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The Hudson Products 700E reproduction loco came in kit form. I built one in the late 70's, early 80's. Had to remachine the frame & machine new bushings for the axles. It then ran well but the alloy it was cast from was somewhat soft & had to be treated carefully when tightening screws. I subsequently sold it at York.

Thanks Brian

I guess most people do not know about this Very Rare set, This is the second set that I have owned. The first set I had I sold when I bought my Corvette, I always wished I had not sold it. How lucky I found another complete set. You see extra cars but not to often. Complete sets I have only see 2 the ones I have owned.  I was just wondering if any form members had a complete set or cars from the set.  I know of a few people that would love to find This set. 

From the article cited above: "Hudson Products had changed their name to "Custom Products Company,"

The OP was referring to this late company that made trains with the Lionel logo, without the permission of the company who ultimately could do nothing but gain from the free advertising, or as they claimed, the "infringement."  The Lionel "sales prevention department" could have looked at it another way, IMHO.

We have been confusing it with the original Hudson Products Co, from the middle of the previous century... the one that we old guys remember... who made reproductions of the 5344 / 700E in kit form.

I guess it's another example of generation gap syndrome.

 

Nice looking cars, but there was no way I would have spent $150 dollars on a set in 1976. There was just too much Postwar available in my area, and that is where most of my money went.  They were charging $30 per piece when mail order prices on a current production boxcar had to be somewhere around $6-$8.

Fast forward to November 2017, and I still don't think I've seen the cars in the flesh locally.

They may be decorated with Lionel logos, but they weren't a Lionel product.

I remember Hudson products well as they sold at York in the early 80's when I began collecting.  In addition to the unauthorized Diesel set with Lionel name, colors and logos, the company made a 5344 Scale Hudson copy. The body and main metal parts were cast in pewter , in a silicone mold made from an original Lionel Hudson. The Hudson products engine and scale tender were sold at the extremely high price of $750 in 1970's dollars.  Despite the high price, the quality on the early engines was fair but they were fragile, easily easily damaged and lacked smoke and whistle. Many orders were taken on a "build to order" basis at the shows and by mail order. The trouble was that company owner took a flood of deposits and did not deliver on most of them. The upshot was that the owner ended up being charged with mail fraud and copyright violation and was sentenced to prison. I do not know the exact number of Hudson that were made but I estimate that it could not have been much higher than 100 units.  The owner showed pictures of his facility and it looked like a small old time machine shop with maybe two employees. They were located in Attleboro, MA. 

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OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

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