Mike T H , Bella & Jerry C at Toy Train Museum TCA 4/19

[njalb1]

Both were very nice and posed for a picture with my grandaughter! [:D]

[MartyE]

WOW What a keeper! How did you manage that? I'm glad these guys can put their differences aside for a cool pic like that. You grand daughter though seem unimpressed![:D] Looky my hand. She gorgeous!

[Anonymous]

Awesome pic!! A pic with the two-top train company owners....that will definitely be a keeper for sure!

[Demon09]

If she keeps any of her interest in toy trains throughout the years, that will be much more than an interesting story..... Not to mention a keepsake from a day spent with her favorite grandfather [:)]

Aside from that, she really looks to be a Bella ragazza bambino! Consider yourself, and your family very lucky!

[nblum]

Great photo, and lovely baby girl.

Are you sure this isn't the beginning of MTH and Lionel's first joint venture.

Babysitting? Day Care Center? :)

[Anonymous]

Wow! As others have said, that picture is DEFINITELY a keeper! Whether or not you granddaughter stays interested in trains, it will certainly be something for her and you to treasure!

[Jumijo]

Jerry is younger than I imagined. And Mike is little guy.

Jim

[MartyE]

You are just waiting for the four horsemen of the apocolypse to hide in behind them for some reason![:D]

[johnandjulie13]

Great picture! I have been waiting for the follow up: The two companies' respective legal teams lining up to take a picture together. Now that would be a Kodak moment!

Regards,

John

[Jumijo]

Maybe the boys will work this all out one on one.

By the way, who's the good guy? They're both wearing black.

Jim

[Jumijo]

Evidently, Lionel has offered to settle the lawsuit. Visit link below:

http://ogaugerr.infopop.cc/groupee/forums/a/tpc/f/57660482/m/1331031393

So maybe it really is a good sign to see these two guys together.

Jim

[Anonymous]

Photo's not quite right. Look at the shadows on JC and the baby. Then look at the shadows on MW. They are on opposite sides and the JC/baby shadows are quite sharp whereas the MW shadow is more diffuse. I smell PhotoShop.

[nblum]

Those smelling Photoshop may be right. I don't think the perspective is correct. Jerry Calabrese is a larger man than Mike Wolf, but I don't think the disparity in the photo computes :). Nice job if that's the case. I still like the idea of the MTH-Lionel Chucky Cheese Day Care and Train Emporium.

[Jumijo]

So this train guy is at the York train meet, and the best thing he could come up with for fun is to Photoshop these 2 together with his grandkid? If that's true, he's a fraud and I won't pay any more attention to him or his posts.

Jim

[Anonymous]

NJAL:

You need to come back here (and the other forum, as well) and clear this matter up, one way or another. You either got a great shot of the two O gauge industry leaders together, or you've done one heck of a good job of faking folks out with a composite image (not all that hard to do for anyone who knows how to use Photoshop or a similar application).

If you did an honest job with this, you're to be commended.

If you made the photo a lie, you're probably finished on a couple of toy train forums.

Obviously, the truth will come out from Mike and/or Jerry at some point after they return from York, but it really would be in your own best interest to come forward now with the particulars of this event and how you managed to get the two fellows together. There seem to be a good number of doubters here (understandable, perhaps), but I can't imagine that a real train enthusiast would resort to jerking the chains of his fellow hobbyists in this way, if, in fact, that's what happened.

[njalb1]

No photoshop here, its the real deal! The sun was at my back. Today Mike autographed the picture and I gave him an extra to keep. Jerry was no where to be found at York so I left the picture for him at the Lionel display. Its ashame I couldn't get both signatures. I was shocked to see some thought this was photoshop ? I thought this group was frindlier ? I'm new to the group
Anyway, the picture did today, at York bring some smiles [:D]

I just mad a copy of todays signed pic!
I don't have a scanner , so i took a picture of the pic!

[MartyE]

I'm giving him the benifit of the doubt. I agree I thought this group was a bit harsh on this. Too bad I hope we didn't loose someone with a lot to offer the forum!

[Anonymous]

It looks legit to me but Calabrese doesn't look too pleased about it HAHA[:D][:D][:D]

[njalb1]

Museum parking lot , aroung 5 PM as both were getting ready to leave in their cars.

[MartyE]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mthrules

It looks legit to me but Calabrese doesn't look too pleased about it HAHA[:D][:D][:D]

Why do we assume that these 2 men hate eachother? I'm sure they are not best friends but I would perhaps expect that they are both professionals. I maybe wrong but I'd like to think there maybe a mutual respect. Then again I do believe in the tuth fairy!

[Anonymous]

Hey njal, how did you get these two guys together?

[cbojanower]

FWIW, The original poster has responded and verified it is a real picture and has Mikes signature on it. Perhaps I am being a little naive, (or perhaps everyone else is being cynical) but I am thinking the pic is real.

I have worked in Photoshop since version 2.5, and while I can match studio shots all day long and you will never know the difference, matching outdoor shots is tough, it would take a real expert in PS to pull it off.

While some are looking at shadows which may or may not be there, I am looking at color balance and where their eyes are focusing (To a cameraman in the center) and the fact that their hair is not clipped as often happens in quick montages (Few would be willing to waste the time t takes to properly mask hair for a quick internet pic

So either its real or he is one heck of a Photoshop artist. I am sure the debate will go on, look how long people have arguing the Zapruder film.

[njalb1]

Mike was in the parking lot first and I asked him for a picture. Jerry was walking out of the building and was looking at what was going on. I thought Fast and asked him also before he got into his car which was next to Mikes. They both mutually agreed to have the picture together with my grandaughter. Both were very professional and very kind to my grandaughter (future customer). They were both super nice, and as a retired teacher both would get an A+.[:D]

[csxt30]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cbojanower

FWIW, The original poster has responded and verified it is a real picture and has Mikes signature on it. Perhaps I am being a little naive, (or perhaps everyone else is being cynical) but I am thinking the pic is real.

I have worked in Photoshop since version 2.5, and while I can match studio shots all day long and you will never know the difference, matching outdoor shots is tough, it would take a real expert in PS to pull it off.

While some are looking at shadows which may or may not be there, I am looking at color balance and where their eyes are focusing (To a cameraman in the center) and the fact that their hair is not clipped as often happens in quick montages (Few would be willing to waste the time t takes to properly mask hair for a quick internet pic

So either its real or he is one heck of a Photoshop artist. I am sure the debate will go on, look how long people have arguing the Zapruder film.

I don't see how the debate could go on, when NJAL just told us how he got the picture.
Settles it for me !!

[MartyE]

A great story... Thanks again!

[cbojanower]

I don't doubt it, and hope (beleive) it's true, but its sure putting a few people knickers in a bunch isn't it

[MartyE]

They need to get a life. We can be a cruel and hurtful bunch when we want to be. Too bad. Can you imagine the talent and friends that get turned off by this type of BS and have left or not even signed up for fear of persecution? I'm not saying there are folks out there trying to pull one over but once this snowball started it spread across 3 forums. Have we nothing beter to discuss?

Personally I hope njal doesn't hold it against us all. It's a great picture...treasure it. Quite a keepsake.

[njalb1]

Hope that this puts it to rest!
My wife couldn't believe some of the posts???
If your a member go to the yahoo site and look .......

Taken from TCA Yahoo group!

To: [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail]
From: [e-mail] Add to Address Book Add Mobile Alert
Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2006 21:22:03 EDT
Subject: [toytrains] Digest Number 4128, Yorkin'

Monday early was a wash, bailed early..

Worked the Train Shop on Tuesday.

Wednesday 0600 at Red Caboose Motel Restaurant, excellent breakfast for
the
E & M Museum and Parking Crew. Attendance on the Beautiful day in
Lancaster
County far less than the Parking Guys expected. Unusual "Photo
Opportunity"
late in the day as a father snapped pics of Mike Wolf with his child
in a
stroller, then Jerry Calabrese with the child and then BOTH of the
Exec's, one
on either side of the stroller, both grinning big smiles. We just
watched,
don't know which one of them thought of it, was great to see.
As usual, NO ONE can read traffic signs, the only person who DID NOT
make a
left turn at the NO LEFT TURN sign into NTTM was a job applicant. The
ONLY
driver to actually drive to the side of the Museum Bldg. THRU the
retention
basin was from New York, claiming we told him to do it. The MOST
unbelievable
thing I've seen there, and of course, NOT their fault. Once again,
quite
happy NONE of us were run over.

Thursday was a beautiful day on the Fairgrounds, Most people paused
when the
Star Spangled Banner was played, the Veterans, of course, placing their
hats
or hands on their hearts as it played in West Manchester Twp.
Fairground
food is always plentiful and varied, and as a "Public Service" we try
to check
it out and report. As always, Sherri's Crab Cakes were popular as was
"Big
Bob's BBQ" near the "Orange Hall". Apparently "Big Bob" (ALL the
males are
named Bob) is willing to wear a mini-skirt at least once (depending on
availabliity of sufficient cloth, of course) to draw a crowd. "Big
Bob's"prices were
perhaps the most reasonable on the property, and the food is quite
tasty.
Waited way too long for Ice Cream in the Blue/Silver lobby, didn't
get any
Ice Cream. Conversations EVERYWHERE about "Gas Prices" and the
"Economy in
general.
Had the pleasant surprise of a couple of minutes vist with Nick Ladd,
ALWAYS
a nice guy and a "class act". Nick is currently a "civilian",
wandering the
halls with the rest of us. Would hope a manufacturer would grab up
Nick
with his obvious talents. S-Helper's Consolidations are running
flawlessly on
their CTT featured layout. Lots of activity at MTH, somewhat less at
LIONEL.
ATLAS has a large display where K-Line had been located. I am probably
already in trouble for not mentining the hundreds of great people I
got to wave to
or shake hands with in passing or while sitting with Carol and John at
the
NATIONAL Desk. Nicole is at "Registration" with her membership
knowledge.
Looking forward to the "World's Most Expensive Breakfast (at York)"
tomorrow at
0700. Hope to see you on the Fairgrounds
(EASTERN seems to have another GREAT Show on their hands).

Jim "LIVIN' on the Great Broad Way" Lyle





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[cbojanower]

I think the problem is that many people have visions of the MTH/Lionel fight being some sort of gang war, and as the leaders of their companies Mike and Jerry should be drawing guns on each other as soon as they see each other.

Truth is real leaders do not let personnel feeling get involved. It was one of the first lessons I learned when I was a lobbyist. Sure I would fight tooth and nail in a committee room for my cause, but at during the breaks we would all be hanging outside in the smoking area having a good time. Some of my best friends on the Hill where guys who never would vote for my issues in a committee hearing.

[johnandjulie13]

I am sure that there is a significant amount of animosity between the two companies. However, Jerry was not at Lionel when the theft took place, nor when the lawsuit was filed. Given that there has been a settlement proposal made by Lionel, there may be little or no animosity between Mike and Jerry personally. As a result, given the positive feelings being spread at York, there would be no reason not to pose for a picture for a kindly gentleman and his grand daughter.

Regards,

John