All due respect AMC Dave, the commenuts reflect on the graying of America and the lack of interest with kids in today's world. Nothing specific about a buyer just conjecture. I am still surprised that a company wouldnt gobble up Weaver or least it molds and dies. I hate to see yet another made in the USA company go the way of the Dodo bird.
All due respect AMC Dave, the commenuts reflect on the graying of America and the lack of interest with kids in today's world. Nothing specific about a buyer just conjecture. I am still surprised that a company wouldnt gobble up Weaver or least it molds and dies. I hate to see yet another made in the USA company go the way of the Dodo bird.
Even with retirement in mind, I'd be willing to bet that feelers for the company assets were put out. There may or may not be a deal in the works, that's not for us to know at this point in time.
If there was no interest, the assets probably all wind up in auction.
Plus, whether the building was leased or owned, the next occupant will probably want all that "stuff" cleaned out.
Rusty
Rusty
We inherited some molds for plastic kits that didn't fit in with our line.
We shopped them around to all other in the biz with no takers.
The tooling shop that had a partial lien on the molds kept them and they went to scrap.
THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WEAVER!!!
Just a industry example of the current state of the hobby biz.....it is not a 'the sky is falling' message. The hobby biz, like all things, is changing. And assets (molds) are important for different reason for different people. If someone has a customer that NEEDS high grade nickel steel any molds may be worth more as scrap than tooling.
Weaver's owner will determine which path they take.
Seeing that Milwaukee Hudson in the display case at Weaver (above photos) makes Kyrian sad ... she tried to find a new one for years without any luck. Ended up with #1, #2, and #3 Atlantics instead.
Now we need to find someone to repair one of them so it will run again, as Weaver won't be doing repairs any longer :-(
All due respect AMC Dave, the commenuts reflect on the graying of America and the lack of interest with kids in today's world. Nothing specific about a buyer just conjecture. I am still surprised that a company wouldnt gobble up Weaver or least it molds and dies. I hate to see yet another made in the USA company go the way of the Dodo bird.
We are all speculating. Who, knows, only the owner Joe does. It's still a darn shame. As I enjoy Weaver products. But it is what it is.
Seeing that Milwaukee Hudson in the display case at Weaver (above photos) makes Kyrian sad ... she tried to find a new one for years without any luck. Ended up with #1, #2, and #3 Atlantics instead.
Now we need to find someone to repair one of them so it will run again, as Weaver won't be doing repairs any longer :-(
All of those steam engines ARE FOR SALE on july 17
Seeing that Milwaukee Hudson in the display case at Weaver (above photos) makes Kyrian sad ... she tried to find a new one for years without any luck. Ended up with #1, #2, and #3 Atlantics instead.
Now we need to find someone to repair one of them so it will run again, as Weaver won't be doing repairs any longer :-(
All of those steam engines ARE FOR SALE on july 17
kerrigan,
call weaver models and leave a message. joe will get back to you if you really want the steam engine. you don't have to be there on the 17th, he will ship it to you.
We Id just saw this on a facebook group lionel for sale and trade group..they posted that weaver closed there doors this weekend guess there behind the 8 ball..Did posted links from this site on there forum..made a post on here by accident and got nailed for it..havent been on for months ..I take breaks from spring to fall on trains..to show my car and working on other car project..Thought Lionel bought out weaver long ago?..Guess anyone that has a weaver engine or cars are worth money now..
Wow, tore the layout down and stepped away from the hobby for several months to move from Illinois to Wisconsin. Now, just tried to join the 2015 Weaver Club as I do every year and O MY GOSH they closed shop 
I joined their club every year and started ordering extra cars over the past several years. My favorite thing about Weaver was, unlike all of the other O Gauge companies, I LOVED the fresh smell of paint when I opened every car I ordered!!!! I will always remember that custom small U.S. shop smell of fresh paint. This was a classic small business in America that is the backbone of who we are as a country! We need more guys like Joe H. to take personal risk, create jobs and keep making America great.
The cool thing about our hobby is there are a lot of great guys like Joe that run small businesses and are passionate about what they do. Mike Wolf was and is one of the greats. I hope MTH and Lionel and Williams and Scenic Express and Ross Custom Switches and Miller Engineering and all the mom and pop hobby shops across America, whose entrepreneurial founders took great personal risks, continue to survive and prosper!
Long live the World's Greatest Hobby!
Mike
The sky is not falling but it should be obvious to even the casual observer that the hobby is contracting not expanding. Model trains will still be with us for a while to come but the changing demographic of those who buy the trains will create challenges for those that import, market the products and also for the TCA. The business picture and train market today is vastly different than it was even 10 years ago. The businesses and associations that take steps to react to the changing times will survive, those who take the attitude "why we have been doing it this way for years" will go the way of the telegraph. Weaver served a small niche market, the owner was at retirement age and they way it see it wanted to enjoy that retirement. Its sad that they are gone but nothing lasts forever.
The sky is not falling but it should be obvious to even the casual observer that the hobby is contracting not expanding. Model trains will still be with us for a while to come but the changing demographic of those who buy the trains will create challenges for those that import, market the products and also for the TCA. The business picture and train market today is vastly different than it was even 10 years ago. The businesses and associations that take steps to react to the changing times will survive, those who take the attitude "why we have been doing it this way for years" will go the way of the telegraph. Weaver served a small niche market, the owner was at retirement age and they way it see it wanted to enjoy that retirement. Its sad that they are gone but nothing lasts forever.
Yep, Mike Wolf stated a couple years ago that the O Gauge segment of model railroading is flat.
Bill T.
The sky is not falling but it should be obvious to even the casual observer that the hobby is contracting not expanding. Model trains will still be with us for a while to come but the changing demographic of those who buy the trains will create challenges for those that import, market the products and also for the TCA. The business picture and train market today is vastly different than it was even 10 years ago. The businesses and associations that take steps to react to the changing times will survive, those who take the attitude "why we have been doing it this way for years" will go the way of the telegraph. Weaver served a small niche market, the owner was at retirement age and they way it see it wanted to enjoy that retirement. Its sad that they are gone but nothing lasts forever.
Yep, Mike Wolf stated a couple years ago that the O Gauge segment of model railroading is flat.
Bill T.
Dennis and Bill,
I concur. While it is a great time to be in "O", we are not an expanding niche.
My friend with the all gauges/scales train shop tells me the same thing. His HO and N sales have increased and show growth the last few years, but O is stagnant, no matter how hard he advertises it, and how cool the products are.
As many have said, while everyone orders via mail order, it's killing O gauge. The general public loves to see O gauge trains when given a chance, but there are very few places anymore where they can view it, with O gauge train dealers nationwide largely vanished. People aren't going to buy what they can't see.
Agreed. I do like to see items before I purchase but ....... I still buy from the catalog
Pricing in the market is out of control. Club cars at $99.00 or more. Boxcars at $90.00. Engines with cool features, yes, I get the cost to build it, market, support, etc. run from $500.00 to $2,900.00. good quality, bad quality or medium quality. The market is shrinking because they compete with Xbox, Nintendo, Play Station that give immediate sensory overload. Trains are a hobby - my dad taught me that and I taught my kids that. Our generation had more disposable income than the 25 ~ 40 year olds. Different time, different priorities - different economics. My son has not bought a new engine in 3 years and probably won't - He buys what's available from on-line sites - eBay, Amazon etc.
My son has not bought a new engine in 3 years and probably won't - He buys what's available from on-line sites - eBay, Amazon etc.
It's an issue of convenience, certainly. One would think that Lionel or MTH or any dealer would open up an Amazon storefront, if only for the exposure that Amazon would bring (think in terms of suggested product links).
Does this mean I won't be getting my 2015 club cars?
They arrive when they arrive - most often in the fall. Sometimes they show up and I have already thought I got them. LCCA, MTH, Atlas O - all the same these days.
Does this mean I won't be getting my 2015 club cars?
Man, if you have paid for Weaver's 2015 club cars and haven't received them, I don't see much hope. I find it hard to believe that Weaver would have closed shop without filling orders such as these.
If I am not getting the cars, then I want a refund
I have said this before here,but I ordered cars from Weaver the final week they were open.I was told they could not accept a check because no one would still be at what was Weaver to wait on it to clear. If it was that way right after the posted closing date I would have to think there is no way anyone will receive anything from Weaver now.
Also it is probably a coincidence but when I paid for my Weaver order that last week there was an unauthorized charge on my debit card the same day.Just wondering if that happened to anyone else that week?
If I am not getting the cars, then I want a refund
Unless you can track down the former owner to ask for the money back, I think your out of luck.
Weaver should have announced what the status would be for the prepaid club cars before they closed up shop.
Bill T.
Does this mean I won't be getting my 2015 club cars?
The closing was announced back in June and you're thinking about this in mid-Oct?
Interesting topic. Is this any different than placing a deposit with a hobby shop for cars Lionel doesn't deliver for two years and the store closes? What is your recourse there?
I would be surprised if Joe Hayter had not addressed this topic of prepaid club cars and his resolution of it prior to closing shop, some body out there must know. JMO
I was wondering this also. If all the machinery is sold......?
They are closed, I would not expect anything. There will be no 2015 Weaver car, sorry.
They are closed, I would not expect anything. There will be no 2015 Weaver car, sorry.
To the contrary, the Weaver 2015 club cars (Hershey reefers) were manufactured and shipped about 11 months ago. My invoice from Weaver has a shipping date of 11/19/2014.
To add to this, Weaver sold off the remainder of the Hershey reefers at their cash-and-carry sale right before they closed. There was maybe a case of them left when I was there (at the c-a-c sale).
Andy
PSU1980- Where did you locate your Tropicanas at? I'm on a desperate search for the white ones with the orange
I just did a google search - no luck
Also checked on e-bay, Stockyard Express & the Public Delivery Truck, did not see this car.
When I purchased, they were not on the respective Web sites. I was told - strongly suggested by Weaver to call and ask what was in stock. Stock Yard Express was the the first call I made. Unfortunately - the eaver site is down so getting a list of Dealers is hard. Most of the Weaver stock was picked up by a few dealers. Part, like trucks we taken by a single dealer here in NJ. Pair of die cast trucks are like $25.00 Plus tax (if you live in NJ) and shipping.
I guess the message is if you want them you need to see if you can get a dealer list, Google, Ebay, Amazon, etc.. Kind of like dialing for dollars.
I am still looking - would like a few more but the reality is I may not get any.
Atlas had a run, got two of those. They look good.
Are the boxcars Ultra Line made in America? They may possibly be produced again by Lionel. Although, when I talked to Mike Reagan, there probably won't be product releases for at least six months, or more. Just trains in Delaware is also a distributor, and try Scranton Hobby.
Don
Don,
Went to Scranton Hobby webpage and checked out there store pictures, have not seen a well stocked hobby shop like this in years, truly liked the Catalina,P-38, Mustang and bi-plane RC aircraft hanging from the ceiling. Seams that RC aircraft is a very popular hobby in the Scranton area.
Dang K Line gone, American Flyer gone, Weaver Models gone, Ives Trains gone, whose next?
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