I have heard a nasty rumor that Rivarossi has gone belly up. Thats why you can’t get all the stuff that Walthers has in there catalogue. Any truth to it?
I had heard that for years Rivarossi was plaued by financial problems and bankruptcy. But then I vaguely recall hearing that they were bought out by Trix.
If Trix has bought out Rivarossi, will they still manufacture locos and cars in plastic or will they be made by Trix’s style?
Wouldn’t be surprised to see them bought out by Walthers, seems they like to buy up anything that looks good to them. Now if Walthers hadn’t reworked the dies they bought from Train Miniature of Illinois we would still have some really unique models to choose from; ie: stock cars !!
Rivarossi has allegedly stopped production to “retool” their locomotives and begin offering sound and DCC decoders – at a near quadrupling of prices! It doesn’t really matter who owns a company nowadays, their products all come from China – possibly even from the same contractor and the same molds.
To correct my previous post, Rivarossi has been purchased by the Austrian firm Roco, which I understand has led to some quality improvements in the Rivarossi line.
What I got from a European source (railway.fr) is that the Lima group, which owns Rivarossi, Arnold, Jouef and Pocher, declared bankruptcy with intent to liquidate in Italian courts on July 10 after severe losses in 2002 and a long period of serious infighting among the shareholders. Production continued through June but after that it stopped.
If Roco has indeed purchased the Rivarossi line, can you confirm the source of this information?
David
Hornby plc in the UK has made an offer for all the Lima assets, including the Rivarossi, Arnold and Pocher brands. This is in the Italian courts at present and, if successful, the process should be completed by the end of this year.
Other offers may be received and considered in that time. Hornby has stated all production will be moved to China where the current Hornby production is. Hornby has also just purchased the Spanish firm of Electrotren.
This is likely to be good news for both sides of the pond. Hornby has introduced live steam into an OO scale model of A4 Mallard. Just think what live steam would be in a Rivarossi Big Boy! Mouth watering or what!
Below are the two press releases regarding Lima and Electrotren:-
The information on this page is updated via a feed from the London Stock Exchange’s Regulatory News Service.
Hornby PLC - Offer for Lima Assets
RNS Number:2324W
Hornby PLC
08 March 2004
HORNBY PLC OFFERS TO ACQUIRE CERTAIN ASSETS
OF LIMA S.P.A (IN LIQUIDATION)
Hornby Plc (“Hornby”), the model and collectables group, is pleased to announce
that it has made an offer of Euro8 million (eight million Euros) or approximately
£5.3 million (1) to acquire certain assets (the “Assets”) of Lima S.p.A (in
liquidation) (“Lima”) (the “Offer”). It is intended that the Offer will be
funded from cash reserves and, if necessary, bank debt.
Lima, based in Vicenza and Brescia (Italy), is one of the best-known model
railway companies in Europe. Its brands include Lima, Rivarossi, Jouef, Arnold
and Pocher:
- Lima (HO gauge) features model railway subject matter from a variety of
European countries but with a focus on Italy. In addition, the Lima product
range includes OO gauge models based upon British and Australian locomotives
and rol
So does this mean we are up a creak without paddles regarding spare parts?
Well, whoever retools/re-releases Rivarossi stuff, they will have to replace the pizza cutters with wheels and flanges that don’t ride on the ties in order to compete successfully.
Who is taking responsibility for the new release of the new HO FEF and what country is it
being produced in?
Sorry to hear.
IMHO, Rivorossi made some excellent HO passenger cars. While some of us knit pick that they weren’t 100% accurate, they look great and are relatively easy to modify. Rivorossi still lives on through the Walther’s line, though the new tooling has made the cars “Outstanding”. Prices are not too bad as you can get a lot of the Walther’s cars for $20 to $24 on the internet instead of the LHS $34 price.
The HWs were cheap thru modelexpo, had about 10 cars.
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Will Hornby become the complete Rivarossi assortment when this happens?
I´m not shure! It´s possible that Walthers is owner of the USA assortment and use the brand for this plus the exclusive Allegheny! Rivarossi USA models are exclusive Walthers
I ordered both UP excursion train sets, some additional UP cars and a FEF-3. I get all I ordered! Good for me.
Everything looks like the “good” (JOKE[:D]) old Rivarossi models, no the improvents are great - NO JOKE. Then I looked for the cartons:
The cars were made in China, this is official printed at the cartons. Three weeks after the cars I get the FEF-3 - Printed is “Made in Italy”!
Everything is okay, works well, runs great. Inside I found two little orange notes of paper. Quality control notes!
He´s crazy! What´so important with this notes, you ask?
In the first nothing but absolute the same notes use…ROCO !!!
Now you understand that I was surprised !
And my dealer told me that in the customs declaration was written that the models were made in China!!!
Bigboy4015,
I looked over my FEF’s and could not find “made in italy”, just on all papers was "Printed in Italy "
And talking Big Trouble: the Introduction of the new FEF’s was at least troubled, I placed an advanced reservation Januari 2003, for shipping early March 2003, but that date kept changing allmost every week, a big advertising campaign in MR magazine somewhere in September or Oktober, still no FEF’s available, just the twotone by the end of November
Then early januari 2004 they really were delivered. a year after the first announcements
Hi Lupo,
turn the box at the red rear of the bottom is printed in white “Made in Italy”. It´s a box, to big for calling carton !!!
You have also this little notes inside? One is in the bax with the wheelset and one in the foam.
While not completely relevant, I dropped into my local hobby shop earlier this week, and they had the Lionel Challenger sitting quite close to the Rivarossi product. Now the Lionel was priced about three times the price of the Rivarossi, but the valve gear, particularly, looked a lot better!
Has the latest Rivarossi improved up to the Lionel standard? The prices here are about $A450 for Rivarossi and $A1267 for Lionel, ($A1=$US0.73 tonight)
Peter
Ulrich,
you are right, it is on the bottom, did not turn it over, just looked inside ,and the yellow inspection slips were allso inside !
Lupo
I have the latest edition of the Rivarossi Challenger 3985 - Yeah the valve gear looks better!
I placed two orders for the Genesis Challenger at my HS (couldn´t say LHS because the shop is 140 km away).
And I think that the cheaper Genesis will be the better opinion - Athearn starts an unbelievable exact detailing with the coming Genesis SD70MAC. And the Challenger will be the same!
Im sure that the decision was right since i notice this mistake with Lionels Gasturbine #73 - wrong airintake!
Those are long gone, and all the recent USA bound Rivarossi have .110" tread width RP25 wheels.