[Gary]

Really this is a question that only the Hornby cognoscenti can answer.

Had Hornby continued with production in Britain their models may by now have doubled in price to around £160 however they would have had a "Made in Britain" stamp on the bottom and would have used British materials and been assembled by British employees.

Would you have continued to buy Hornby models had this happened?

Or would you have switched to buying equivalent Bachmann models retailing at around £80 with the "Made in China" stamp on the bottom?

Happy modelling
Gary

 

[Gary]

Good point about niche manufacturers.

Could Hornby produce "Railroad" products and train sets for the masses in the UK and niche high quality models which are labour intensive in China?

Nobody has yet said they would not buy "Made in Britain" £160 Hornby and buy "Made in China" £80 Bachmann instead.

The only real comments have been from folk who by their own admission will only buy products that meet their quality threshold anyway which current Hornby does not. And there is nothing wrong with this and I do understand where those folk are coming from and if Hornby or Bachmann are not their cup of tea so be it.

I would guess on that basis they would buy neither £160 Hornby or £80 Bachmann!

We really do need to hear from Hornby customers for whom current "Made in China" Hornby does meet their quality threshold.

More the Timex than Rolex type customers perhaps?

Happy modelling
Gary

 

[Gary]

QUOTE ZTC???

I am going to be totally honest and admit that I did think of them in the context of this topic although they do offer a niche unique product and not one that is mass market. Folk can probably be a little forgiving of any idiosynchrosies because of this which is understandable.

I also thought of Dapol.

Dapol "Made in Britain" 6 wheeled tank wagons = £12.

Hornby "Made in China" 6 wheeled tank wagons = £6.75.

Which 6 wheeled tank wagons are modellers going to buy?

"Made in Britain" or "Made in China"?

Happy modelling
Gary

Richard said:- QUOTE PPS: We seldom agree totally, but you do stimulate lively stuff from time to time.

Everyone has a point of view and it can sometimes get a little heated. The important thing is to be able to drink a beer with each other when we meet down the pub!

 

[Gary]

QUOTE Would Hornby models evolved to what they are today if production had remained in the UK?

The fantasy answer is yes with models being offered at a RRP of £160.

The reality answer is no because the company would have gone bust and Bachmann would have taken over Hornby and stuff would have ended up coming from China anyway!

Unless of course a wealthy benefactor came in.

QUOTE I don't see what the issue is.

Its a "Hornby" thing which only the Brits will understand (its the same as the German Marklin thing and the French Jouef thing). There are comments in another thread about "real Hornby" and Hornby models only being good enough since the move to China for Hornby to claim that they are "Hornby" and not "Triang". As a "real Hornby" sort of bloke it is easy to see the thinking behind these comments however there is a place for the "inferior" and lower priced "Triang" in the hearts of the British public and we should all remember it was the "inferior cheap" products of Margate that saw off "real Hornby". Clearly the British public historically liked their cheap and colourful model railways however times have changed.

Sanda Kan is the new Binns Road!

The issue is many silver fox British railway modellers seem to still hanker for the good old days and expect "real Hornby" engineering at "Triang" prices and models to be "Made in Britain".

We have to be honest with ourselves folks.

It ain't going to happen!

Happy modelling
Gary

 

[Gary]

It has just occurred to me that there is an OO model being produced to Binns Road "proper Hornby" standards....

...the new LMS 10000 Diesel loco receiving wide publicity right now!

And even though this is being produced in Asia even so its price in the UK will be just under £500!

What price the model if it had a "Made in Britain" mark on it?

So this really has to be the ball park figure guide price for any enterprise including Hornby who wish to attempt anything approaching "proper Hornby" standards!

And at Hornby's £500 a model, Bachmann would get all my money!

Notwithstanding this the LMS 10000 Diesel is rumoured to be virtually sold out on a preorder basis...

Happy modelling
Gary

 

[Gary]

Whether Hornby produce the best models in the world or not is not the question here however it is nice of our continental friends to say that.

It is a question of being prepared to pay the price for models "Made in Britain" and there is a sense that British folk are not if it means the price doubles for a product which can only be differentiated by the fact that is has been manufactured in Britain and not China. Clearly Bachmann sales would rise significantly if Hornby prices doubled as a result of "Made in Britain" manufacturing.

It could well be however that as far as exports go overseas customers would be prepared to pay more if the models were "Made in Britain" as the attitudes outside the UK seem somewhat different.

Happy modelling
Gary

 

[Gary]

Let us remember that there is a thriving model railway industry in the UK.

Its not just about Hornby and Bachmann. There are probably many more employed in model railway manufacturing in the UK than Hornby ever employed!

If anglophiles want British manufactured product and nothing else then it is available.

We only have to look through the adverts of any magazine and the quality of product offered is absolutely amazing.

As long as we are prepared to pay £250 - £500 we can have virtually anything that Hornby and Bachmann offer made in Britain and with Marklin type build!

Happy modelling
Gary