Would anybody , who has read any postings , at any LS Train forum , over the last 5+ years or so , purchase the LGB molds , KNOWING , that nothing they made was to scale ?
Gummi size trains would continue to be produced ?
What do you think the chances are , and why ?
This is going to be good.
Dennis Paulson said:
Would anybody , who has read any postings , at any LS Train forum , over the last 5+ years or so , purchase the LGB molds , KNOWING , that nothing they made was to scale ?Gummi size trains would continue to be produced ?
What do you think the chances are , and why ?
Point # 2. Probably.
Point # 3. Pretty good. Because there is still a small (but probably diminishing) market for Gummi toys.
I think that question can be summed up in one word: PIKO. Their Taurus is a gummi scale locomotive designed to run with LGB’s modern Euro cars. They really need those cars to insure sale of the locomotive. Then one thing will feed another.
Also food for thought…I wonder how much of the money put up by the G45 bid came out of Dr. Wilfer’s (sp) pocket via some investment company??
I certainly wouldn’t mind seeing someone produce LGB’s best small locos, such as the Porter.
A thought has just occured to me. Maybe LGB’s rulers were steel but they made the moulds from rubber. If so, then perhaps by selectively compressing the moulds an astute manufcaturer could squeeze a scale model out of them.
Personally I think the Stainz looks a bit stubby to my eye. By pushing it in on the sides and top, it could be made longer.
Like a diamond, right?
Enough heat, pressure and time, and you can change what it is!
Warren Mumpower said:
I think that question can be summed up in one word: PIKO. Their Taurus is a gummi scale locomotive designed to run with LGB's modern Euro cars. They really need those cars to insure sale of the locomotive. Then one thing will feed another.Also food for thought…I wonder how much of the money put up by the G45 bid came out of Dr. Wilfer’s (sp) pocket via some investment company??
You know after LGB declared insolvency they had a bit of a delivery delay on the long modern German SG coaches. Officially because whoever did the lettering (and painting???) was back logged and they were too large to do in house. Hmmmmmmm, I wondered at the time, who would be the sub-contractor??? 
BTW anyone who is interested in a plant tour of a modern MRR mfg could take the virtual one at Piko Sorry all the text is in German - but Google and Babelfish “do such an excellent job” .
On the food for thought … hmmmm Warren, you haven’t heard some of the interesting items regarding Dr. Wilfer. 
Sure I would, why not? The only diff being that I wouldnt call most of them by any scale, and market them as toy trains but as toys that are say 1/29 or 1/22.5 “compatable” if you so chose
But I would use the drives to produce new models, I wouldnt wait 10 years for each new release.
Who would purchase LGB molds – This was THE question.
OK, I would.
Sure, I don’t have the $ nor the sanity to do so.
However, with the molds I GET the LGB brand. Yuo, that’s a condition. I then start marketing the trains in stupid places – such as garden magazines – there are over 50 of 'em just looking at a mag list at a store – and in Loews GARDEN SHOP.
Yes, fellow garden RRs, there are humans who don’t have the slightest idea what this hobby is. They like animating their yard with trinkets that make sounds, move, and look shiny. Wheeee, along comes a small train that moves among the plants. “OH BOY! Look at that honey!”
CONCLUSION:
Go for the unwashed. Go for those who simply want annimation in their yard and could care less how big or how small the trains are —oooops! NO! They want them as large as possible that can fit the track.
ANSWER:
Who would buy the molds? Only someone who would also get the LGB label and – gulp --has a new marketing effort to capture the home owners with toooooo much discretionary funds who also like gimmicks in their yard.
Forget the Big Train Show. Go for the garden shows with the hawking of sharpeners, pavers, fountains with sensors, water widgets to scare away birds, a myriad of chrome garden gazers, endless new hanging, swinging, and reflective mechanisms that all cost $$$, and the garden gazebo!
I am now open for a full verbal BAR-B-QUE!
Hey, Dave, this is a good’n.
Selah,
Wendell
Volume!
If you can pump out lots and lots of the Christmas set, garden Stainz sets and even (shuddder) Coke, Disney and Peanuts to keep the factory sort of full…
Once you have the cash flow from the “great unwashed” or those out for fun toy trains without lots of scale and prototype issues (sometimes guilty of this one), you can get some development time and money to turn out “scale” models that may or may not get around an R1 curve…
Wendell, like your conclusion.
I, however have no money, so I just watch with little amusement from the sidelines as a big volume supplier slips slowly beneath the waves taking a range of products (some of which) could have looked good in my back yard with it…
The other alternative is just cherry pick the bits that you want (track and the like), and the brand name and use it to start flogging HO stuff and garden edge clippers!
Geoff.
Do not adjust your mind,
There is a fault in reality.
Geoff Merrell said:
Volume!If you can pump out lots and lots of the Christmas set, garden Stainz sets and even (shuddder) Coke, Disney and Peanuts to keep the factory sort of full…
Once you have the cash flow from the “great unwashed” or those out for fun toy trains without lots of scale and prototype issues (sometimes guilty of this one), you can get some development time and money to turn out “scale” models that may or may not get around an R1 curve…SNIP
Geoff.Do not adjust your mind,
There is a fault in reality.
Wendell Hanks may have something there , there is a large number of baby boomers reaching retirement age , and if Wendall could just sell to a small percentage of this group , big bucks in return .
It could be that the $5 a gallon price of gas would keep the boomers near home , maybe .
But who ever sells to the great unwashed group that is growing , had better produce something that runs reliable , the unwashed are not interested in repairing , modifing , re working things to make them work .
Buy the pretty , and watch it run , have another drink , out do the neighbors again .
Dennis Paulson said:I agreee Dennis.
SNIP But who ever sells to the great unwashed group that is growing , had better produce something that runs reliable , the unwashed are not interested in repairing , modifing , re working things to make them work . Buy the pretty , and watch it run , have another drink , out do the neighbors again .
The problem is the aspirational show offs who are trying to outdo the neighbours generally do not stay with the hobby.
I have seen this happen before.
They get involved. Have the latest attraction for awhile. Then get bored with it because it requires a lot of ongoing maintenance and all it does is go around in circles. They dump it and move onto the next big thing in the garden.
Please understand I am not knocking those that are quite happy just running rundy roundy. Doing so can be very satisfying. Long term though, we have to hold their attention. Mother nature tends to spoil their fun.
Wendell,
the sad irony and ultimate ending will be ownership of the moulds/tooling will not give the purchaser rights over the LGB brandname. Marketting rights seem to be a little clouded at present although some have taken to the plate professing ownership of such rights and use of trademark.
Remember July 26, 2007.
The boys have short memories around these here parts.
Quote from Bob:
<<LGB ist verbotten.
Done.
Enough.
Period.>>>
John Bouck said:
The boys have short memories around these here parts. :) :)Quote from Bob:
<<LGB ist verbotten.
Done.
Enough.
Period.>>>
I think Piko LS is a more interesting subject!
John Bouck said:
The boys have short memories around these here parts. :) :)Quote from Bob:
<<LGB ist verbotten.
Done.
Enough.
Period.>>>
For the record:
There is no LGB. It is in the second phase of insolvency, disposing of assets.
Therefore, we aren’t officially talking about anything.
Victor Smith said:
Sure I would, why not? The only diff being that I wouldnt call most of them by any scale, and market them as toy trains but as toys that are say 1/29 or 1/22.5 "compatable" if you so chose ;)But I would use the drives to produce new models, I wouldnt wait 10 years for each new release.
Boxcars and such will be a little more difficult.
Probably a hole in the roof or underneath with a very expensive, proprietary wrench to drop in and rotate.
Heck, that would make everybody happy, right?
And it would only raise the cost by 42%.