[Brian Considine]

QUOTE (Gary @ 21 May 2007, 12:14) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Does "Made in Germany" still have any kudos in this globalised world and does it matter where the model is sourced from if the quality is right and in keeping with the company image?

Chris Leigh in his Model Rail editorial makes reference to models coming from halfway around the world in his editorial about green credential's. He also claims that todays tools are rubbish and last one job. There was a time when a tool was for life but no longer aparently.

Marklin models are considered to be for life. Would they be if they were produced halfway around the world?
Happy modelling
Gary

Having spent some time in Germany & met many German modellers & "Marklin People" on their own ground the phrase "Made in German" means a lot - a hell of a lot !

I would be inclined to agree with the comment regarding the life of injection moulding tools.

I hate to say it but IMHO I don't honestly think that models produced on the other side of the world will last anything like old Marklin, Fleischmann, Roco........

 

[Brian Considine]

QUOTE (ozwarrior @ 22 May 2007, 02:12) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Perhaps true but Roco were recently bankrupt whereas Hornby are making millions!

& H have never had financial issues ?

 

[Brian Considine]

QUOTE (ME 26-06 @ 24 May 2007, 14:34) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Märklin Sprint slot car racing?

I seem to remember that Fleischmann poroduced slotcars in the early 70's ?

 

[Brian Considine]

QUOTE (neil_s_wood @ 24 May 2007, 00:08) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>if Brawa are made in China then there is no reason why the quality of Maerklin would be affected if it went to China too. It would seem that the Chinese assemble according to the instructions and budget they are given.

Sums up my feelings too - could not put it better myself.

 

[Brian Considine]

QUOTE (Robert Sands @ 23 Sep 2007, 17:55) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Surely both Maerklin and Roco have already outsourced to China, so what is the big deal?

None, as far as quality control is concerned (we are not seeing any) - personally I would still be prepared to pay a little more for all my goods to be manufactured closer to home. What will the UK do for money to purchase the goods manufactured in China when all the jobs have gone there. We cannot exist on tourism or invisible earnings.

 

[Brian Considine]

Please see next post !

 

[Brian Considine]

QUOTE (goedel @ 23 Sep 2007, 23:02) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I loathe what I perceive as an American influence on the social fabric of the UK,

I certainly agree there - I call it "Creeping Americanism" - its the little things such as US spelling & terminology in instruction books that p*** me off.

 

[Brian Considine]

If the Americans don't like English as it should be then they are free to come up with their own language & stop trying to change ours (they could always use American Indian - after all they are the original Americans), but then maybe the "English" ought to be speaking Welsh as the English are really Anglo-Saxons.....

Born in Bristol, England I regard myself proudly as English, even though I have German (shock horror) & Greek back in my family tree - good heavens - does that mean I'm a "Jonny Foreigner" that needs to be taught a lesson - send in a gunboat (if we have any left - maybe we could ask the Yanks if we could borrow one).

Maybe we need a flame pit !

 

[Brian Considine]

Robert,

I did not accuse you of flaming - I merely suggested that we need a flame pit.

If you look through a lot of my previous posts you will see that I generalise a lot - if I were to accuse anyone of anything I would name them.

Whilst I actually like the American people I still object to "Creeping Americanism" as well as "Creeping Euroism" & the constant stripping of our identity & heritage.

Many of my posts generalise so maybe you have not really understood my manner. I've been here a while now, "crossed swords" with a few, but I can still exchange adult communication with them. Often, my comments are "tongue in cheek" & with a fairly large chunk of humour.

This afternoon I am going out to drive by German Van (running on French tyres), turn on the far-eastern made CD player (Kenwood), make a few phone calls on my German made mobile (powered by a battery sourced from Japan & finished in China), eat a salad roll with food from around the world & probably wear my Koean made Reeboks. What's this got to do with this thread - nothing I just thought I'd type it out to show that I'm not a complete xenophobic (& to think that I though that was someone who played a wind instrument !).

 

[Brian Considine]

QUOTE (Dennis David @ 25 Sep 2007, 02:16) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>The social fabric seems a little frayed of late.

I wonder why !