The 3-Rail O world is abuzz about the pending sale of Williams
Electric Trains to Bachmann Industries.
This has led me to wonder: What happens when our two major suppliers,
AM and SHS, reach the point where the owners are unable or no longer
have the desire to remain in the business? I'm reasonably sure they
both have a succession plan, but there is always the possiblitly that
these companies may not survive their current ownership. What then?
While both AM and SHS have done wonders with their resources, it's a
simple fact: S is not as well established as 3-Rail O. We are a
curiosity. We may try to fool ourselve by saying that aging HOers
will move up to S as their eyesight weakens, but they either remain
in HO or seem to be sailing right past us directly to 3-Rail or
On30.
The hobby shop presence of S is nowhere near that of 3-Rail, would
a "white knight" such as Bachmann be willing to step into this
limited market, or perhaps an individual with "the right stuff?"
We seem to be very fond of the fact being in S is an aquired taste.
But is that educated pallet killing us? Will we be the final
genration of S Scalers/Gaugers?
I certainly don't know the answer.
Rich G
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