In the July/August issue fo Narrow Gauge and Shortline Gazette there is a full page ad from San Juan Model Co who bought Grandt Line. The ad states "At the request of the Grandt family, the "Grandt Line" name has been retired." The Grandt Line catalog of detail parts, as well as American Limited, and The Leadville Shops will be available on the SJMC site and their distributors in the fall. I do see San Juan Car Co on the Walthers list of manufacturers.
Click on the image to view the full size ad
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
I suspect that selling with the name would cost more....
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
jrbernier I suspect that selling with the name would cost more.... Jim
I would think the name would have value. Maybe there wasn't much interest in buying their product line at all. Either they didn't get nearly as much at they thought they woudl or the Grandt family didn't want their name associated with a product for which they will have no future control.
Of all the conspiracy theories else where in the world, this one isn't too exciting.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
It is not uncommon when a family owned family named business is sold that the name is retired.
.
The family does not want their name to continue with something no longer associated with the family. It seems clear to me.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
This is great news for modelers. (I would have thought the family would be so pleased to think Cliff Grandt's name would be remembered through his creations, but they may have their own reasons). It is also good that the old Selley line of detail parts and castings (at least the HO part of it) will also live on at JL Innovative Design. Not sure what the fate of the O scale stuff is.
That leaves Jordan, the HO vintage vehicle and horse-drawn wagon firm, as still in limbo yet all very worthy of being kept available.
Dave Nelson
Good to hear the line has been sold and will continue. For narrow gaugers the loss would have been bad if they had went out. As for the name it is not surprising with a family name that they would want it changed. My dad owned a motel and we had a little bit of a struggle when we sold it getting our name off it despite being in the contract.
Great news!!!
Thanks George
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Well ... the plot thickens although it seems the news continues to be good. Now San Juan Model Company has been sold. This is on their website:
Here is the announcement from the new owners: Well you heard the rumors! Bob Stears and Doug Junda from The Leadville Shops have acquired and merged San Juan Car Co., Grandt Line Products, San Juan Decals, American Limited Models and The Leadville Shops. Going forward, all these fine companies will be under the San Juan Model Co. banner. This represents a decisive leap forward for all of the above named companies and our hobby in general. The extensive line of high quality screen printed water slide decals produced in house by San Juan Decals will be augmented by the dozens of decal sets offered by The Leadville Shops. This growing catalog of decals will also be available directly from the San Juan Model Co. web site. In addition, San Juan Decals will continue to offer custom design and screen printing of the highest quality water slide decals. American Limited Models will continue to offer high quality imported HO scale RTR models as well as other new RTR models in other scales. These are exciting times for us and the hobby! We look forward to continuing the tradition of manufacturing excellent model train products merging the best available technologies that will exceed expectations. Please stop by our booth at the 38th National Narrow Gauge Convention in Minneapolis/St. Paul Sept 5th – 8th to check out our line of products and new product announcements. Bob Stears and Doug Junda