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It's now official. Posted on the Weaver Models web site:

 


 

Weaver Models is announcing the closing of its manufacturing business at the end of June after 50 years. Proud to have been manufacturing in the USA.

 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our dealers, customers, and the many great friends I've made throughout the years for making our business a success.

 

I would also like to thank our dedicated employees, some of whom have been with me for more than 20 years, also for making our business a success.

 

I have been affiliated with Weaver Models since 1970, when it was better known as Quality Craft Models. I acquired Weaver Models in 1994.

 

We will be having a sale at our place of business, selling various items including memorabilia on a cash and carry basis starting June 29th. 

 

We will be having a sale at our place of business, selling various items including memorabilia on a cash and carry basis starting June 29th.

 


 

The Weaver Models Web site is here.

 

All the best to you, Joe.

Last edited by Rich Melvin
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Joe gave the SDMRR Museum a locomotive - it is still running.  MTH and Atlas give the museum gears, and we thank them for their generosity.  As far as I know, the only donation of a complete locomotive to our local museum O Scale layout was from Joe/Weaver.  My thanks to Joe, and indeed to all who help.

I've only been in the hobby since 2003, but have acquired a lot of Weaver products. Thank you for the trip, it's been wonderful.  Here are some of Weaver's products, my layout.

Baldwin Pennsy BP20

 

Alco C630's

 

Canadian Pacific Hudson.

 

Pennsy E-8's

 

Grand Canyon #29

 

GP38-2.

 

RS-3

 

Pennsy C1 0-8-0

 

Pennsy M1a/b 4-8-2  I believe one of their first brass offerings.

 

Pennsy H10  2-8-0

 

Pennsy L1s Mikado

 

U25b

 

Alco RSD 12

 

Pennsy G5 4-6-0

 

Pennsy A5 0-4-0

 

It's been a wonderful experience.  There is also a lot of Weaver rolling stock, coal cars and accessory parts. 

Thank you,

Michael C. Thompson

 

 

 

Last edited by Mike CT

Well, I just kept telling myself that this must be a nasty rumor! Weaver is well represented in my rolling stock. I have more Weaver PS-1's than any other single type of car. There are a bunch of Woodsided reefers in my beer train collection.

 

Thank you for the numerous cars that no one else offered. I especially appreciate the troop sleepers, drop end gondolas, B&O Wagon-tops and the Milwaukee Road cars.

 

I only have one Weaver locomotive; the N&W 4-6-2 Pacific. I kept hoping there would be another run of the 2-8-0's. I'm really sorry I missed getting one.

 

All the best in retirement. You will be sorely missed.

Last edited by Gilly@N&W
The closing-up-shop part of this news is very sad indeed.  Of course the retirement part of the story, if that is indeed the reason, is very happy news for Joe!

I'm really going to miss these guys.  Hopefully all their tooling/molds will be purchased by someone (or some companies) who will continue Weaver's terrific line of products!  Best of luck to all their employees, too!

I will also miss Weaver.  I guess I will have to be content with looking for more of their stuff at train shows.

 

I am glad that they produced such a variety of stuff that no one else was willing to do, and I am glad I managed to get on the last, or one of the last, OGR York tours to Weaver.  Great memories!

 

My thanks go out to all of Weaver's employees, and my best wishes for Joe in his retirement.

 

I may have to make the drive out on the 29th for one last visit.

 

Andy

First class people and I wish them the bast. I started buying Weaver streamlined steam engines in the late 1990's, and have several. Joe was always great to talk to and deal with, and Gary provided great service (which was rarely needed). I went through their facility a couple of times and everyone was always very nice.

 

Best to you,

   Gerry

 

Closing is sad news for a Top-Notch producer of "O" scale items. But have to ask, seems no one has, or missed it, WHY?

When I took my name off my consulting business, and made my final commitment to retire, I sought out and sold it.

Weaver was a successful company, a name recognized and known for quality merchandise and to not pass it on is a shame.

Originally Posted by Goshawk:

Sad day. I'm glad to see the reason is retirement and not a money thing. Maybe Menards will buy the tooling and expand their offerings... 

I'm wondering if he tried to sell the business first???  Hope somehow there's a last minute deal where Weaver will go on.   Hot Water ask about the paints, what about the employees?

Oh wow! Not good! I'm happy for Joe, but sad we are losing a great source for O Scale.

I still run my Weaver FAs. RS-3s, GP-38s, E-8s, and every brass PRR steamer they offered! I hope their dies are purchased by someone....Bowser in Montoursville, PA, perhaps? 

 

For the money, I believe Weaver rolling stock was tops for an operator. Just my humble opinion....Best Wishes to Joe and to Gary....the best repairman...ever!

Enjoy your retirement Joe. You have earned it from the years you have made our hobby better. I will very much miss buying made in the USA. But when I looked back at all the stuff I have bought from Weaver over the years it was worth it. Now I will have many more years to enjoy it thanks to you. You now have the time to kick off your shoes, relax, vacation and enjoy family.....................Paul

Weaver was one of the key factors that influenced my return to this hobby in the early 1990's, during this period I went to the Dupage Train Shop in Wheaton,Il. During my first visit to this train shop I saw a highly detailed mill gondola car in a plain white box, asked the dealer who made these,they were the Roco Atlas cars, he also had the Roco boxcars and stock cars,I bought what he had available. He also had numerous cars built by a company named Weaver in black boxes, I never saw their cars before. Subsequently, I opened two bay and three bay ribbed and straight side coal cars and liked the detailing and graphics and purchased a few.

 

This initial purchase started my continued purchases of Weaver coal cars,boxcars, flat cars, stock cars, covered hopper car and recently the TOFC flat cars. The other selling point of Weaver to me, the cars were "O" Scale with 3-Rail Bettendorf side bearing trucks and couplers. Fast forward to today, the vast majority of my freight cars are Weaver, the remaining freight cars are AtlasO, Intermountain and Red Caboose which include the cars listed above and tank cars(Intermountain & Red Caboose) and the origional K-Line tank cars from the 1990's close which were close to scale size. All of the kit (Intermountain & Red Caboose) cars and Roco cars are equipped with the Weaver 3-Rail Bettendorf trucks.

 

Gary, a former employee at Weaver, always was a great contact person with questions over the years we had numerous discussions.

 

 

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