I have noticed on auctions brass is advertised with names like Key, PFM, Overland, etc. Then looking on the box is United Scale Models, then Atlas Industries etc. Other makers have only one name Tenshodo and that’s it. I assume names like Key, PFM are the importers only, Does this mean one particular loco model can be made by the same manufacturer but imported by 2 or more different importers?? I guess my question is why would anyone care who imported something? Would not the maker be of some importance? I just got a brass tender(a beauty) All that is on the original box is nyc/sam. no importer or anything else, it’s a samhongsa and that’s it, thats all I need to know, why the importance of the importer?? Also one question remains why manufacturers of some of these magnificent brass locos do nor bother to put serial numbers on each model,this makes no sense at all, it’s good for identity in theft, great just for identifying the model and in the future knowing it’s history, just a thought. I certainly wouldn’t buy and expensive watch without a serial number, or a car.
United and Tenshodo were the Japanese builders for PFM. Samhongsa is a large Korean builder for many of the importers, among them OMI for a while. What color is the box the tender came in? PFM, Westside, Balboa were importers into the 1970’s, but are now out of business. Key, Sunset, Overland(OMI), PSC, among others are still in business. I only know of one instance where two importers imported the same model at the same time. One was AHM, and I think the other was Nickle Plate Products(both out of business). The model was UP M10000… The AHM version was a lot cheaper than the Nickle Plate one, but I think they had the same builder.
Some hobby shops put a serial number or identifing markings on brass models they sell. One shop I know of used a Dremel engraver. Some of the importers used to include a serial number on the paperwork included with the model, but I don’t think they do that anymore; too expensive… I suppose a builder could serialize all his production, and then each model run would have a group of numbers, but that would drive up the cost. People would want consecutive numbers if they bought more than one type of model. However, it would provide a built date, especially useful for models built for the same importer, but 5 years apart.
Bob Hayes
A specific model can be imported by more than one Importer, but usually not by the same manufacturer in Japan or Korea. Samhongsa, which was one of the best of the Korea buiders, made models first for Sunset, Key, and later on for Challenger Imports and probably a few others, but would require each import company to furnish drawings for their model. Remember the MTH versus LIonel lawsuit??
It would not make sense to import the same locomotive that someone else is bringing in because the market is so limited.
Key had Samhongsa make the early UP Challengers back in the mid eighties and Challenger Imports sold them again last year, but they are not from the same mold so to speak. I own one of the new ones, and sold my older one several years ago, and the new one is to new specifications by Challenger Imports.
Tens
If you ever need(ed) parts or service, don’t try calling the manufacturer. You better hope you have a good importer. It’s the same as P2K or BLI, they don’t build them, they have them built. I can tell you Key and Sunset were both very good to me.
Thanks for the great information, sure solved a lot of mysteries.Bob Hayes: the box is red, so is the foam, I also found a small tag inside, it is a Key. So, lets see if I got it right:
1: Made by Samhongsa in Korea 2: Imported to U.S. by Key 3: Now residing in Canada. ----- Would like to know the date it was made. again, many thanks to all.