 and a c-16. Navin has no blocks for either. After many attempts to catch Scott at his table(not booth) to see if he had any ideas who may have some, he emailed him. A few emails later and still no response. It appears Scott spent a few hours at the table and disappeared for the rest of the show and his email return has gone to ‘0’.
It is getting scary, the Aristro spare parts on ebay are starting to dry up and no place in the foreseeable future to buy any. I, personally, am a train runner and have no interest in becoming a vintage restorer where one waits sometimes years for a part to get it running.
If Scott did in fact use up the profits in overhead, that takes me back to wondering if he went into this with a sound business plan. He may have done it more for emotional then business reasons. I hope he can get things moving in the right direction, but as time goes on, I am more unsure that will happen.
Like I said, to keep one of these running:
Your going to need a stack of this to pick parts off of:
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Thomas, it’s second hand information that we heard that Scott invited some people to his warehouse to see if he had any parts they were interested in.
I would imagine that there are still some defective locos, and Aristo usually cannibalized new locos for parts, so yes, maybe he has some parts from this kind of thing. It seems possible.
Then you mix in someone asking Navin for parts, which is a different company, different warehouse… different story. I have gotten parts for an SD45 and a few other things from Navin recently.
I agree, parts will be an issue, although you see people making railing stanchions, trucks, and other parts now.
Greg
I have several aristo 3 axle motor blocks in stock.
He had another full page ad in GR about starter sets, seems those ads have to cost a lot, so he has those for sale anyway?
Maybe a long lead in time for ad. So now maybe nothing. Later RJD
Articles are printed for the magazine a month or 2 in advance, I would think adds would be the same. After all, there is laying out the pages (typesetting), printing, binding (2 staples) and shipping.
How come Time Magazine can print weekly, without too much trouble ?
There is no type setting done these days; it’s all done on a 'puter, within hours.
Look at the graphics done for weekly, and daily newspapers…sure there is the “Binding” needed for a magazine, but it doesn’t prevent a magazine from being more current than a month or two.
Volume does help a lot, I do admit. It does pay for more bodies doing the work…!!
I need to look into this type of track. Looks interesting.
Fred, yes I think maybe it has to do with manpower, and how much money they want to throw at printing it.
…not forgetting the profit of course…
Fred, the stated lead times from GR are several months.
Therefore ads can continue in the magazine even after the demise of a company, as witnessed.
But, in this modern age, you wonder what tools they are using to put the magazine together, and if it could not be faster.
I’ve cancelled my subscription since all it has become is lots of ads (and the prices are not current when you order) and reviews that “speak no evil, hear no evil, see no evil”, i.e. worthless.
Greg
It is getting way off topic, but
The bottleneck with printing magazines is the printer, not the publisher. Large printing firms pay from $200-500 MILLION for a large printer. Thus they must keep these busy 24/7. Most magazines are published monthly or bimonthly. Thus they will print scheduled short notice magaxines at a large premium. The smaller runners such as hobby, tourist, etc get scheduled in to fill the time. Thus, magazines such as GR may get printed 5-6weeks prior to mail date. Put in 1-2 weeks for layout and typeset approval we are into 2 months lead time. Large weeklies are printed on dedicted printers as are the weekly rags we all get filling our mailboxes.
I would suggest that the magazines are NOT printed on a “Printer”, but on a large continuous press. No insult meant, but there is a great difference between what most people know, as a “Printer”, no-mater how big it is, and a continuous printing press, involving Lithography.
Fred Mills
Yes Fred, you are correct. In my mind, when the word printer is used in this context, I think the continuous press. But then I have serviced equipment in the building where the local newspaper is printed, so I have seen (and heard) them in action.
