Large Scale Central

The tortured musings of a tortured mind

General Discussion
#1

As Tony W has said many times here, that large land mass in the East that no one should get involved in a war with (with the possible exception of certain Sicilians) can make exceptional products, if one is prepared to pay the price. As my Econ 301 prof said on the first day of classes, “If you pay a little, you get a little, if you pay a little bit more, you get a whole lot more.”

That got me to thinking (here comes the torture part), why pay a premium to that vast eastern land mass to get USA quality? And then have to pay shipping on top of that? Why not just re-open the plants here in the USA? Provide good jobs, revenue to the gummint, and so on…

It would certainly solve the problem of my Aristo mallet freezing up because it went out of quarter after just 10 hours of running.

I guess that is too simple.

Maybe it has to do with hiding… nah, better not go there. I’ll just leave it as it is.

#2

There are some US businesses that must have taken the same class as you did Steve. The increased shipping costs and lack of ‘on time delivery’ requiring larger volume of inventory seem to have some rethinking the 9¢ per hour labor advantage.

#3

<< Why not just re-open the plants here in the USA? Provide good jobs, revenue to the gummint, and so on…>>

Simple answer before Bob locks it.

Unions.
OSHA
WSHA (State Health & Safety Acts)
Taxes
Insurance
Tooling
R&D
Equipment
And a host other expenditures.

No one could afford the end product.

#4

Well John Buck
The only thing stopping them is not what you said it is greed. That is what is stopping them from producing here. $$$$$$$$
I work in UNION SHOP. We do a very good job at producing a QUALITY product.
In fact I was told more times than I wanted to hear “Don’t worry bout the quality just get it done”. Told to us buy a company man.
But then if there is a problem were no good union workers.
So when people complain bout union employees, I remember that.
Besides if the companies treated the employees properly there wouldn’t have been a need for UNIONS in the first place.
If you don’t believe me just take a look at the history of manufacturing in this country. That will say it all.

#5

Well if the CEO and upper management, major stock holders would work for a fair pay not some ridicules amount they could afford it.
Opps, I for got Major Stock holders don’t work. They just collect money.
Enough of this. Show us some train pics…

#6

Oops, everyone who owns any sort of retirement plan or has a job, benefits from those greeeeeeedy corporations. If you think it it so eeeeevil, start your own business.

I didn’t think so.

#7

I didn’t mean to start a union war. Lionel, Ives, AT, Marx, et. al. were able to make a good product at a fair price back in the day. Why can’t it be done again? Why do we insist on low priced junk?

Just wondering…

#8

David Kapp, I’m a retired Union member.
Also a retired Shop Steward.
I’ve deliberated with Owners at the table and experienced 2 strikes.
I’ve seen both sides of the coin.

#9

“Ding”

#10

If I started a company in my state, the minimum wage is $8.00 an hour.
Benefits are not required by law, but they should be applied.
Medical, dental, retirement, etc.
So lets prolly double that to $16.00 an hour, to include bennys. (Might be more.)
But how much are you willing to pay for a nice locomotive?

Steve,
The long and short of it is:
It can’t be done in the USA with todays economy.

#11
Steve Featherkile said:
"Ding"
Didn't you start this thread?

Ding is right.

#12

It wouldnt be that unreasonable at all to consider this, after all LGB, Bachmann, Aristo all are offering us brass level prices for plastic engines, not to mention that some feel the 'made in china" LGB offerings are coming out of the same factory that makes newquida? How much more would it really cost to bring that production back here, or to Korea or Taiwan or somewhere where the factories are more concerned with saving two pennies on each unit by only inserting the screws 3/4 the way or only using a “close enough” mentality when it comes to assemblying the product. People here like to gripe about Unions well? Well hows that non-union made in the rabidly no holds barred capitalist but please still call us communist so we dont upset Mao’s ghost PRC junky stuff working out ??? “Union Made” used to be a symbol of high quality products, all those shiny chromy cars, those shiny fast jet planes, even them shiny streamliners ya’all seam to like, ALL union made, labor here sure seams willing to work with managment these days to make good products again, why couldnt it happen again? and remember those “Union Wages” that a certain political party seam to despise, also PAY taxes for the roads your driving on, the airports you fly out of, the schools your kids went to, AND the cars, houses, and commerce that makes this country tick…I wish they would remember that as they are dipping their tea bags.

(http://www.laborarts.org/exhibits/sampler/art/5.jpg)

#13

Keep cost down,. Need more kits and build our own trains… Start up small companys in garages again in USA.
Tell Gov. to go set on it. . Also, our train may run longer to an No wheel falling off.
Back to running trains. Just finished repairing my C-16 Aristo jewel… Any new update Steve on your choo choos?

#14

Those of us who have owned a few businesses and employed a few workers understand why it is so difficult to start and operated a business, ESPECIALLY a small business, in the USA today. I would guess that a large scale train engine manufacturer could employ less than 250 people, making it a small business. It is the small businesses, those that earn a million dollars, that are getting hammered and are being made out to be the villains, even here on this site.

Instead, we should be grateful and supportive of our free enterprise system and the unions should kiss the feet of any business owner or stock holder that took the chance to provide them with a job. /rant

#15

My last experience dealing with unions was not all that pleasant. A company I was involved with contracted with New York City to do some Electrostatic Precipitator rebuild work for the Greenpoint Long Island garbage incinerator. The company had planned to utilize all union labor with corporate management due to the technical nature of the project. Long story short, the union representative at the table stated that if there was not going to be union management there would be no union labor. The company was the first in over 100 years to do non-union work inside the city limits of New York.

The union’s response was to threaten the job site with vandalism, sent people to harass the workers and vandalize their vehicles. I could continue, but I think this point is made. The union rep that showed up at the job site came in a stretch limousine wearing a $600.00 dollar Italian suit (wonder who paid for that??). During the course of the negotiations we discovered that about $5.00 per hour of each dues payment was being collected by the union for funds that were no longer appropriate or necessary.

The non-union crew finished the project both under budget and 4 weeks ahead of schedule. I have never been involved with a union that made schedule, much less finished early.

This is my experience only and I speak only for myself, and will get off my soap box. I spoke my piece and will not entertain confrontational replies on the open forum, my PM is not locked.

Bob C.

#16

By the way there are firms who are bring their work home (USA) due the increasing cost of production in that Large Land Mass west of US! Maybe there is hope yet, it would be nice to see americans emploied for a change, maybe in a right to work state!

Paul

#17

C"mon guys, let’s be fair. If corporate CEO’s & managers (auto industry exec’s/senate hearings) and governors (Chris Christie/NJ) can arrive at meetings and ball games in private jets, helicopters and stretch limos, why can’t union guys have a little fun as well?

edit note: changed to auto exec’s and to Chris Christie and added helicopters.

#18

There was a news item on the radio a few days ago. The largest supplier of chop sticks to China is in the USA. They export a full container every two days. Yes there is hope.

#19
Jon Radder said:
There was a news item on the radio a few days ago. The largest supplier of chop sticks to China is in the USA. They export a full container every two days. Yes there is hope.
There is hope indeed Jon. This item brought a chuckle here. At least some of those containers I see on the Roanoke VA and Fostoria OH web cams are not going back east in an empty state. lol