Please dont think I am going down the collector snobbery path because that is not my motivation whatsoever for the previous post or my love of collecting (mainly) clockwork trains
I certainly have no problem with any particular manufacturer reproducing the style of things gone by , and selling them at an affordable price point, thats part of any hobby , they also help limit the sometimes astronomical costs of the "real deal " item ,be that for good or bad ...I personally do not "collect" as an asset building exercise or to resell at a profit... for what its worth I have not sold a train for profit full stop , my collecting is of things that inspire or interest me , its a lousy financial decision and when I pass there will be one hell of an estate sale in which I predict things will sell at bargain prices as my relatives have little idea of worth or investment in them LOL!
I just think that a reproduction should be able to stand on the merits of its production and admit to what it is in such a way that it too will become a collectible in its own right in its own time That could be as simple as a tiny pressed "By XXX" stamped in an out of the way place not clearly visible, but accessible to deter future confusion.
To be completely honest I CANT AFFORD MTH etc LOL , I am a low level collector on a fixed income that many people would struggle to live on, so we are probably approaching the hobby from vastly different circumstances
I just think there is something more ethical about stamping your name on something you are proud of and giving that product a life of its own and the opportunity to be a collectible in its own right .
Remember in this context I was not commenting on MTH or anyone in particular, but it was regarding the signal itself in question which is beautiful and is not reproduced at this time , but if it were to be reproduced I personaly would love to see it in a form where it could stand on its own, no matter who did it .
Else how else would the next generation of "collectors" have items to choose from ?
We would just be buying and selling old stuff and new old stuff , and new new old stuff
