50th Anniversary

[Doug G.]

It dawned on me today that this year is the 50th anniversary of the Kadee Micro-Trains/Micro-Trains coupler release. MT-5 unassembled body mount, the first version. MT-3 assembled followed shortly (which became 1025 and 1023 respectively) and locomotive conversions after that. Also the 1000 series trucks

Doug

[Mark5]

Awesome! Thanks for reminding us! 

[djconway]

Without that coupler, I don't think N scale would be where it is today.

[C855B]

I recall riding my bicycle to the hobby shop nearly every other day bothering the owner about when the new coupler was going to get there. I think I still have one of the original envelopes in a junk box somewhere.

Another memory of the time is breaking two or three taps per car attempting to mount them to Con-Cor/Kato rolling stock with their lead underframes. It was years before figuring out that the soft metal needed a slightly larger hole.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Without that coupler, I don't think N scale would be where it is today.

Indeed. It was the definition of a game changer.

[Doug G.]

Mike, I did the same thing re going to the hobby shop, bugging him about the Kadees. When I saw the review in MR, that was it! They were really one of the very few things I have ever HAD to have in N scale. I don't think I ever threw even one of the packages away.

Doug

[wcfn100]

Without that coupler, I don't think N scale would be where it is today.

What would be different?


Jason

[nkalanaga]

For one thing, we'd probably still be using Rapido couplers, like European modelers do.  They work fine, but don't look like any prototype coupler, and really aren't suited for body mounting on long cars. 

Of course, the European prototype couplers are quite unsuitable for N scale mass production, so they have a good reason to stick with Rapidos.

[thomasjmdavis]

I should carry this around at train shows, to prove I have been in N scale for a long time....


Not so sure the hole for the pegboard hook was a good idea, since virtually every part of the coupler will fit through it.

[wcfn100]

For one thing, we'd probably still be using Rapido couplers, like European modelers do.  They work fine, but don't look like any prototype coupler, and really aren't suited for body mounting on long cars. 

Of course, the European prototype couplers are quite unsuitable for N scale mass production, so they have a good reason to stick with Rapidos.

You think after 50 years, American N scale wouldn't have adopted knuckle couplers?  That's insane.

Jason

[learmoia]

The Micro-trains coupler came out 11/25/1968?..

[peteski]

Without that coupler, I don't think N scale would be where it is today.

While I agree that this coupler was a very important development for U.S. prototype N scale, its use for many years was rather limited (mostly by serious American-prototype modelers who actually run Ops rather than the roundy-roundy modelers who are really a majority), until the patent expired back in the '90s. That is when the N scale knuckle coupler market penetration begun. Again, for American models.

But the rest of the world still happily uses the old Rapido couplers.  So I wouldn't go as far as saying that the MTL coupler made *THAT* much different in where the N scale is today.  But the general acceptance of knuckle couplers (all brands) in U.S. does make things easier for the American prototype modelers.

[Doug G.]

The Micro-trains coupler came out 11/25/1968?..

Oh no, I meant it was the year 1968, not necessarily this day.. It was earlier in 1968. In the summer, sometime.

Doug

[Doug G.]

Always the negativity. Stop trying to poo-poo the importance of these couplers. They were a MAJOR advance.

Doug

[learmoia]

While I agree that this coupler was a very important development for U.S. prototype N scale, its use for many years was rather limited (mostly by serious American-prototype modelers who actually run Ops rather than the roundy-roundy modelers who are really a majority), until the patent expired back in the '90s. That is when the N scale knuckle coupler market penetration begun. Again, for American models.

But the rest of the world still happily uses the old Rapido couplers.  So I wouldn't go as far as saying that the MTL coupler made *THAT* much different in where the N scale is today.  But the general acceptance of knuckle couplers (all brands) in U.S. does make things easier for the American prototype modelers.

I recall a discussion about this earlier about licensing (or lack of) and adoption of standards.

And general (manufacturer) acceptance didnt kick in until accumate couplers from Atlas.. in the late 1990s/early 2000s?..

I didnt think MTL started that early.. I thought it started along with the freight cars in 1972