Lionel and Menards

I am still waiting for Menards to pick up the production of Tubular Switches to go with their track since Lionel Stopped!!!!

The tubular O gauge track Menards is making, is the exact of Lionel's. I bought some recently, and you cant tell the difference.

ZWPOWER13 posted:

I am still waiting for Menards to pick up the production of Tubular Switches to go with their track since Lionel Stopped!!!!

The tubular O gauge track Menards is making, is the exact of Lionel's. I bought some recently, and you cant tell the difference.

They need to add more ties as did Lionel. 031-3ties, 042-4ties, 054-5ties, 072-6ties. I know that would add a couple pennies to each piece but would certainly add strength and adaptability to original track. 

They should make rubber roadbed for their "O" gauge track. It would give their track a finished look. 

Lionelski posted:

I just received the latest edition of CTT magazine and I see in the Menards back cover ad a 1940's panel truck with Lionel signage on it's side.

The beginning of cooperation between the two companies? This would be very interesting.

Your thoughts?

That panel van was released almost two years ago, and it’s not a Lionel-licensed product. It’s based on a Lionel retailer. The panel truck was previously discussed on the forum, including the incorrect spelling of French’s.

Here’s the 2-year-old thread:

https://ogrforum.com/...l-truck-from-menards

Pretty sure Lionel and the other importer / manufactures are not thrilled with the volume of traditional type rolling stock that Menards has been releasing over the past couple years. Every $20 Menards boxcar sold is one less $50 boxcar that the other guys would have sold.

Thanks for the history/info Jim.

The recent ad was first time I saw the truck

Bill T posted:

Pretty sure Lionel and the other importer / manufactures are not thrilled with the volume of traditional type rolling stock that Menards has been releasing over the past couple years. Every $20 Menards boxcar sold is one less $50 boxcar that the other guys would have sold.

And Lionel is very much competing with Menards. Lionel’s new military boxcars featuring gorgeous women on the sides is a direct reaction to Menards’ military plane nose-art boxcars, albeit at three times the price.

Who makes the cars for Menards?  How does one have a product built? 

I collect 1:55 scale vehicles from a company called SIKU from Germany. I see that  Menards items look similar.  Anyone have one to compare?

Edmund Schwartzel 060518 posted:

Who makes the cars for Menards?  How does one have a product built? 

 

I collect 1:55 scale vehicles from a company called SIKU from Germany. I see that  Menards items look similar.  Anyone have one to compare?

I’m not sure if you mean automobiles or rolling stock, but there is some limited information available.

Menards has never confirmed which Chinese factory manufacturers its railroad cars, but many suspect one of Kader’s factories is involved since the designs for the postwar styles are the same as Williams and K-Line. (Kader is the parent company of Bachmann, which bought the Williams line. Kader also bought the Sanda Kan factory that produced K-Line products.)

As for autos, a factory known as Golden Wheel has been mentioned and pretty much confirmed by Menards. Menards has 1:48 scale vehicles, like the panel truck mentioned above, and the more variably scaled vehicles that all fit in an identical box. The latter are almost always available in a bin in Menards stores and are very inexpensive. Very much a mass-market product, unlike the hobby autos produced as part of the train line.

I’m sure Menards listens to product suggestions, but that doesn’t mean it will make what you suggest.