Hope I’m not starting a controversial subject here, but I’ve always wondered why Walthers doesn’t carry Athearn products. I really like to use the Walthers catalog as a reference to (most) everything that’s available in the world of model railroading when I’m planning purchases of rolling stock, locomotives, structures, etc. But not carrying Athearn, who I think of as sort of the General Motors of model railroading, seems like a huge gap. Are there any other important manufacturers that I’m missing out on when I browse the Walthers catalog?
And while I’m on the subject, why oh why has Walthers always carried so much European merchandise? Are there really that many people in America modeling trains through the Black Forest?
No offense meant to Walthers, I think they’re a great company, I’ve just always been bugged by these questions!
Walthetrs did — until Athearn was sold to Horizon Hobby. Horizon is another distributor that is essentially Walthers’ competitor.
Speaking as one who teaches strategy for a living, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Horizon resume selling Athearn products through Walthers at some point. Businesses operate in a world of unusual alliances today, and the line between your ally and your competitor is often very gray indeed.
Walthers is first and foremost a distributor. Horizon hobbies are their main competitor and have been aggressivly building their hobby line. Athearn and Roundhouse are owned by Horizon. These two product lines were dropped by Walthers when they were purchased by Horizon. I am not sure if this is because Horizon would not sell to Walthers, or that Walthers did not want to carry a competitors product lines. Either way the effect is the same.
Yes ,oh yes. Many of us here in the states model European roads. I wish Walthers carried more Loco’s and cars. They do have plenty of the roadside structures and figures though. I did not know that Athearn had chosen someone else to be it’s destributor.
WOW! I just went to Horizon Hobbies and quickly checked out the parts department. On first pass it seems wonderful. Go to the website, and save it in your favorites, it’s a keeper.
Thanks for putting up the topic and thanks for the Horizon Hobbies reply.
Now, what can I order from them! lol
When Horizon Hobby acquired Athearn, they became the exclusive distributor, which locked Walthers out.
Walthers carries a number of European lines not only because a fair number of modelers in North America model European railroads but because a lot of what is in those lines is applicable to any country.
Incidentally, Walthers catalog has never been a definitive compendium of what’s availble in model railroading. There are many product lines that have either been exclusive to other distributors or are not sold in distribution at all. In addition, Walthers often picks and chooses products from a manufacturer’s line, meaning there are other products you would never see in their book.
Your best bet for learning about what’s really out there is still your local hobby shop. Hobby shops buy from a number of distributors and from manufacturers who sell only to retailers.
You guys are too kind sending replies to internet sites. I did not order anything as of yet, I have to finish a presidential tender I’m working on first. I’ll add this site to my favorites also.
Thanks
I may be wrong, but didn’t walthers attempt a merger with athearn a long long time ago? Now that I think about it I’m probably wrong. [:D] Anyway, my hobby shop doesn’t carry any products made by walthers. I hope they still carry life like stuff though!
Well if they do carry Life-Like, they have to be getting from Walthers since they own Life-Like now !! I think most all hobby shops get stuff from Walthers, they are (I believe) still the country’s biggest model rail wholesaler / distributor.
I do think (as several people have stated) that it was Horizon that chose not to continue listing Athearn stuff in the Walthers catalogue. Walthers didn’t drop them. Kinda like when Carl Pohlad bought the Twins, Coca-Cola had the concession on soda pop for the Metrodome. Since Carl made one or two of his billions from Pepsi, you better believe Pepsi became the only pop in the stadium ASAP !!
Where’ve you been? Horizon announced the acquisition of Athearn in January 2004 and became Athearn’s exclusive distributor in March of that year. Walthers purchased Life-Like’s Toy and Hobby Division on July 14, 2005.
You can take a trip up to Champaign, but you might be disappointed. Horizon Hobby doesn’t have a retail store like Walther’s Terminal Hobby Shop. They do offer online shopping.
Remember it’s not a Horizon vs. Walthers thing. Dozens of distributors besides Walthers sold Athearn before Horizon became the exclusive distributor. Same deal with Walthers and Life-Like/Proto.
When Athern disappared from Walthers a couple of years ago, I e-mailed Walthers and MR about it. They replied Walthers and Horizon had negotiated but could not come to an agreement on terms, so they went thir separate ways. Too bad, but I guess Horizon is not hurting for the loss of Walthers as a distributor.