Has a new vendor purchased the Ulrich Scale Models White, Peterbult tractors and trailers, as well as freight car kits tooling?
I beleive Alloy Forms acquired the truck model dies a long time ago. You might find them on ebay. They had Mack and Kenworth tractors with trailers. Alloy Forms has a variety of other vehicle kits.
As far as I know…no one took over making Ulrich truck kits. They only made two trucks Mack H model COE, single, dual axle and conventional Kenworth. You could get them with a Fruehauf van, flatbed w/sides or tanker. Kenworth also came with tandem dump w/California style type dump trailer. Some distributors may still have some. Check this link for a list.
http://www.1-87vehicles.org/directory/ulrich_models.php
Alloy Forms has completely different white metal casting truck/trailer/auto kits…they are run by SS ltd.
There are quite a few Truck/Auto kit and built-up Mfger’s out there…If You look through the first link 1/87th Scale and do a little navigating, they have a A to Z list with links.
Here is the link…I saved You the trouble:
http://www.1-87vehicles.org/directory/directory.php
Take Care! [:D]
Frank
Member…Northwest IL. chapter, ATHS.
Walthers offered the Ulrich trucks when they acquired the Ulrich line - they are shown in the 1982 50th Anniversary Catalog as “manufactuered by Wm K Walthers”: the 2 axle Mack tractor, the 3 axle Kenworth tractor, and a variety of trailers. Indeed they even added to the line by offering a trailer for 20 ft and 40 ft containers, and some newer paint schemes for the Ulrich trailers. (I should have loaded up when I had the chance - most of the Ulrich line including the trucks and trailers was gone by the 1988 catalog, which however does show an interesting line of trucks from Walker, which I also failed to get!).
Dave Nelson
After Walthers dropped the Ulrich line, I believe the remaing parts and stock was acquired by Circle Enterprises in the early 90s. I think they were in the Chicago area. I bought quite a few parts from them for the truck line as well as the hoppers. I don’t believe they purchased the tooling. After the turn of the century, I remember seeing ads in MR for decorated kits released as new. I’ not sure who offered them.
A few years ago someone took over the name, and apparently the tooling and was producing a limited selection of nice RTR versions of the Ulrich trucks. I believe it was this company:
They were somewhat pricey, and now there is no mention of them on that web site?
Sheldon
Sheldon, Dave N.,
I had thought that Walthers did carry them for awhile and they were offered by someone else. built-up, but I didn’t know all the details.
Those built-ups, I recall, were going for about 30.00 US…a far cry from the 2.95 cost for the kit, in the early fifties. LOL I had quite a few of the models then…paper route money…he he!
Here’s a pic of the Ulrich Tanker/Kenworth Tractor, that I redid a few yrs. ago and added scratch built interior, window glazing, replaced cast wheels/tires with A-line wheels/tires. Tank trailer has bashed tandem tractor quarter fenders added to it. Tractor exhaust is a brass tube exaggerated in size, but by todays standard’s, it would be right at home.
Take Care! [:D]
Frank
Frank I don’t recall those built-ups but the 1982 Walthers prices were in the neighborhood of $11.95 for truck and trailer (kit, but trailers were decorated) and $9.25 for vans and trailers alone. Mack and Kenworth tractors were $5.95.
The catalog describes them as “easy-to-build” kits which was accurate at the time. It also says “several hours construction time” which for many modelers takes them out of the easy to build category - not that I want to start THAT thread all over again. Given the construction time however $30 sounds about right for “custom built” prices - but it would be nice to be given the choice.
Dave Nelson
I do not think my post was clear.
RECENTLY, within the past 90 days.
Respectfully, “new” is relatve term when talking about a product line that is over 60 years old and that has had at least several owners…“recently” is equally relative.
But no, I have not heard any news about the Ulrich line.
And considering that the link I posted, the current “Ulrich Models” company, is using the same logo as the orginal company, and they did sell at least a few of the trucks in RTR form sometime in the last 3-8 years, I would think that they have some degree of ownership of the original company and its assets.
Maybe someone should ask them?
Sheldon
PS - I sent them an Email…
Sheldon,
I would be interested to find out, if You get a reply from Ulrich Models. After doing quite a bit of research yesterday and learning that no one actually took them over…just distributed their line.
It also stated that Ulrich stopped production in 1994 and no mention of anyone taking over, as far as production goes.
Take Care! [:D]
Frank
Here is the prompt reply I recieved from Ulrich Models:
Hi Sheldon,
Thank you for your inquiry. We sold the model truck part of our business a few years ago to Commercial Scale Models in Rhode Island. Their website iswww.ulrichmodelkits.com. I’m not sure if they have released any new products.
Kind regards,
Cheri
Cheri Mahan
The link that Sheldon was provided with shows that Commercial Scale Models has a wide variety of laser cut kits in more than one scale, but the Ulrich truck line has not been reactivated (and the response from the new “Ulrich” is silent about the Ulrich freight car line). It might pay to let them – i.e., Commercial Scale Models – know that, yes, there is continued interest in this vintage line of truck models.
Dave Nelson
Sheldon, Dave,
Thanks for the follow-up…I managed to find the same info out yesterday with some more researching.
Without a doubt…those truck kits…being a truck lover most of My life, in the early 50’s, those were the best out there. Some of You may recall, E. Suydam & Co. Rail-Truck Terminal kit #542, that had a finshed kit pic’ on their boxes that had Ulrich scale trucks on it. I had two of the kits, side to side on My 4 x 8 layout in 1952 that occupied My only siding…I was 10 yrs. old…LOL…Still have them and about twenty of the truck kits.
Take Care! [:D]
Frank
Frank,
Me too, the Suydam truck terminal and sevral Ulrich trucks, I was 12…
Sheldon
Bingo! Thanks.