Not sure where to post this, but it was inspired an HO purchase so....
Today I received my latest purchase from that Auction Site. While I am committed to O at this point I bought this as a reference. I will do a "technical" post on it, once I have a better chance to evaluate it and take some pictures. Anyhow....
The item is an HO gauge switch, "not a boxed starter set", just an item for building a layout. It is from the early 1960's and as you know they use to code the price in to part numbers at that time. The MSRP was $2.95 however it has a price tag on it from W.T.Grant Co. handwritten $1.57. I had to pay considerably more now. LOL The price tag took me back to a "Lost time in America". I actually had forgotten about goin to Grant's as a kid.
My point of this post is, "when I was a kid", I could ride my bike to the 5 and 10 and buy track and building kits. I even remember the rolls of Life-Like Grass Mat propped up vertically in the wire cage racks. What the Heck has happened to our country? Could this have something to do the lack of interest of the kids in trains and building models?
I will extend this one item further. Could this be part of the Housing shortage problem? Many young people today look down on "Trades." Everyone has to go to 4 years of college now and bury themselves in debt. All I can do is shake my head. Sorry, I'm just a ranting old man.
I understand society changes, but I am truly concerned where we are headed. The hobbies and skills we develop as kids influence the path we pursue in life. There is a BIG push for STEM with kids today, but in the past it just developed naturally in many of us when we "played" as kids.
Sorry, don't mean to bring anyone "down". Let's just focus on the good times we had as kids, when life seemed so much simpler.
BTW I am no psychologist, but think part of the reason I like trains, is they transport me back to childhood.
