On Sat, Feb 1, 2025 at 05:30 AM, Pieter Roos wrote:
I would bet that the molds/tooling for the pieces under discussion reside in China.
(after 50 years I expect the idea of ¡°growing¡± S into a major scale is one to forget).
Lionel has several factories in China which produce products for them.? At one time, the number was at least 10+ different factories.? Lionel obtained competitive bids for production from various factories in their attempts to keep the numbers reasonable.? I do not know how many factories Lionel uses these days.? I am quite sure Lionel did not own these factories but had exclusive use of their capabilities.
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I really appreciate Pieter's thinking outside the box regarding S scale not becoming a major scale.? As two old-tymers in S, we have both worked hard in our individual ways to accomplish that goal.? I, for one, feel it is impossible unless a big Sugar Daddy steps up to the task.? So far, I have not seen a Sugar Daddy on the horizon heading our way.?
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Perhaps S scale marketing should emphasize that S is the best niche scale to enjoy.? Creatively making things might be an appeal to many rather than simply buying things.? (Note:? "might" is not the same as "will".)? Promoting all the different ways folks could make things in S scale for themselves would be a new approach.? Perhaps it would be better to be known as the BEST NICHE SCALE rather than the long-lost? formerly-major scale?? No matter how much S advertises, the lack of products remains the biggest single obstacle to attracting those from other scales to S.?
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Just my thoughts.? Worth what you paid for them.? Enjoy.........
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Cheers..........Ed Loizeaux?
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Ed Loizeaux
Los Altos, CA
