Hiawatha98 posted:scott.smith posted:The licensing is not the issue as much as it is the dwindling interest in tinplate. The demand has reached a point where it is difficult to find anyone to manufacturer the product in the low qualities that are ordered. Generally speaking the tinplate purchaser is on the upper age end of the model train hobby. Tinplate is dieing because the collectors of tinplate are. It’s sad but it is reality.
Scott Smith
I can confirm this. I am 20 years old and have zero interest in owning any tinplate trains. Not to say tinplate is undesirable, though, I do enjoy seeing Std. Gauge layouts at train shows.
At 20, I had no interest in tinplate. On a whim I got an O gauge tinplate club car when I was around 27. Now I have a club car train, and I purchased both of my sons a standard gauge Ives and 400E for their first Christmas. I cant think of a better heirloom for them to enjoy every year.
Now the problem is, if I have a 3rd boy down the road I hope I can get my hands on a good set.
