I still kick myself for not acquiring Champ Decals when they were looking for a buyer. Dang!!! now I'm too dang old to look at getting into a new business. Oh well, just have to be happy building my layout now. Double Dang!!!!!!
God's Best & Happy Rails to You!
Bing (RIPRR The Route of the Buzzards)
The future: Dead Rail Society
SeeYou190 I was lucky and picked up an entire box of Grandt Line parts at a train show last month. I think I have a lifetime supply on hand now. . My collected hoard of "might need" parts is getting a bit larger than I thought it ever would. . -Kevin .
I was lucky and picked up an entire box of Grandt Line parts at a train show last month. I think I have a lifetime supply on hand now.
.
My collected hoard of "might need" parts is getting a bit larger than I thought it ever would.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
G Paine While the Grant Line thing is being sorted out, Tichy has sent an e-mail with the following note: Dear Modeler: As many of you have requested we have posted a cross reference from Grandt line numbers to our equivalents. We believe it has virtually all of the HO items and some items in other scales. If you know of any equivalents we have missed, please let us know so we can include them.The update for other scales will be finished by the middle June and the chart updated. The chart is listed under the catalog tab on the home page. Here is a direct link: https://www.tichytraingroup.com/Portals/0/Instructions/GRANDT_CROSS.pdf?ver=2018-05-30-150422-247 We are continuing to work on more direct replacements and will have 12 more HO items announced in June. We have not reduced our package item count and we include precut glazing with all our windows & doors.
While the Grant Line thing is being sorted out, Tichy has sent an e-mail with the following note:
Tichy doesn't cover all the parts that Grandt Line makes in HO scale. Regardless, it is nice to see more products coming from them and I hope they do well and continue to expand the line.
Guy
see stuff at: the Willoughby Line Site
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
there is this .
http://pnr.nmra.org/3div/vendora.htm
dknelsonSomewhat (but not entirely) OT - it would be useful to have a compendium or listing -- dare I say a catalog, either print or online? -- of some sort of the many smaller but important model rr manufacturers/importers who are NOT in the Walthers catalog, and not likely to advertise in the major magazines either. It has reached the point where I no longer know what is available and what is not, thanks in part to Walthers dropping so many lines in recent years, and thanks to fewer hobby shops carrying parts and offerings from smaller manufacturers, what we used to call basement operations.
This was tried many years ago. It was called the Builder's Compendium. It apparently was not a commercial success because it only lasted a very short time.
I agree it would be useful, but it would also be a lot of work to keep it up to date.
Paul
This is very good news indeed, not least for the many specialized manufacturers who themselves use Grandt Line parts in their kits.
Somewhat (but not entirely) OT - it would be useful to have a compendium or listing -- dare I say a catalog, either print or online? -- of some sort of the many smaller but important model rr manufacturers/importers who are NOT in the Walthers catalog, and not likely to advertise in the major magazines either. It has reached the point where I no longer know what is available and what is not, thanks in part to Walthers dropping so many lines in recent years, and thanks to fewer hobby shops carrying parts and offerings from smaller manufacturers, what we used to call basement operations.
Sort of like what HO Seeker does with manufacturers of the past.
Dave Nelson
The following was posted on TrainOrders early this morning:
Doug Junda and Robert Stears have purchased the two companies and will continue with operations. They already operate Cimarron Works and the Leadville shops in conjunction with Bill Meredith. I am told they have also picked up San Juan Decals as well. Looks like everything will be in good hands going forward.
Now that the topic is bumped, it was easier for me to find and post the info.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
I've not seen an official anouncement yet. However, on very good authority (a trusted source who spoke with one of the pincipals in the purchasing organizaton) I've heard that Grandt has been purchased and will continue. It's not Kadee, as I speculated in an earlier comment. I'll post more when I see something official.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
didn't think the litigation problem was still valid now.
Good to hear it sounds like they will continue. There is also word on Precision Scale. Their importing was sold to division point models and the parts business was sold to PF&S railway supply.
chicagorailfan2k6I just saw this on Grandt Line's website today. It states: "We are negotiating the sale of our tooling to a reputable company, so will keep you posted as this is finalized."
Ah! There is hope yet!
Thanks,
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
chicagorailfan2k6 I just saw this on Grandt Line's website today. It states: "We are negotiating the sale of our tooling to a reputable company, so will keep you posted as this is finalized."
I just saw this on Grandt Line's website today. It states: "We are negotiating the sale of our tooling to a reputable company, so will keep you posted as this is finalized."
Please, oh please!
doctorwayne I ordered some parts from Grandt Line yesterday, and curious about the possibility of someone else picking up the line, asked about the chances of that. I was told, in no uncertain terms, that it would not likely be Tichy, if it were anyone.
I ordered some parts from Grandt Line yesterday, and curious about the possibility of someone else picking up the line, asked about the chances of that. I was told, in no uncertain terms, that it would not likely be Tichy, if it were anyone.
rrebell Proubly bid too low.
Proubly bid too low.
Did hear rumors months ago about this. Not sure at the time how true the info was and also that another manufacturer was looking into buying the molds.
We can just hope. Would be sad if they just went out, period,
Modeling B&O- Chessie Bob K. www.ssmrc.org
Grandt Line would likely find a fine home at Cannon and Company.
Ed
just hope that company itsn't the h word.
Wayne
I was at Walthers (showroom - which is my LHS) yesterday and the guy at the desk said "have you heard about Grandt Line?" even before I could present my order form -- which included Grandt Line (and Tichy as long as I was there anyway). They know my shopping habits ....
The online Walthers catalog for Grandt Line shows quite a fair amount is in stock, quite a bit out of stock, and a fair mount marked as waiting for shipment to arrive. Now I wonder if those shipments will arrive?
Seems odd that MR has not listed this under their News heading for the Forums. Seems like news to me.
The skills needed for molds is far less than it was and the mold making cost in general is going down all the time as machines take over and the cost of machines is going down. Example, I follow the lazer and 3D printing space. Cost of lazer (for hobby cutting) went down from around $10,000 at 10 years ago to around $3,500 apples to apples but the new machines are far better than the old, just going on cost of machine to do the job. You can accually get a lazer for under $500 now. Everything is moving at Moore's law speed now or faster. I also follow battery tecnolagy and the only reason we don't have a new type of batter is that things are changing ever 6 months so no one is willing to commit, a clear case of things moving too fast. This is starting to happen in 3D printing too but not near to that extent. Remember too that hobby molds of the age of most Grant Line stuff is a very simple mold compared to what can be made today, so way less cost in mold making.
rrebellOnce you own the machines and tooling, parts are cheap...
The issue there are the molds, as they are costly and don't last forever. To get the same quality from a mold, you have to have someone with the skills of the original tool and die maker. That's going to be the tough part for anyone following up with Grandt tooling. This doesn't affect every part or kit, but it's a factor when you consider the wide range of parts that Grandt offered in several scales, not just HO.
This is very sad to hear. Their EMD switcher cab was a truly great product. I was sorry to see it dropped and hoped it would return. One can only hope another reputable manufacturer picks up all or most of their line.
Tom
dknelson Another thread pleads with Tichy to acquire the line of Jordan vehicle kits. They are becoming the last man standing for modelers who like to build, and the last thing we want or need is for Tichy to get stretched too thin. It is true that Tichy has equivalents for many Grandt line windows and doors -- or rather I should say, many windows and doors in the Tichy catalog have Grandt Line equivalents. I do not know what Grandt Line windows and doors Tichy does NOT offer a parallel to. But Grandt Line has rolling stock, structures, and other detail items of a sort Tichy has not gotten into. Certainly the lines are compatible and Tichy would seem a logical destination for the Grandt Line tooling (and Jordan and others). But again -- we are talking about a low profit line business. Now if you'll excuse me I need to start creating a "panic mode" shopping list of Grandt Line stuff. Dave Nelson
Another thread pleads with Tichy to acquire the line of Jordan vehicle kits. They are becoming the last man standing for modelers who like to build, and the last thing we want or need is for Tichy to get stretched too thin.
It is true that Tichy has equivalents for many Grandt line windows and doors -- or rather I should say, many windows and doors in the Tichy catalog have Grandt Line equivalents. I do not know what Grandt Line windows and doors Tichy does NOT offer a parallel to. But Grandt Line has rolling stock, structures, and other detail items of a sort Tichy has not gotten into. Certainly the lines are compatible and Tichy would seem a logical destination for the Grandt Line tooling (and Jordan and others). But again -- we are talking about a low profit line business.
Now if you'll excuse me I need to start creating a "panic mode" shopping list of Grandt Line stuff.
BUMMER!
Man, this hurts. Grandt is a major supplier for the narrowgauge community. Someone else might pick them up -- I sure hope so -- but many of their parts are exquisitely small and maintaining and making new molds may be beyond the art of even experienced companies like Tichy. Old man Grandt reportedly did contract work for the nuclear industry (Lawrence-Livermore is in the 'hood, IIRC), so you're talking cutting edge skills for the time -- and perhaps beyond.
I hope that a successor is able to carry on, but I suspect that may not work here. The Grandt's as a family are dedicated to high quality and accuracy, so it will probably take a very well-qualified situation for them to hand things over to anyone else.
Pardon me while I go have a private cry...
I guess I am going shopping.
Same thing happened when Floquil dropped Railroad Colors, Citadel changed their wash formula, Scalecoat Closed up, and Selley stopped manufacturing.
I am getting tired of panic-mode purchases.
richhotrainThe loss of Grandt Line is one more blow to the scratch building side of the hobby.
I totally agree Rich! I have used tons of their products in my various scratch building projects in the past, and I have a few more projects in mind that are rather dependant on being able to get their products as well. Hopefully Tichy or somebody else will rise to the occasion and pick up anything that will be discontinued by Grandt Line. I just tried to order a bunch of roundhouse windows from Grandt Line but their foreign order page wasn't working. I sent them an email and I'm hoping that they can still supply what I need. I want to rebuild my scratch built diesel engine house/machine shop so I can correct all the dumb beginner's mistakes I made the first time round. It requires about 50 of their #5010 roundhouse windows. I am crossing my fingers!