Polk's Aristo-Craft to Close Its Doors

I haven't checked my email for awhile but do get emails from AristoCraft once in awhile.  I guess I too got the bad news from them this morning.  All I can say is "WOW".  That is very hard to believe.

I am into G scale very much and only run the 1:29 stuff as far as RR equipment goes.  I have many pieces of AristoCraft rolling stock as well as many of their engines.  I am truly in shock.  Didn't see this coming.

A very sad day indeed.  Rick

For reference, here's a link to the 2010 announcement of RMT coming under Aristo-Craft:

http://cs.trains.com/ctt/f/95/t/170519.aspx

Walter worked for A-C prior to forming RMT and his name is listed in the letter sent out by Polk announcing their closing.

A reminder..get your exploded diagrams and schematics pdf while you can while their website is still up..if you are like me, they help in reassembly...

I don't see any way RMT survives this shutdown, sad to say.  Maybe I'm reading too much in Walter not chiming in here, but by now their manufacturing is surely totally under the Aristo-Craft umbrella.

Unfortunately, I would agree on casual evaluation of the events of the last 10 years or so.

It was great in the earlier days when Walter took over Taylor Made Toys and Beeps got their resurgence in the hobby, and at the time they were great fun (that part still is true) and also a great deal!

Then came the delays for many of the new products (how many years between when Beefs and the matching passenger cars were announced vs. first produced?)  (That wait wasn't fun, and frankly is what made me sort of lose interest in general in terms of RMT products)

The Aristocraft announcement of 2010 (I'm trusting the reference in a previoius post  on the date) was meant to leverage the greater pull with the factories, and it seemed to help quite a bit for a while.

But I think most people here remember the sticker shock when the MSRPs for items once it became "RMT under Aristo".  While maybe the original RMT pricing was too good to be sustainable (similar to K-Line in the final years), the doubling of the prices under the initial Aristo structuure made these compressed trains almost as expensive as the more scale sized ones from the other importers.

That leads into the Dealer situation described in several posts above.  The continuous "half off" sales brought the pricing back to a reasonable level for the hobbiest, but messed with the dealer network.

For those who are still fans, I hope RMT can pull out and be successful in the future.  Maybe it can fit under an "MTH Rugged Rails" similar line or something like a "Lionel Classics Junior" if either company would be interested in keeping the line in existence under their name.

-Dave

I think MTH and Lionel both have their hands full trying to keep up their current product lines.

Rusty

Probably true.  Lionel only within the last few years dropped the "K-Line by Lionel", so probably would not be ready for a new experiment in that area, but you never know.

-Dave

The oldest locomotive on my garden roster is this 0-4-0 by Aristo and she has given reliable service for about ten years..what a shame..

I shall continue to hold out hope that someone, somewhere, somehow, some day will come out with my long-awaited 520 Boxcab (in original flavor, but with contemporary features).  

I did not intend to be controversial, suggesting concerns for the RMT brand given it's partnering with Aristo.  I do hope that Walter Matuch is able to sustain the brand, but can only assume the demise of Polk-Aristo will obviously be difficult for all players.  I did read on the Aristo Forum that Kader handled some production, that folks there expect Crest to continue, and that the closure of Polk Aristo will be as of 12/31/2013...if I recall correctly.  There was also speculation that given Kader/Bachmann was involved in the manufacturing, that Bachmann might have the opportunity to pick up some of the lines.  Again, as mentioned, it's all speculation till the dust settles.

My interest in RMT is sincere, although I'm still new to all of this, I was quite smitten with classic semi-scale rolling stock freight I purchased from them earlier this year.  In fact I placed an order yesterday just prior to making my post.  I had been holding out for a re-up on other RMT inventory, but decided I wanted to be sure to grab a few more of the 64 series stuff.

I wish the best of luck to all those impacted by this business closing.  All industries & consumers usually benefit immensely from the independent, entrepreneurial ventures, and suffer from the loss of them.

Robert

Does anyone know the date when Polk first entered the G gauge market.  I remember his trains were first called REA, before changing over to the Aristo Craft name and included a U25B and Alco FA's.  More than anything, I'll miss the Aristo line of track, since it's diverse selection of wide radius curves allowed me to build my LGB layout exactly the way I wanted.  For a while, I'm sure Aristo benefited from the LGB bankruptcy, especially when it came to track pricing.  But now LGB is producing track again, Piko has a new line of track, and I see both USA Trains and Bachmann are making large scale track.  Competition like that has to be a factor in this announcement.   

I'm so sorry to hear this sad news. Though I live in the city we do have a fifteen by sixteen foot deck over our car port and there was a RMT  on that.

My son always loved the G, or yard scale trains. He would always say how he wished we had a big yard so he could build his own back yard layout.

That said, this down trun in this part of our hobby is sadly understandable. twenty or so years ago people where able to relax and spend time in their yards on such fun luxuries. But in this day and age very few of us have the time or the money to expend on such superfluous past times.

How can we when most people are working two jobs and neither one of them are for more then thirty hours a week.  On top of that I don't know anyone over the age of fifty that are making anything close to the take home per fourty hour work week that we enjoyed even fifteen years ago.

I am one of those folks and I'm doing better then many, I should be able to retire in three to five years, 68 to 70. I know many people who are well into their seventies who still have to work fifty to sixty hours a week just to make ends meet.

Sadly, golf, toy trains and vacations are not in their plans.

Good luck to all in the Polk clan, know that most truly appreciate the great service you rendered us over these many years.

Good Luck and God Bless to all Americans.

My understanding was that MTH wasn't really pursuing the RR line anymore.  Which is a shame because they are some of my favorites of my rolling stock.

Is it this?

http://www.postwarlionel.com/cgi-bin/postwar?ITEM=520

 You're not really asking for much. One of the rare requests that would seem an easy one to get.

No, that is the original postwar version from Lionel.  I already have several of the originals.  I also have a number of the K-Line by Lionel significantly enhanced versions of this locomotive (except they got the wheel arrangement wrong in this second incarnation).  RMT was slated to come out with a "third edition" of this boxcab, in original red paint scheme but with all the features of the K-Line by Lionel version and perhaps even a few more.  THAT is the locomotive I was anxiously awaiting.

[Many here already know that I was/am the founder of the "Friends of the 520 Society", so this has long been an engine of particular interest to me.  As I recall, my screen name on the CTT forum even includes reference to the 520.]

Allan: As regards the 520, I wish it would be made with the prototypical wheel arrangement of two 4 wheel trucks. JM2c.

I saw the email too. My question is this- Is "polk" the sales end of the spectrum or is polk the manufacturing end of it...or both.

Walter sells his stuff- he doesn't make it and I'd wonder if the shop is staying open that makes Aristo trains, or is Aristo selling its molds/rights?

Worst I see is that Walter may have to find a new manufacturer for his trains if he isn't piggybacking off of Aristos production...and who owns the molds of what he{Walter} sells...?

Lots of questions...answers will inevitably follow, hopefully this won't be yet another fallen flag for the hobby!...Walter never made the CB&Q lil Zephyr engines!......  

Yeah, electroliner, Louis' legacy lives on!

I bought one of the PCC's last Spring. They had a special sale on the website and I grabbed one. It was around $150....and while it does not fit in with my narrow gauge G scale stuff....it fits in well displayed with my 1/25 scale model cars. Very nice trolley! 

I think the Large Scale community's experience with the LGB bankruptcy also has something to do with this more positive attitude.  If a manufacturer that significant can be brought back from the dead, it seems conceivable that Aristo's products will reappear some day.

Back in 1997 I had moved to Indiana with my wife and new baby girl. There was a farmer near by who ran a train store on his farm.

Wanting to continue our family tradition of a train around the Christmas tree I purchased an Aristocrft Train set with a 0-4-0 Union Pacific Locomotive and 3 wood side passenger cars, it came with track and a transformer. That train was set up around Thanksgiving and stayed up till St Patrick's Day. The kids ran that train whenever they could. It has survived all 5 of my children. Over the years I purchased other Aristocraft engines and rolling stock. When we got back into 0-Gauge I purchased some RMT.

I will be sad to see Walter and his business go. I have spoken to him personally over  the years and always enjoyed our conversations. This is a hobby we all have to help promote with the kids. If we can't take the time to get the kids involved one by one the companies will become relics of the past. Although I consider myself a 0-Scaler I do like and enjoy G-Scale, it's BIG and fun.

Hope we hear some good news at some time

I've been contemplating buying one of those PCCs but have held off for a long time.  In light of recent developments, I may have to bite the bullet and spring for one or two.  Probably won't have another chance for a good long time.

No matter how you look at it, Aristo was a major player in the world of Large Scale in the U.S.  You can debate their choice of scale or just about anything else you care to (as forum participants are prone to do), but you can be darn sure this, like the departure of LGB in its original form, will have a profound impact on that segment of the hobby.  Those who think everything will shake out okay are likely going to be in for a rude awakening.

As for the RMT portion of the equation...we still don't know.  Walter may still be weighing options, but I hope he does make some sort of statement because I plan to run something in the Announcements section of the magazine and it sure would be beneficial, in a number of ways, to have his input.

Allan,

Have you tried calling Walter?

Gunny

Ed has spoken with Walter, but in confidence (they have known each other for many years).  I don't even want to know or say anything until it can be on the record.  If/when I have confirmed information to share, you can be sure it will be shared here first.

I like RMT products, especially the LIRR stuff.  I really think RMT would fit great with Williams by Bachman products.  I hope that is what we hear next.  BigRail

Really its in Walter's best interest to say something. Otherwise rumors, speculation, fly, and THAT is NOT in RMT's interest. 

Walter's RMT would have to work closer with Bachmann after this closing.

Andrew

Is this statement based on first hand knowledge or just conjecture?

I've bought many RMT trains online and at MB KLeins and I've always been happy with them, a good product at a good price. It's certainly disheartening to hear about Aristo-Craft and the uncertainty surrounding RMTs future, I hope Walter is able to continue on especially since there are too few in the business like him. I'm pretty sure tho he has a group of people he works with and that they are going over all their options, until then with everything he has on his plate I think the rest of us really need to step back and let him make the decisions he feels are best. Very few of us are qualified to help out in this kind of situation and even if we are we're not "in the loop" and don't need to be kept up to date, he'll go public when he's ready and not because we want to know what's going on. 

I wish Walter and his crew all the best with what ever they decide.

Jerry

I don't see that happening.

Hopefully someone will pick up the tooling...just like Aristo did from Delton and Kalamazoo. Is any of the Kalamazoo tooling still in use in its original form?

I thought all the Kalamazoo tooling was still at it's current owner HLW Hartland Locomotive Works.......that was always my understanding plus I've used HLW parts to fix my Kalamazoo locos.

Delton...yes...I have the Aristo version that was re-tooled....nice loco.

Since there was no mention of RMT in the email, I think there is a plan for that part of the company to continue on.  Maybe an announcement at York.

My understanding is that RMT will not be at York this time around.

I wish a very good investigative writer like Tracey Kidder (The Soul of the New Machine) would do a story on Polk/Aristo and its demise and RMT (regardless of outcome).  It would be fascinating, I think.  Even before their "merger" these companies seemed very similar to me: driven by a single committed, diligent and driven individual/family but otherwise niche players with some signs of marginal business enterprises from the outside (where I was).  The inside story of Polk/Aristo, etc., has to be quite interesting and full of twists, etc. RMT is a quirky company and probably has an interesting history and story, too.  

I hope RMT makes it - good products, great service, and they are "something different" - a breath of fresh air.  But toy trains doesn't appear to be an industry that is easy to make a go of it in, and sometimes the worst person to get involved is someone that loves the industry - you over-commit because you car and aren't objective and get into cash flow and other business problems that destroy your business (RMT's blowout sales are signs that maybe that did/is happening).

Oh well... truly a sad state for the train hobby which is becoming smaller, older and is a shrinking base demographically across the "scales"  The economy is worse off than I thought. It would be nice if Bachmann picked up Aristo Craft Diesel line & other associated items  in G scale, maybe I just dreaming.

I think Walter would have chimed in by now if there was a good answer for RMT. the only place you hear Walter now is on the buy sell forum. is he afraid to talk to us?

There's a lot involved in a situation like this.  You just don't pick-up your tooling, walk out the door and start over again. 

Rusty