I prefer paper copies. Keep them forever. Have a complete set of originals (no repros) back to 1931 with no gaps. I have a few repros from the earlier 1900's.  Most are mint.

 

So to answer your question, I get 2 copies a year. One to read, and dog ear, one to keep for posterity.

 

I use the online versions for reference only. It's easier to stick a finger between pages and flip back and forth than to have to click thru the intervening pages.  Especially if I don't recall what page number the stuff I was seeking was on.

Online. Too many catalogs and magazines that just take up space that I never wind up reading again. I used to like keeping copies for nostalgic reasons, but catalogs aren't they same anymore. They aren't as artistic IMHO. Honestly, being a 2-railer now, there isn't much that really interests me anyway so I may not be the target demographic you had in mind. If I would have stayed in 3 rail, I might say paper for nostalgia though.

 

But, paper has no search engine or database. You have to know where to look to find something. Online I can just type in what I want and find the results.

Paper, no question; nada. I (and my credit card/checkbook) do not look at online catalogues

EXCEPT on the first day website release. (I'm not an idiot - OK, we're all idiots.)

 

I then wait to do my shopping/ordering from a paper copy, in the comfort of my own living room or office, not poking at a keyboard (like now).

 

Example: I no longer get paper from 3rd Rail. That's fine. But I now tend to forget that 

they exist. Therefore, I tend to not evrn consider their stuff.

 

Last week, I -accidentally- stumbled upon their NYC R-2 electric announcement. I pre-ordered one.

Pure luck (bad or good, we'll see).

 

Paper or else, pardner.

I have all the Lionel catalogs back to 1937 and a few American Flyer's from the late 40's to 56. Don

Although I am of an age where I prefer printed books, etc., on-line catalogs are th emost useful to me and I usually pitch printed catalogs if given them.  I use Lionel, MTH, Bachmann, 3rd-R/GGD websites and catalogs on-line a lot - 99% of stuff I buy.  

Printed paper copy by a long shot. I keep them for at least several years. Nothing like reading the hard copy of anything as opposed to the digital version, magazines included. I sometimes do a quick lookup in the online catalogs or an OGR magazine, but the hard copies are the ones for reading, careful study and ordering from.

I enjoy accessing the catalogs online, but prefer the printed copy best.  Just something about flipping through the actual catalogs.  I usally do not place my orders until I have looked over the actual printed catalog.

 

Most of my catalogs are passed onto doctor offices.

Printed.  Landscape format.  Illustrations rather than pictures.  Have all that were published since I was born.

 

Jon

I like the printed copy & only keep them until I receive what I have ordered from them. If I don't order anything I usually recycle right away.

Paper I like having it in my hand to read at my own pace. Plus it's all there on the page in front of me. Opening day online is enough for me.

I prefer the printed versions but I simply have to many catalogs and magazine subscriptions laying around that I had to get rid of. I have let my paper magazine subscriptions run out and have gone digital just for the lack of clutter and anything I want to look up is all in one place now just by doing a search.  There is still nothing like a book in your hands to flip threw. 

I prefer paper copies. Keep them forever. Have a complete set of originals (no repros) back to 1931 with no gaps. I have a few repros from the earlier 1900's.  Most are mint.

 

So to answer your question, I get 2 copies a year. One to read, and dog ear, one to keep for posterity.

 

I use the online versions for reference only. It's easier to stick a finger between pages and flip back and forth than to have to click thru the intervening pages.  Especially if I don't recall what page number the stuff I was seeking was on.

 

A true collector!  

 

Mine start in the early 30's, maybe a couple of late 20's.  I can get lost in them.  I also like good repos because old, even mint original 50's catalogs are starting to feel unstable.  The paper on repos is newer.

 

Even though I don't collect anymore, I've found that the internet doesn't provide all the info needed.  There is always the probability that the info manufacturers have on their website will be removed at some point, not to mention the possibility that the manufacturer closes shop.  There have been times that I have missed items in the online versions of Lionel and MTH catalogs, that I noticed when I spent some time with the catalog in hand.

 

I'm glad I kept my K-Line catalogs.

 

I hate to see John at HSL having to quit selling his products.  Much will be lost to the community. John did a wonderful job and a provided a great service to anyone that has an interest.   

 

  

 I like the printed copies and I do not throw them away. I have Lionel, with a lot of 1950's. I also have MTH, K Line and Atlas.

I find that they make a good reference when I am looking for something I want to add to the collection. Sometimes I just take out a few and review them.

I like and prefer printed material.  I keep it for years and years, finally throwing it away, and, as with all things, I absolutely need it the very next day.

I have accumulated much too much junk over the years , and I recently tossed a bunch of old printed catalogs and toy train magazines.  Haven't looked back, and I feel terrific about it!!! 

 

Bottom line... printed materials are fine for a library -- not my house.  I didn't always think this way about printed material, but there's really no denying that digital is the future. 

 

While we're not gonna see printed catalogs and magazines disappear overnight, I think just about every entity who's printed anything has seriously contemplated their transition to delivering content via digital media.  I think what we're seeing here on the OGR Forum with increased sponsorship banners and Premium Memberships offerings are clear trends in that direction for the OGR Magazine as well.

 

And with tablet-sized mobile devices and smartphones with increased display sizes becoming more widespread, I find far fewer objections to browsing content digitally.  I was really finding the iPhone size to be frustrating when it came to viewing content while on the run.  But now with the new iPhone 6 Plus that I saw at the store today, it's a whole different (better) world on the go.    I won't get one until they ship in volume later this year, but I'm sure an iPhone 6 Plus is in my future.    When at home or in the office, viewing media via the iPad is my preferred choice.

 

David 

I used to love printed catalogs, and have all the Lionel ones up to the early 2000's. I don't want or need the new ones anymore. They are way too thick, and contain so little that I'm interested in, they are just a waste. It takes me 10 minutes online, and I'm done.

Hard copy for sure. I look at the electronic version when it is first posted, but I absolutely prefer the hard copy.

I much prefer a printed copy, much easier to read while in the porcelain study.

I access the catalogs online, but prefer the printed copy. In anticipation of the TOT from 3rd Rail, I ordered an original brochure and TOT book from that auction site, for there is no "hard" catalog in this case.

I love a good old fashioned paper catalog, but don’t care for the shiny paper that it’s printed on.  I do look at new catalogs when they come out online, but always head over to my LHS for a printed copy as soon as I can.

Printed.  I have some recent ones for reference, especially K-Line.  I spend way too

much time on the computer, so no digital.  Biggest problem is the lack of innovative

and original contents in offerings....with a HUGE history of wild and wonderful types

of rolling stock that once ran in America, why is none of it offered in three rail O

gauge?  Why to you have to scratch build all of it, or go to HO?

I like the printed 1946-55 catalogs I have. They promise dreams rather than just listing trains. Concerning digital...I rather not leave a handheld next to the "john".

I get the MTH catalogs from being on their distribution list and like any book, newspaper or magazine, it feels better glancing through those rather than doing it online.  However, I always recycle them after awhile and like someone else mentioned, I have accumulated so much crap over the years that I'm now reversing that trend.  That said, I really miss those colorful, folded fliers that Williams mailed out.

I grew up dreaming about the offerings on printed pages and still do!! Yeah....definetely printed......

I like the printed stuff.

 

Not been in 3-rail O for real long.

 

I have all the Lionel catalogs from 1970 on.

 

I have all the MTH catalogs from 2000  on. Well, not the latest 2015 Vol. 1. yet.

 

I like the online ones too but like some have said, there is something about flipping thru pages.

I like and use both.  The on-line is immediate but I prefer to browse and think with a printed copy in my hand. 

Printed.  I love to be able to curl up on the couch or on the bed and flip through the pages.  Electronic copies are just too slow and hard to jump around in.  Plus I keep them on the shelf where the kids can get them.  They just love flipping through them almost as much as I do.  A boy my wife babysits doesn't think I have enough.  And I keep them forever.  Not hard to do right now as I don't have very many or get them very often.

I collected catalogs until 2010 (still have them) but prefer everything online (catalogs, newspapers, magazines) since I had cataract surgery.  Easier to view/read with the sharper contrast online, plus I can enlarge the pictures/text as necessary and ditch the reading glasses.

 

 

 

 

What, me worry? 

I use both print & on-line versions. At home the print edition wins hands down.

 

I would take a print edition 9 out of 10 times, just like to have it in my hands! Been this way since I was a kid.

CATALOGS-WHATS YOUR PREFERENCE?

I like the Hard Copy, read them, store them and then sell them at local train shows.

Digital Catalogs have no resale value, just like digital magazines.

Cheers from the Detroit & Mackinac Railway

Hardcopy next to the can.  Need them first thing in the morning

I was formerly in advertising and my printing and postage bill was a staggering $50,000 every quarter. The USPS raised postage rates each year and eventually we could not pass on the costs. Had we gone online we could have saved about 90% of the cost but it was not practical at the time. Point is that the days of printed media are numbered but only useless backwards organizations like the TCA have

not yet come to realize this. Their solution is to just keep raising the dues and losing members. The more realistic OGR knows the story and is taking a different path.

Fact is that you cannot make much money with printed media and while I still use it, I realize that its days are numbered. Like the quill pen and the kerosene lamp, nothing lasts forever. You either change with the times or go out of business.

As a large printer and mailer, I would very much welcome OGR's opinion on this.

i'll stick with the paper catalogs. love the old musty smell and i know when i kick the tons of paper will have the kids really thrilled!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Printed copy.

Printed.