Yes, but the Marklin style couplers continue to be available in the MTL catalogue as replacement spares. Dominique
Yes, Dominique, I realize the couplers are still available as parts, but are no longer available on rolling stock releases. I was trying to point out that what makes great sense to us folks that run trains doesn't necessarily make economic sense to the manufacturer. Why else would MTL drop the Marklin couplers. Of course this just goes to strengthen your point that MTL couplers are more popular (at least on North American equipment) and Marklin would be considered less toylike if they adopted the MTL couplers which would be a huge change of attitude for Marklin (so I doubt it would ever happen, even if the OEM program were still in place). Randy
European manufacturers do not change their couplers very easily. They stick to Rapido's, Fleischmann refuses to adopt the universal Märklintype couplers, and all couplers look terrible. Serious modellers use Kadees on their European equipment, because that's the best alternative........
MTL Hi, So who is close behind MTL? AZL is a Euro guy who contracts for models with a Korean Company. The other Z scale North American model manufacturer is Bowser Manufacturing who produces Z scale models for Penzee and and a couple of other guys. I haven't heard that Full Throttle has a manufacturing facility but I may be wrong. They use MTL's trucks and couplers. Perhaps Bowser will come out with their own line but for now they are content doing contract work on a couple of Z scale freight cars. They seem to be happy with their place in Z. Very little gamble of their assets. They already have the injection moulding machines for their other model railroad stuff. Like the Korean guy they sell all that they produce. Penzee and the others take the gamble that they will sell enough to make a profit. The only one stepping up to the plate is MTL and there is no reason for MTL to take heavy chances. The past performance of Marklin is no indication of future performance. The new investors bought a viable name. They may just close down all of the German manufacturing and go entirely to China. That has been happening for a few years already. The Marklin German workers strike had no beneficial effect for them what so ever. I could be totally wrong. I sit here in a little house in Southern California with no connections to anywhere. Years back I was very close to a model train shop owner. He said that he made the most money with brand new hobbyists. They had nothing and had to spend a lot of money to start up. They bought track, power packs, books, scenery material, structures and some trains. The old timers bought decals, glue, paint, Exacto blades, drill bits, and small super detail parts. Maybe high profit items but ther small sale price didn't bring in a lot of money. Most profit was used up by the interest on the loans that they used to buy the stuff. MTL has an empty bucket to fill with their new track product. Once it is filled, they need a market that continuously expands. Z scale, with a reliable and easy to set up track system and dependable locomotives can grow. MTL's cautious entry into this field insures that they will stay around for a long time and keep our hobby growing. Anyone who thinks that they have a better idea is welcome to try. The market is wide open. All it takes is money and some cajones. Bill H. El Toro, CA
I remember that the strike was not against the sale of Märklin to a group of investors, but the opposite: the workers did strike against the owners of Märklin because some of the owners refused to sell the company! Märklin is proud on producing their items in Germany, but it costs more money than moving production to China. So it is a choice between going bankrupt, or staying in business with a smaller company that designs models in Germany and produces elsewhere. Choosing for the last one saves some jobs, the first will get everyone fired.
