News about Korber Models

Excellent! Now What's the attraction about the "BUCKEYE STATE"? Seriously you have for O guage:

 

O Guage Railroading

Lionel Service Center &

Now Korber models

 

Who else is moving out there?

Great news!! Thanks Allan.

 

I hope the deal does not run into bad luck, being announced on Friday the 13th.

 

 

Jack

This is great news.  I have a couple of their kits and like them. 

I reviewed the new website, somewhat limited at the moment other than a Survey, asking which out of production models to be first back.   It also has a place for suggested new models.

OK........so Just Trains acquired the rights to the kits from Korber a few years ago.........and now, they have them back?

 

Do I have that right?

 

Peter

Hi Guys,

To chime in here,  This is Rich Redmond, I use Rich883 on the forum.

First thanks for the kind words.

My wife and I purchased the assets from Justrains, and we formed a new company in OH using the Korber Models name(which has a lot of recognition) with no relation to the old Korber.  I hope this helps explain the situation.

We will be restarting production on the products, and with your input and support, bring out new models.

We clearly have a lot of work to do, and welcome input and comments.  Having built several myself  (not to the level of detail as some others here have), there are certainly some improvements we can make to the existing line so as you have them, please feel free to share via our website www.korbermodels.com .  

 

The web site is in the early stages, so as you have thoughts about what would make it more useful please let us know.  We anticipate having on line ordering available in the next few weeks as we transition the business.

 

We are excited about this project, and look forward to seeing many of you at York, we will be around the Justrains booth this year, and hope to get in town in time to see people at Fridays.

 

I certainly have learned much from a wide range of talented people here on the forum, and I am confident you all will provide valuable insight on how we can offer a unique and quality product going forward.

 

Best Regards

 

Rich Redmond  - Rich 883

Best of luck Rich.

Absolutely terrific news.  I wish you the best of luck.  Looking forward to meeting you at York.  Please consider selling parts and pieces to us kit bashers.

Rich,

Best of luck. I look forward to seeing some new kits down the line. I own a few Korber kits now, HO and O, and would like to add more. Made in Ohio is just another plus!

Made in USA is good

Made in Ohio Is GREAT

Good Luck Rich

Outstanding news!

 

Rich, I wish you all the success in your new venture. And it is great to see the manufacturing staying in this country.

 

Art

All the best Rich. I have used 7 of these kits already including my favorite. (The Lionel Factory). Good luck. Captain John

Rich - thanks for clarifying what's happening with this announcement.

Why Ohio was asked.  An earlier demographic study I had was that 50% of the US population was within 500 miles of Cleveland Ohio.

 

Also, certain model train publications say that most of their subscriptions are in the North East US.

 

 

Rich,

Good luck!

 

I took the survey and commented about a new kit.  Here ya go:

 

 

 

Another cool industry would be a Skippy Peanut Butter plant with tanks painted like jars of peanut butter (this was in Portsmouth also):

 

Congratulations Rich on your new business venture.  I am glad you are able to and wanted to keep  the Korber name.  I have always loved the industrial look of these buildings.

 

Best wishes for a successful endeavor,

Don

Once again, great news. Best of luck Rich, expect to be seeing some orders from me. Great to hear Korber products will remain available.

 

Gilly

 

Here's an idea. The "world's largest six-pack" at City Brewery, LaCrosse, Wis. It formerly was G. Heileman brewery, and the tanks were painted with Old Style beer cans (see attachment).

 

Of course, with any of these logos, Skippy peanut butter or otherwise, there's the matter of copyright laws, and buying the rights to use the logos. That could make the cost of the kits prohibitive, not to mention all the time and effort required to obtain the rights.

 

Probably not something Korber is in a position to do right now.

Congrats Rich,
Just went to your new site, gave my votes and got on your list.
I commend you on your approach to involving the wife in your hobby.
Hopefully with help from us here on the forum you'll do very well.

David

Rich great news. I hope you consider making your sidewalk sections again. I haven't been able to find any for a long time. Thanks Don 

Congrats on the new business and best wishes. I'm looking forward to being a customer.

 

Gerry

RICH-THANKS FOR TAKING OVER KORBER STRUCTURES-KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THE FORUM ON WHAT IS NEW

PLEASE RELEASE YOUR 3 SWITCH TOWER KITS-THEY COULD USE A INTERTIOR FLOOR.

THINK ABOUT MAKING A BRICK DEPOT KIT-JOE

Rich, best wishes and success with the Korber acquisition.

I've always liked Korber models. When Ernest Korber first started the line he created kit structure designs that go very well with turn-of-the century steam. Many of those old factory designs remained prominent along the railways well into the diesel era. Like Ameritowne they capture the perfect old time look for many model railroads. Best of luck Rich and with a "Made in USA" tag on the box you can bet that I will be a customer. If I may make a suggestion; please consider also selling the model parts for us scratch builders and "kit bashers". When Korbers grandson was running the operation I routinely purchased windows,  doors, water tanks, roofs, chimneys, a roof refrigeration unit and other items to add to existing structures.

Good luck on the venture. Its good to have Korber back.  BTW, can we expect to see your products at fall York in October?

First Atlas announces they are acquiring the Walthers  O scale Cornerstone items and now a startup company acquires the Korber tooling. It looks like there will be enough kits out there to keep us kitbashers busy for some time.  All we need now is for someone to re-release the O scale Pola kits tha were marketed by Lionel, IHC and others.

Go Buckeyes! anything from Ohio is great  

Rich...thanks so much for taking over the Korber kits.  Please consider making available parts for us scratch and kit bashers.  I have a 30 foot wall that I need some industrial flats!!

 

Alan

Best wishes on your new venture Rich!

Thanks for the info Allan, this is good news for the hobby.  The Korbor product line was always cool because they look good and are priced right. Also, as Don stated above Korbor's sidewalks where great.

Rich, one other thing. With Alan offering a beautiful transfer table soon, why not some side brick engine house buildings to go with it. Mr. Miller, thanks for the heads up on this one. Don

For something new, how about a large Church or Cathedral? Something other than the tiny Model Power / MTH "Country Church" or the Plasticville Cathedral. If all the other scales (from Z to G) can have them, why not 0?

This is great news....thanks Rich and best of luck.....I will be "in for" more Korber kits as the ones I now have are my favorites........my all time favorite is my 5 stall roundhouse......keep us Forumites posted! Tom in Picksburgh

This is great news!!! Good Luck Rich!!

Excellent news!!!  Best of luck, Rich.  I already completed the survey with my preferences. 

 

David

I will 2nd the need for a large church/cathedral.  I have not seen anything I like so far.  Dept 56 has a Spanish style church but these are not seen to often in the northeast were I like to model.  I wish you great success with your new business venture and look forward to new structures.  Oh, any steel mill structures would also be great in O scale.  Era 30's to 60's.

Super news! Is there any interest in the buildings from the Polar Express movie? Maybe the boy's house as well as buildings in the architectural style of the North Pole might be of interest.
Best of luck on your venture.

Rich, best of luck to you.  I'm glad to see this.  Here is pic of mine that I purchased in 2004. 

 

Pretty much the focal point of my layout.

 

Ken

I talked to Rich yesterday (April 13, 2012). I had filled out the survey/contact info and he called. I was please with the conversation that we had.  There is a lot to be done with these kits to make them more user friendly/marketable. Some relatively easy/minimal cost upgrades, with todays computers, instructions/diagrams/template improvements are a must. Additional links to "How to" articles about floors, bases, roofs, etc. is another relatively low cost change that would make these models more friendly.  I mentioned that several had contacted me with a simple question. "Can I do the Korber 304 House?" My answer  "Yes "  A lot of work here, some of these models date to the late 1970's

Mike