Does any body know if lionels ceo has a train layout?

Neil Young says JC is the best CEO Lionel has ever had.

Mysto Magic and Erector came first, of course. However, owning and making notes in a personal copy of Car Builders Cyclopedia indicated considerably more than a businessman's passive involvement, but rather a keen interest in railroading. The initiation and planning to start an accurate scale HO line of model trains before WW 2 came from A. C., himself, before any discussions with William Coleman about American Flyer. That discussion came later during a round of golf when A. C. informed Coleman that he might be going into the train business in competition with AFMCo. 

 

A few here do, of course, but how many "train guys" who are posting on this thread actually own a CBC? The point is that Gilbert should not be lumped in with Marx. Maybe, not even Cowen.

 

Bob

Well, I can honestly say I don't own one, but then I'm not maufacturing model trains. 

 

However, I try to be reasonably accurate with my modeling using available research and the wisdom I've gathered through the ages.

 

Rusty

 

I do, for one. And a Locomotive Cyclopedia, and a whole lot of other reference material, which I have on occasion shared with Weaver and Atlas to help them make their products as prototypical as possible. 

I have worked with thousands of businesses in my professional career. The best executives that I have worked with came up through the ranks, and yes they did have a good education, but they knew every aspect of the business they were responsible for.

 

In this case, whether they have a layout or not is irrelevant, but knowing the business and having product knowledge is what is important.

 

As I wrote, a few do.. and good for you! Something you and A. C. Gilbert have/had in common. Cowen, Gilbert, and Marx were the Toy Kings Three, but Gilbert alone among them can arguably qualify as a "train guy". 

 

A wee bit of hobby history. 

 

Bob

 

Ah, yes, I can see the Car Builders Cyclopedia's influence on the underframes of the American Flyer 900 series Box Cars, Stock Cars, Reefers and Cabeese!

 

Rusty

You think so, John?  Could it be the good doctor is back amongst us?  That writing style sure is very familiar. 

Ah, but take a look at the undersides (and the car bodies, for that matter) of the 1946 and 47 rolling stock. Look at the HO equipment from the 1930's and 40's.  In 1946, scale flanges were fitted on the S gauge cars for a short period. Pretty darned good for the times, the intended purpose, and the price point.

 

Bob

Managing companies is about managing, and good managers can run a business successfully regardless of what the business is producing. There are countless examples of successful managers moving between businesses that are totally unrelated.

 

Just to dream something up, imagine some guy in charge of a model train company with a background in publishing comic books.

As to the question of if A.C. Gilbert was a train guy, just perform a seance & ask him.  Problem solved. 

I have a copy of Gray's Anatomy on my bookshelf.  Does that make me a "doctor guy?"

Rusty

No need. There is enough documentation, and known and written history to indicate that his interest in railroading was more than the passing fancy of a remote manager. In his prime, A. C. was very 'hands on' about his company and its products, to say the least.

 

Bob

It might if you made copious notes in the margins. 

 

Why not just admit that you learned something today? 

 

Bob

Nah...

 

Rusty

Indicate, aka suggest.  Inconclusive, not definitive; hence the seance recommendation. 

You think so, John?  Could it be the good doctor is back amongst us?  That writing style sure is very familiar. 

 

Don't think just by what he posts in regards to the OGR forum, some OGR administrators, and some OGR members on another forum.

Oh, John. The word “indicate” is much stronger than “suggest”, which is why I used the word. In the sciences, "indicate" conveys one to a conclusion, not a suggestion. From, Webster’s New World Dictionary of the American Language, New World Publishing:

 

indicate – to direct attention to; point out; signify; betoken.

 

suggest – to bring to mind for consideration; imply; hint; insinuate.

 

If you do not choose to believe, than that is your perogative. Hope this helps. 

 

Bob

 

Wow Bob, I wasn't aware that this was a scientific problem we were discussing! 

 

I can indicate that Jello can be nailed to a wall.  Does that also indicate the Jello will remain stuck to the wall? 

 

The "conclusion" itself within this context we're talking about is based on probability; a likelihood.  Not definite.  A definite maybe, perhaps.

 

It's not a matter of disbelief on my part, I just don't think I'd be so certain as to safely bet an entire paycheck on it. 

 

 

"If you thought that science was certain - well, that is just an error on your part."  - Richard Feynman

This question is not exactly what I would call a burning issue. A whole lot of verbiage over not much of anything. Must be a slow week.

Probably because the so-called 2014 Preview catalog is flying like a lead balloon.

 

Rusty

This!

It pretty much describes me.  For fifteen years I owned a small/medium business in the medical/dental device manufacturing segment.  The former owner had passed away and the estate want to divest itself.   I saw it has a good investment.

Of course, as president and owner, I was also the chief janitor, etc..

I knew nothing about how to make what we made when I first got into it.

 

What I did bring was knowledge of how to manage people; how to sell; how to talk to our clients; accounting, and so forth.

 

I made sure I had the right laboratory manager and the right administrative assistant.

When the music world started to take off for me, I decided to retire and I had built the business to a level that I had many larger companies suiting the purchase.

 

To this day, I couldn't do the work my people did. I could explain it quite well, which was necessary to sell.   I did not rise up through the ranks of this particular business.  I did rise up through the ranks of learning how to manage, and all else that goes into running a profitable business.

 

On a side note, but somewhat related.  The two large train stores near me that are still in business are run by business people and not train enthusiasts.  The two run by hobbyists, so to speak, are out of business.

While some of the Lionel CEO's have come and gone and amy not have been in the train business for any amount of years, I know for a fact that Dick Maddox was in the business for close to 50 years, being with Rivarossi,Bachmann, Lionel and Atlas. He used to fix trains as a kid at the hobby store near where he lived.

But... to answer the initial question- No, he does have or had a train layout at his home in Michigan then or at his home in New Jersey now. He's a real nut into model airplanes-free flight. Builds planes from kits in his basement work shop.

Well, I don't think the CEO has to be a train guy per say. But I do think he needs to surround himself with train guys and listen to what they say. Someone at a high level within the company needs to have their finger on the pulse so to speak. For example, it may be a good idea to know which locomotives are currently being restored to operation around the country.....4501, 1225.....etc. as these locomotives hit the rails, and get a lot of attention there is definitely an opportunity there. I will also say that another hobby of mine is firearms and some of the most successful gun companies are full of "gun guys" from the CEO on down.