Bowser discontinues almost all O scale items......

English's has been gradually eliminating all O scale parts and decals for the last ten years or more. I used to stop there at least twice a year on my way to York. Now there is little reason to stop other than for Tru Color paint which they stock a complete line. They are even phasing out Kadee O scale couplers. 

At least the cost of 3D printers is coming down so we can make our own parts.

Pete

I noticed this the other day.  I needed a couple of PRR rail phone receivers.  The only outlet was Bowser who had Cal-scale castings.  To amortize the shipping cost, I though I would buy some additional pieces for future projects but all they had was 1 page of Cal-scale (very limited selection) and a foam work cradle.  There was page after page of HO parts.  I guess there aren't enough O scale scratch builders.

Precision Scale is still in operation. Was on their website last week. They have a wide variety of steam and diesel detail castings. I've used them for years.  Doesn't take much to meet their minimum order.

In the past month, I have sent three emails to Bowser and get no response.  That's a fine howdy doo...

Marty

I know there are others making O scale castings.....I liked the Selley line as they had a lot of parts, maybe they were not lost wax super detailed brass.....but like on my Dreyfuss parts painted black under the body of the loco, I  like the cheaper prices and I'd just call them and I'd have them in days. Easy and simple. Hope the Selley line comes back soon....thx

All business decisions are based upon the investment in serving a market and the return on that investment.  Its no different in any industry.  The O gauge/O scale industry serves a niche market and its loaded with suppliers. If Bowser is dropping out of the O gauge market, it can only mean that their sales did not justify serving that market. While I am sorry to see them go, I completely understand their decision.

I hope the guys in Mo. bought the line.

Bowsers' been getting out of the parts / kits market for years.  They are very successful with their HO scale plastic offerings made overseas like everyone else.  The tooling for all their metal based products has been for sale for some time.  I don't know if they were able to sell it or not.  What kept the casting side in business was the HO metal steam locomotive kits which were a combination of Penn Line, Varney and their own tooling some which dated to the early 50's.  While I really enjoyed building their kits and still have a few un-built ones, you can get a DCC out of the box version for about the same money. 

Kit building, kit bashing, and super detailing seem to be quickly becoming a lost art sadly. 

GG1 4877 posted:

Bowsers' been getting out of the parts / kits market for years.  They are very successful with their HO scale plastic offerings made overseas like everyone else.  The tooling for all their metal based products has been for sale for some time.  I don't know if they were able to sell it or not.  What kept the casting side in business was the HO metal steam locomotive kits which were a combination of Penn Line, Varney and their own tooling some which dated to the early 50's.  While I really enjoyed building their kits and still have a few un-built ones, you can get a DCC out of the box version for about the same money. 

Kit building, kit bashing, and super detailing seem to be quickly becoming a lost art sadly. 

E-mail from Bowser said Selley line was sold but did not say who. 

I fully understand the hobby market and niche markets. I manufacture model car decals. Some of my line is mid-west ARCA drivers. A number of the decals I offer have sold less than 10 copies.......can you get more niche market than that??? But I still keep them in my line....they do not eat much or require a lot of maintenance.

Understanding the hobby market, and working in it at many levels, does not make me miss a product line any less. Or make me NOT care.