50th Anniversary

[Doug G.]

And actually, if you look on Micro-Train's site, if it hasn't been changed, they claim they started marketing the N scale coupler in the EARLY sixties. Sometime in the nineties, I wrote them and told them they were in error, even to the extent of offering to send them a copy of the Model Railroader 1968 review and it was Victoria, I believe, who answered and said, as far as their information was concerned, the site is correct. I let it drop.

And sorry, I was a bit blunt in my post in answer to when the couplers first came out. I edited it.

Doug

[peteski]

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

Doug

Sorry Doug - just begin realistic, and looking at the "whole picture".  Is that really poo-pooing?  I'm a big proponent of  MTL couplers - I use them and am fanboy of them (despite the slinky effect). I have been retrofitting my models with MTL couplers for many years. Even now, I replace the off-brand knuckle couplers with MTLs.

And you do have to admit that if the MTL patent did not expire, the American prototype models would still be mostly using Rapidos.

I could tell you to get off your cloud, but I won't. 
 

[thomasjmdavis]

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

I think "Micro-trains" was originally a Kadee trademark for all things N scale (and maybe some HOn3?).  My memory may be off, but my recollection is that another manufacturer had used "Micro Trains" on some of their trainsets in the late 1960s, and there was some hubbub about it in and around the hobby shops I frequented in those days. 

Anyway, not that one modeler makes a difference in the great marketing scheme of things, when I began N scale modeling in 1977 or 78, the availability of MT couplers, and MT cars were both major contributors to my decision to move from HO to N.  I had bought enough N scale stuff so I could have a small layout in my apartment, but saw that as essentially a toy train, my serious modeling was still in HO.  Then I found MT in a hobby shop, bought a bunch of cars, and haven't bought an HO car, kit, loco or coupler since. Although I will confess, I still have a box of older cars with Rapido couplers.  And if a car came with accumates or Kato or McHenry couplers, it probably still has them. (In my own defense, I have been collecting rolling stock the last few years with no operating layout- so standards for operation are on the list, but not at the top, for the time being)

[Mark5]

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

Probably added by the hobby shop owner. Kadee still used these envelopes today (without the hole!  )

[Doug G.]

I wasn't referring to anybody in particular in my "negativity" post. It just seems every time there is a thread starting out positively and contains positive posts, somebody feels the need to negate that with confrontational posts. Why is that necessary?

I was only mentioning it is the 50th anniversary of Micro-Trains couplers and before you know it, it was, "Why is it such a big deal?" Silly.

Doug

[peteski]

I wasn't referring to anybody in particular in my "negativity" post. It just seems every time there is a thread starting out positively and contains positive posts, somebody feels the need to negate that with confrontational posts. Why is that necessary?

I was only mentioning it is the 50th anniversary of micro-Trains couplers and before you know it, it was, "Why is it such a big deal?" Silly.

Doug

Your post was not the one I commented on.  But there is no need to continue this. As the saying goes, opinions are like . . .  everybody has one.  I'm sorry I expressed my opinion. 

Happy Anniversary MTL coupler!

[nkalanaga]

The early KD envelopes I remember also had the hole, and, yes, the parts could fall out.  In the earliest packages, the screws and springs were loose, so that was a definite problem.  As long as the hung on the pegboard, or were kept upright in a box, they were fine.

The MT-5 was developed as a smaller version of the HOn3 coupler, and I can remember some HOn3 modelers recommending them years ago.  On the other hand, some N scalers were using the HOn3 couplers before the MT-5 was released, even though they looked almost as bad as the Rapidos.  The N and HOn3 versions will work together, just as the N and Z versions will. 

I once had a couple HO cars, with KD #5s, and they would also couple with the N MT-5s, if one held the N car at the right height.  I wouldn't recommend it for operators, as they looked horrible together, and probably wouldn't work too well in the long run.

Since there never was an MT-1, as far as I know, was the MT-5 named for the KD #5, as a "standard" body-mount coupler?

[Doug G.]

Kadee purchased the name "Micro-Trains" from Carl Nordstrand in Sweden, who made the HOO trains in the nineteen fifties, very close in size to N scale.

And Pete, I did look at your initial post as more opinion than confrontation.

I don't think any of my earliest packages have the hole punched in them so I think that may have been a local thing, too, unless the couplers were ordered directly from Kadee.

Doug

[nkalanaga]

The holes could have been punched at the dealer.  Hole punches were cheap, any store that sold office supplies had them, and they came in various sizes.

I have a set in 1/4, 3/16, and 1/8 inch sizes, and still use them for various projects.  They'll punch paper and thin styrene sheet, and  will even punch brass up to about 0.01 inch thick.

[learmoia]

Someone commented earlier about the Microtrains name being used before Kadee....It was Revell (Arnold/Rapido) that was using the "Microtrain" and "Microtrains" name on its packaging in the early days..

https://www.ebay.com/itm/REVELL-ARNOLD-RAPIDO-0483-40-WOOD-REEFER-APPLES-FROM-YAKIMA-VALLEY-920-N/352495430813?hash=item52125d6c9d:g:HDgAAOSwRRVbwnKf

[C855B]

^^^^^ - Easily why it's actually Micro Trains Line and not just Micro Trains.

[dougnelson]

MT should issue gold plated couplers.

[thomasjmdavis]

MT should issue gold plated couplers.

Now that you mention it, maybe the official MT 50th Anniversary business car.  But they could be saving that for the 50th Anniversary of the MT spin off from Kadee.
My own number 1 choice to recognize the 50th anniversary of the coupler would be release of the official MT coupler inspection car, which was remodeled in 1968 from a NYC single window coach....

[Nato]

                           Remember, every piece of current Bachmann rolling stock and locomotives comes with a pair of Rapido Coupler's designed to fit in the Boxing Glove pocket, for those who are still inclined. Nate Goodman (Nato).         

[Doug G.]

Someone commented earlier about the Microtrains name being used before Kadee....It was Revell (Arnold/Rapido) that was using the "Microtrain" and "Microtrains" name on its packaging in the early days..

https://www.ebay.com/itm/REVELL-ARNOLD-RAPIDO-0483-40-WOOD-REEFER-APPLES-FROM-YAKIMA-VALLEY-920-N/352495430813?hash=item52125d6c9d:g:HDgAAOSwRRVbwnKf

I was going to mention it was Revell who used the term, too. I wonder if the fact theirs was all one word would have made a difference in a court case. It became moot, however, since Revell was out of N scale by what? 1969?

Doug