Atlas January uhhh

[Kev1340]

I really don't understand all the recent issues with China (if that's the reason).

The Chinese 'think' they are getting a strangle hold on manufacturing, and are putting their prices up big time. I work for a fan manufacturer in the UK, and our 'cheap' products are manufactured in China. We are starting to pull these products back to UK factories as it's now more cost effective.

Cheers,

Kev

[Rossford Yard]

Well there are some dollar devaluation issues, but we can only hope that it is becoming more cost effective to make things in the USA.  I know we are still the biggest mfg in the world, with  2.5X lead over China in dollar value (Thanks Boeing and Catepillar!) but I read yesterday that they lead the world in imports and Germany and Japan are next (also cars, I presume, leading the way) I know our mfg future is all high tech and not MRR, but it would be nice to see more american made model railroad items, even if they are made in El Paso or Lardeo using minimum wager workers who cross the border every day.....

[wm3798]

The tricky part will be if the Chinese decide to go to war with us, will they still want to manufacture bullets for us?

 

[asciibaron]

The tricky part will be if the Chinese decide to go to war with us, will they still want to manufacture bullets for us?

they will just reduce costs on quality control.  and of course, all the lead will be in the paint for our toys.

[Mark5]

The tricky part will be if the Chinese decide to go to war with us, will they still want to manufacture bullets for us?

 

You don't go to war with your best trading partner!

[Mark5]

Well, Atlas still has to unleash the "Winter" Catalog, so there will most likely be "something" interesting in that.

Mark

[unclepete20]

I hope this "winter" catalog will make up for the lacking announcments of these past few months. I can summarize about the past 3 months, well, make it 6 months... Lame.

Better be a front runner, some cheapo containers, a baldwin centercab transfer unit, or an SW1500. If they really want to wow me, make some movable frog switches, sure curved code 55 switches would be cool, but come on, some movable point frogs? Those N track trains can go FLYING though the switches and never derail.

[Nato]

      Conspiracy Stripes? Is Atlas secretly going modern. Heaven forbid stripes on my rebuilt ,resheathed USRA Santa Fe box car. Nah! They have a pretty good mix of time periods (era) ,but I will agree the China manufacturing situation and combining into Kader of several other companies will be along term problem. It certainly will not be their Business Model (See Charlie KATO Threads) as Lee points out even if we went to war with them they would try and sell us Model RR items and other RC Toys.                                        Nate Goodman (Nato).

[lock4244]

Conspiracy Stripes?  ;D

It's conspicuancy striping, and we don't need no stinking conspicuancy striping.

Confucius says "minimal release is good for minimal wallet".

[SquirrelHollow]

The tricky part will be if the Chinese decide to go to war with us, will they still want to manufacture bullets for us?

they will just reduce costs on quality control.  and of course, all the lead will be in the paint for our toys.

We're already pretty far off-topic, and I understand the comedy intended here... but I must reply.

The U.S. is the world's largest arms dealer, and ammunition exporter.  Chinese bullets are even less welcome than the Israeli ammunition we were forced to purchase in 2007.  If the U.S. allowed Chinese ammunition (as opposed to just bullets) into our standard battle rifles, I would eat my own shoes.

Olin, Cerberus Capital, and Alliant Techsystems have all recently held (or still hold) major contracts with the U.S. DoD, for small arms munitions manufacturing.  Every round of ammunition was manufactured on U.S. soil; with much of it using 100% domestic commodities.  Our country is screwed up politically, but there is still value in supplying our military with as much domestic equipment as possible.

[Mark5]

but there is still value in supplying our military with as much domestic equipment as possible.

Of course, this is a "no brainer" strategic decision.

Mark

[sundowner]

The tricky part will be if the Chinese decide to go to war with us, will they still want to manufacture bullets for us?

 

They won't go to war with us, our nukes are bigger and harder to find, plus we have way more of them.

[Mark5]

Good job, boys!

This is about as far off topic as we can get. :

Mark

[asciibaron]

Good job, boys!

This is about as far off topic as we can get. :

considering there wasn't much to talk about given the number of releases...  still waiting for the curved turnouts

[Mark5]

Good job, boys!

This is about as far off topic as we can get. :

considering there wasn't much to talk about given the number of releases...  still waiting for the curved turnouts

When those were announced, it seemed like a solution for one spot on my layout ...

Maybe I should look at handlaying that turnout. :

Mark