Crandell has started a thread about rumors that a major supplier of MRR products may be about to go belly up. Let’s hope that isn’t the case. But in case those rumors are true, how about we make a list of who we hope it isn’t.
Here is my starter list.
Please, following manufacturers, do not go belly up. Feel free to add (or subtract - - LOL)
Bachmann
BLI
Atlas
Athearn
Intermountain
Kadee
Kato
Walthers
Rapido
Model Power
Shinohara
Peco
Central Valley
Micro Engineering
Woodland Scenics
Circuitron (Tortoise)
Caboose Industries
CEO of Atlas made a statement when the forums shut down that they were financially healthy and positioned well for moving forward. That was about 10 months ago. So apparently they were/are ok.
It probably depends on what your poison is. Most important to keep is Athearn since they produce alot of nice western rolling stock inluding stuff for SP and D&RGW fans.
Wow, this has really shown me that I am a ‘Diverse Purchaser’ as I have at least one to many, from each manufacturer listed so far.
Even the 4-6 Canadian manufacturers (not mentioned yet), & private folks not listed.
As I said in another thread, challenges have slowed my buying, regardless of the quality & want factor of the products offered.
That said, I feel partially responsible for not making those purchases & supporting those great products.
It is Sad that any Manufacturer/Distributor closes their doors, & more than likely they are the ones that provide an exact, specific, true to scale units, that may have a niche following…
I’m ‘them’ people, & have enjoyed some of those models & products.
I wish them the best, & wished I could have supported in more than single orders, or just words of praise.
Just my thoughts…
I would feel no sadness if “Botchmann” went under, I have never owned and will never own one of their products. I fixed way too many of them at the hobby shop I did repairs for.
To be completely honest, I would feel unhappy to learn that any ‘major’ company was in so much difficulty that it is about to fail, or has and the announcement is pending. A major company doesn’t get that way without a lot of purchasing decisions over the years. So, who are those buyers who may post here daily or weekly, and what will they lose if they are partway through plans that include those products? This was my concern.
Losing any outfit that advertises in the Narrow Gauge & Short Line Gazette, would be bad in my book, even for the 113 scale/gauge combinations I don’t model in.[:P]
Any vendor ever listed in any Walthers Catalog – 'cause I really want some of the classic stuff, so while we’re doing pie in the sky…[8-|]