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Re: Dumb Curiousity

 

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I'm a bit like Jamie with the "late" Lionel stuff.? I once owned three OMI SD40-2' engines, a Modern Models caboose, some double stacks, a long Tank Train and other modern'ish stuff.? I've had to trim that down more than a bit.? I still have some U-Boats, SD-60 and a 40-2.? I would have loved a couple of U-33's but with all that expensive and useless electronics inside--only if I win big at something!

Now go back to the early 70's when the original creator of Ace (Gaebler-(sp), a lawyer as I recall persuaded Lionel to rerun several of the AF cars--hoppers, box, & reefers.? Obviously he had enough business knowledge and guts, along with cash to make Lionel smile; then he was also happy to add a bunch of his Ace trucks, Ace bolsters, Ace wheels along with the new reborn AF shells--enough to return his investment plus profit??? So basically Lionel leased out a run of X# of cars that Ace then added their trucks etc.? So in the end, a one piece molded boxcar costing a dollar or two was then sold as a kit, with trucks, couplers for another profit center.?

Now obviously at that time Ace only sold basic kits, no decorated kits but with newer pad printing and other applied items by later owners they could or were successful!? Of course the Ace line morphed into Downs and a couple of other owners for finished product.? To the best of my knowledge Mr. Down employed others to help in the manufacturing of that line.?

Bob Werre?

Here's an idea. Since Lionel apparently has some recently mothballed tooling, perhaps they might be interested in recouping?some of their investment by selling it off. I don't generally model modern stuff, so I haven't paid much attention to their offerings. From my perspective though, the U 33(?), the modern?GE and?the SD70 look to be of at least American Models quality. The cylindrical hopper is decent too. I know there are potential issues with putting die A into injection molding machine B, but that's the limit of my knowledge in that field. Still, it seems like it might be a less expensive way to get "new" products, or at least return some things to the market. Maybe we S scalers could start a Go Fund Me or likewise to move it forward. Would American Models be interested in taking over production if this were at all feasible?
Jamie Bothwell
Bethlehem, PA


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