03-21-2009, 04:56 PM
From Al Buchan of the PRRTHS in the Products section of "The Keystone Modeler" just out...
Bowser
During the past weeks there has been lots of
speculation about the fate of the Bowser steam
locomotive kits, offered by people who have recently
visited there shop.
However, Rich Orr posted that at 5
17pm EST
March 2, 2009, that Bowser had sent out an email
announcing the retirement of all steam locomotives,
turntables, Standard gauge and O gauge parts. Steam
loco parts will be available until the current stock is
gone. They will continue the HO and N scale lines
along with Cary, CalScale and Selby.
Also during this time there had been many
comments, both pro and con, about these old standby
PRR steam locomotives. It’s a classic case that
was described, I believe, by management consultant
Peter Drucker who stated that if you don’t make your
own products obsolete someone will come along and
make them obsolete for you. Bowser was not open to
taking suggestions and they have been made obsolete
by BLI, PCM and Walthers, to name the leaders of
the pack. They seemingly refused to upgrade, perhaps
they were just tired and wanted to get out of the
business anyway. I personally reached out to them at
least twice offering the Society’s assistance to make
their PRR freight car offerings better and never
received a response. Another fallen flag.
To clear up a misconception that has arisen –
during the discussions about the demise of the
Bowser line of kits, they will not be continued by
Eddystone Locomotives. The Bowser components
will be used to make future custom built locos.
Eddystone stated if Bowser could not make a go of it
anymore, how could we?
As he says, another fallen flag.
Bob C.
Bowser
During the past weeks there has been lots of
speculation about the fate of the Bowser steam
locomotive kits, offered by people who have recently
visited there shop.
However, Rich Orr posted that at 5
17pm ESTMarch 2, 2009, that Bowser had sent out an email
announcing the retirement of all steam locomotives,
turntables, Standard gauge and O gauge parts. Steam
loco parts will be available until the current stock is
gone. They will continue the HO and N scale lines
along with Cary, CalScale and Selby.
Also during this time there had been many
comments, both pro and con, about these old standby
PRR steam locomotives. It’s a classic case that
was described, I believe, by management consultant
Peter Drucker who stated that if you don’t make your
own products obsolete someone will come along and
make them obsolete for you. Bowser was not open to
taking suggestions and they have been made obsolete
by BLI, PCM and Walthers, to name the leaders of
the pack. They seemingly refused to upgrade, perhaps
they were just tired and wanted to get out of the
business anyway. I personally reached out to them at
least twice offering the Society’s assistance to make
their PRR freight car offerings better and never
received a response. Another fallen flag.
To clear up a misconception that has arisen –
during the discussions about the demise of the
Bowser line of kits, they will not be continued by
Eddystone Locomotives. The Bowser components
will be used to make future custom built locos.
Eddystone stated if Bowser could not make a go of it
anymore, how could we?
As he says, another fallen flag.
Bob C.
James Thurber - "It is better to know some of the questions than all of the answers."