A month or so ago, I read somewhere that Bachmann and Rivarossi had both been sold. That the new owners of Rivarossi were going to close several factories, and move all tooling to the plant in Italy. Bachmann (I think it was) is going to be re-organized to become more compeditive with Life-Like. Is there any creditability to this? I have e-mailed Modelexpoinc.com (Rivarossi importer) repeatedly, with no answer. Confirmation shows my e-mail was received. ------------------ Watash #982
If my memory serves me correct Riverossi ran into financial trouble and has been taken over by Arnold or some other European manufacturer? ------------------ Regards Paul #1-Moderator & Member number 50 SPAD Investigator #1 ICQ 61198217 http://users.bigpond.net.au/railroad2000
Rivarossi has been bankrupt a number of times, Up until now, its main plant had been in Como, Italy. A few years ago, Rivarossi bought Arnold, also bankrupt, Lima, and Joeuf, and continued production at all locations. I understand that after the latest bankruptcy, all but the Lima plant will close. Try www.rivarossi.com which was their Italian website. Bachman has been owned by Kader industries of Hong Kong, PRC, for a couple of decades.
I guess I might as well run mine til they quit, then jumk them. Modelexpoinc refuses to return my e-mails, so no replacement parts are available. It seems like all production is moving to China. They are soon going to be leaders of the world, and we will be shouting Seig Heil to them.
Just checked the Rivarossi website. It still works, and gives a history of the firm, before the latest bankruptcy. There is also an e-mail address for those interested. Watash, don't you think "Hail Comrade" would be more appropriate than "Zeig Heil" for the Chinese, after all they're commies not nazis!
Gregg, I forget it is our own greedy hobby suppliers that decided to take their production work over there to save themselves money. I was involved and nearly fired when our suppliers discovered they could rip off their customers by going from a good brass wheel, to a cheap plastic wheel, then raise the price on the customer and tell him it was better. Remember the add in the model magazines: "New Nickle Plated Wheels"? That is electroless nickle plateing applied to a plastic wheel so they can advertize the wheels as being "metal". Tell me how much of all that cost saving has been passed down to us? That is my question! ------------------ Watash #982 [This message has been edited by watash (edited 13 January 2001).]
So Watash,whuts yur point?? ------------------ Catt!#118 - A proud member of NARA & A freelancer to the very end
You are right Catt, I got too technical. I edited my post. As I was retiring, there has been a big money add campaign to "Educate" the customer so he wont be mad about having to pay more for a product that actually gives him less. I came from a day when fine craftsmanship was respected and the customer expected the best quality. It would make me irrate to pay heavy money for an engine, then be EXPECTED to happily turn around and have to buy good wheels, good gears, good motor, good handrails, good couplers, then re-paint and put on new decals, so my engine can be what it was supposed to be right out of the box! The ready-made ready to runs of today would be a joke at Mantua and Varney. THAT IS MY POINT!!
Watash, haven't you found that to be true for just about everything we deal with lately, not just model railroading? I am a little upset with some of the youngsters in our society. You and I know what QUALITY means. In our careers, if we did shoddy work, we became quickly unemployed. OK, I'll get off my soapbox. It's late. ------------------ http://www.pioneer.net/~fitzrr/ Member No. 508
Watash & Fitz, I'm younger than both of you, but I agree- where I come from, half-***** don't cut it. I don't own any Rivarossi equipment, but I hope they go the way of Bachmann & Life-Like and improve quality. BTW, has anyone heard anything from Tyco, THE maker of crap model railroad equipment? (Dang, I've gotta cut back on the coffee ) ------------------ Southeast....Southwest.. Ship IT on the Frisco! Bob T. Member # 362 http://hometown.aol.com/slsf1630/myhomepage/profile.html
I think it easy to think things have gotten worse, but is that really true? I am about to turn 53 so I'm no young bunny. But name a product and I find that it is better than in the past, from phones to computers, to cars to boats, to air craft to trains. Even in N Scale, things are getting better. The only really consistent quality manufacture that was readily available in North America was Kato. Not so now! Atlas and Life Like are giving Kato a run for its money. Micro trains was just about it for fine quality in freight cars, but I just bought some Red Caboose Wood Chip cars (BC Rail) that I absolutely love. And Con Cor passenger cars (the latest only) are rivalling Kato in that category. In fact I like the Con Cor Via cars more than Kato. Its easy to look back and say things were better, but were they really? I remember 45 five years ago in high school I mouthed those same words about cars...they made them better back then...the teacher used logic to show what a ridiculous statement I made, including the lousy motors, tires, protection against the elements, what ever you could think of. Now there are air bags, incredible sound systems, climate control "systems"...etc, And Honda with its new gas/electric car. Would I rather ride in a new passenger car made by Bombardie or an old 40 year old Budd car...I know the answer to that one! The new ones are better. Somethings are made cheaper...no doubt about it, like hot water tanks, but most of everything we use is better. Even the potatoe peeler we have now is way better than the old one we all had in our kitchens (more comfortable to hold). And I love our electric pasta maker, rice maker, etc. which didn't even exist before. My son doesn't even know how to use a rotary dial phone (I kid you not)...but then that phone is old technology, not worth keeping, especially when you can have fax, and printer, and photocopier, and answering machine all in one if you want (great for a home office). So in general things are getting better, except for my body...it is definitely going down hill....lol. Happy Railroading!
rsn48, you are absolutely correct, in what you say.Like President Slick Willy said, "Define BETTER". What is better to you might not be for others. Would you rather ride in a 5,000 pound 12 cylinder Packard on a freeway at rush hour today, or one of these plastic disposable cars like the new VW Bug? I have, the Packard lived. All I was saying is it was BETTER value for the money. My dad bought a brand new Chevy for $800.00, I had to pay $3,600.00 for my first new one, and just paid over ten grand for my wife's new Chevy! Her Chevy for all the progress and BETTER wont be running in five years, and dad's chevy ran fifteen when sold running. I have twenty years on you, and my dad told me, I would see the day when people really thought they needed something (like a Walkman) because advertising kept telling them they did, and it was OK to pay far more than it was worth just to get it. Why do you have to have a new computer every year? Because you have been educated to think in the "Keep up with the Jones's" mentality. Everyone has to have the latest and greatest, or he isn't with the program! A good case in point here. Why do we have a nation full of sick people, especially females? (Yes I'm skiping a lot). Because as little girls they were educated by advertizing that they should be skinny like Barbie Doll. Advertizing has educated everyone to accept the buy it, dispose of it, buy it again way of normal life. If I'm going to pay $15.00 for a five pound Lionel engine and train set, then I want good value and it better last. It did. So has the ones by Varney, Mantua, Ulrick. Its greed. I just can not bring myself to pay over a hundred dollars for a new HO engine that is far inferior to the thirty dollar one I got before. Both the same engine, supposed to be. I didn't have to turn right around and replace everything on it so it would run like you do the new ones. That's what I'm hot about. OK If I get with the program and am supposed to cough up $150.00 for a new BETTER engine, then I fully expect it to have honest brass drivers, (plated or not), have non-binding gears, and heavy enough to pull the same 14 box cars the good one does, without rubber bands on the drivers, RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX!! BUT if I am expected to have to replace everything to make it equal in quality and performance as the good one, and this one is made in China, then I certainly should not have to pay any more for it, I should get to pay less for it! ------------------ Watash #982 [This message has been edited by watash (edited 14 January 2001).]
Yo, guys, I'm sorry that I got on a soapbox and started all this. We don't want to sound like the guys on that blue forum, do we? Let's get back to trains and all the fun they provide for us. ------------------ http://www.pioneer.net/~fitzrr/ Member No. 508
Yeah, why do you start these things anyway? Why can't you just let us enjoy running our trains? I have the same engine in your photo, but mine is HO, and doesn't look as good! ------------------ Watash #982
Watash, as much as I'd like to take credit for that Hudson, it's not mine. It is part of Ron Morse's O gauge NYC empire. If you visit the NYC forum, the same picture is on there with a little explanation. I'm just helping Ron get his photos displayed here. ------------------ http://www.pioneer.net/~fitzrr/ Member No. 508
I know the ConCor site had some stuff on this a while ago... About the time they decided to announce no Cab Forwards were going to happen.. *sad* ------------------ CK& Bird Butt Railroad - Its a coal mining region of a place far far away, that shares rails with SP, NS... Era: Time stands still round these parts, and we have everything from Steam, to Diesels...
