Did Lionel buy the Weaver tooling?

I don't know how Lionel is painting these days, but I have seen a fair number of the masks they were using right until they moved production out of the USA.

 

The process shown in the Weaver manufacturing video was quite different, and seemed to be more labor intensive than what Lionel was doing in the USA. Unless their current methods are closer to what Weaver was doing, I'd be surprised if Lionel purchased it.

Many folks believe that in the 1960's Lionel purchased American Flyer trains to keep them out of the hands of a potential competitor. Don't know whether that's true (it makes a good story). Perhaps Lionel LLC did the same with Weaver. But it doesn't seem likely to me.

I would think not. Lionel seems to have everything they need.

In the late 1990s MTH purchased from Weaver the dies and tooling for the SD40-2 and the E8s. I own both the Weaver and MTH models of their E8s. Let's see who might be interested in the rest of Weaver's dies and tooling for a right price.

Lionel did in fact purchase artwork.

quote:

Lionel did in fact purchase artwork.

 

What is "artwork"?

Would that be the "drawings" that were used to make the paint masks, and other decorating steps, such as stamps or decals?

Yes.

Attribution needed.

I spoke with the owners wife and she said Lionel bought some of the machines used for printing on the side of the cars.  I don't know if Lionel bought anything else.

If Lionel did buy some of the paint masks, they could potentially have those sent to the company that's sub-contracting the Made In USA cars they do.  They could either use them as they are or use them as a template to create newer production-efficient masks.

Oh, I don't know about that.    Anytime a company can't get a simple box car produced that they catalog'd nearly 4 years ago???  I'd say they can use all the help they can get!!! 

 

Seriously, I'd think any importer that wants to take on selective US-based projects -- even if it's just to show the overseas manufacturers that they're not necessarily tied to them hook, line and sinker -- would find Weaver's tooling, paint masks, etc... to be an excellent investment.  After all, Weaver produced some very cool paint schemes over the years.  

 

David

Glad we got that question cleared up.

That could be good news.  One of the things I' was wondering about with all of this was who might be able to accommodate all the special run paint jobs Weaver did for various clubs over the years.

 

If Lionel (or anyone) has purchased those machines, that would seem to now (maybe - I assume the machines referenced are part of that process) help some company be able to do such small runs stateside.

 

-Dave

 

How much was at the sale ?  Were there bargains to be had ??  Any dealers sow up to buy in big lots ??   Just curious.

would like to see MTH pick up the tooling for Weaver's RS-3 diesel

The new wood chip cars from Weaver would be desirable for one of the remaining importers since no other company has anything similar.

 

   Bill T.

I'm surprised this thread hasn't been deleted. Without confirmation from the company that did in fact buy equipment from Weaver as confirmed by Joe yesterday when I talked to him, I won't comment on this forum. There are posts on some of the facebook train forums that can answer this question. I did ask Joe if he planned to make an official announcement, since he is an OGR member, but he said it would be more appropriate for the purchaser to make the announcement. 

As for remaining inventory, there is quite a bit of rolling stock, electronics and wiring, various shells, and several engines from Joe's collection. Joe will be contacting an auctioneer for disposition of the remaining inventory. I'm not sure if Joe or anyone else will be available at the facility to arrange any further purchases. There were some folks there who were not employees helping with the sale. Some former employees have found jobs. 

Don

       
       
Now THAT would be great!, Steve!  Weaver's RS3 shell is probably the closest to being scale-sized (in all dimensions) of all the manufacturers'/importers' offerings.  Combine that with several scale-sized/add-on details and MTH could produce a Premier line RS3 that in my opinion would be best-in-class and a real winner!  I know that I would get in line to buy a couple CNJ's, Lehigh Valley's and D&H's!! 

And if not MTH, how about Lionel?  Surely they could improve upon their "bare-bones" Traditional-line RS3 offering with a scale-sized and highly/detailed Legacy version!

In the late 1990s MTH purchased from Weaver the dies and tooling for the SD40-2 and the E8s. I own both the Weaver and MTH models of their E8s. 

yes as well as the RS11& "C628". That happened because the dies are in China and the government will not allow you to take them out of the country.

 

What will be interesting are the molds for the B60 Baggage, Pullman BRadly cars, WWII Composite gondola, H30 hopper cars, and all the other foreign made products.

 

Models will available again down the road.

Someone bought the tooling.

So on what Facebook site are they discussing who may have acquired Weavers tooling.thanks

I hope they still make the trucks and couplers for the weaver cars!

For what it's worth, MTH has been the sub-contractor/supplier for trucks/couplers to Weaver for some time now.

I seen that in earlier thread hotwater. MTH was making them just hope we can get trucks from them and i know dealers will have some for awhile in stock and i left a couple of messages with Joe at weaver hope he would call me back and he hasn't yet about the issue of getting trucks what he would advise.  

Joe has been watching the forum, so maybe he may have some answers concerning the truck questions. Now that the sale is over, I'm not sure how much time he'll be spending at the plant. He did mention contacting an auctioneer for the remaining stock. He also was enthusiastic about a well deserved vacation. Maybe a call to MTH may answer some questions about trucks?

Don

Thanks Don! I may call MTH and see what they say! 

In addition to the Weaver diesel locomotive dies there are still several former K-Line locomotives dies that have not been used such as the RS3. I own the New Haven and New York Central K-line models and they are quite nice indeed. Lionel has issued two steam locomotive models that were K-Line not to long ago.

 

"That happened because the dies are in China and the government will not allow you to take them out of the country"

 

Is that a joke?

 

Ed NewHaven, I believe that Williams by Bachmann is remaking the old K-Line
RS-3,albeit minus smoke.
Someone correct me if I'm wrong.
Mike

I am curious as I too have a Weaver E8 dating back to 1992 and an MTH E8 from 2010.

There are striking differences! Asolutely no stacks at all on the Weavers and the piping atop the roof is moulded in relief only.

 

The MTH have much more detailing! So much so that it seems hard to say the same molds were used at all? Stacks, piping and fan details entirely lacking in the Weavers. And that horrid molded in grab bar above the windows is an actual, separately applied "iron" on the MTH.

 

How far before the mold  is so modifed that it really can not be called the "Weaver E8 mold" any longer?

Matt01 No. Have you tried to take out a major manufacturing component out of China?

I suspect he is referring to Weaver production being in this country.