Are brands related?

I saw a Micro Ace Mogul for sale on line, it looked axactly like the Atlas Mogul, except it was in different colors and was described as a Japanese only market version. I think that Micro-Ace is a Kato product if I am not mistaken, so how does this tie in with the Atlas brand ? these items look exactly the same except for colors, anyone have ideas about this ?

fatalxsunrider43

 

Micro Ace makes the Moguls. They are imported by Atlas.

 

The Atlas model is an American version of a Japanese prototype made by Micro-Ace. The prototypes were built by Porter in the 1880's, I took the photos of the one below operating at JR's exhibit at the 1991 World Garden Expo in Osaka.

Micro-Ace is a separate company with nothing to do with Kato whatsoever and make a wide range of Japanese prototypes including some more obscure prototypes that big names Kato and Tomix won't touch. Their products are made in China, probably in the same factories as U.S. N scale, in the early 90's I've seen Life Like E8's and SD7's on sale in Japanese hobby shops in Micro-Ace packaging. Atlas have had models made by many manufacturers over the years such as Kato, Rivarossi and other European manufacturers, they should be more accurately described as an importer than a manufacturer.

 

Now, when I think of Mogul, I think, oil it, run it, oil it , run it, tighten the screw, run it. oil it.................

fatalxsunrider43

 

"Atlas have had models made by many manufacturers over the years such as Kato, Rivarossi and other European manufacturers, they should be more accurately described as an importer than a manufacturer."

General Electric small appliances and other items are often made overseas yet it doesn't change the fact that they are G.E. products. The same is true of Atlas. Atlas (I assume) owns the molds and sells the products as their own because, well, they are the creation of Atlas. The contractor (Kader, Kato or whoever) manufactures them specifically for Atlas. (I do remember some Athearn models in HO coming with Kato stamped truck sideframes a good while back, apparently after Kato switched to another manufacturer.)