Question about old molds

[BobbyDing]

I really like the 1940's 203 that I have, and got to wondering what happens to the molds for these old units?

I can guess that they modify them from year to year to make other models (2xx ???) until the mold is no longer usable? At which point it becomes a doorstop on the factory floor? Or does it then go back and get a major overhaul into a completely different model? Or get sold off? Am I even close?

What's the real fate of these molds?

Thanks for any info.

Bobby

[chuck]

Usually they are sold for scrap.  Sometimes Lionel got creative and chopped the mold up into pieces and sold the chunks as souveneer paper weights.  Die casting is pretty hard on the dies and you can refresh/refurbish a die up to a point.

[brianel027]

Well Bobby, fo specifics on a Lionel die, you'd almost have to ask someone in the know at Lionel. Certainly Lionel has gotten a lot of mileage out of many old tools and dies - not a bad thing either. Longer production runs allow any company to recoup their investment costs.

Many old tools and dies disappear and then suddenly reappear. Take for example all the old MARX and Kusan/AMT dies which K-Line ended up with, and are/may still be used. But not before Kris Model Trains and Williams had a go with some of the AMT/Kusan tooling. The current RMT "Beep" was originally issued by Kusan and then later by Williams as the "Mighty Mite" before getting revamped and revised as the current much improved "BEEP." The RMT Caboose is certainly a copy and probably an alternate or extra die made by either Kusan or K-Line.

There has been some speculation that Maury Klein (former owner and founder of K-Line) will be back in the train making business. If he did obtain all of the available MARX/Kusan dies, and not all of them went to China went MDK ceased production at Chapel Hill, this could possibly happen.

As has been pointed out in articles in both CTT and OGR, old tooling and dies often live on and see life several times. Who knows in reality how much old usable tooling still exists at Lionel?

[1688torpedo]

 Hello Bobby!     Lionel still uses the old 203 Boiler Die to make the 0-4-0 Yard Goats (1615 style steam switchers) that are in the new Lionel Catalog. It would not be hard for them to re-make the 203 again as they would have or could fabricate the tooling for the Motor,Siderods,etc & maybe they will come out with one for their prewar celebration series. Take Care.