Jon’s email was given out by someone (you Ed?) as the guy to write. I must have persuaded him <g>. Perhaps our efforts should be directed at MTH, as they seem to have more of a commitment to the scale side. Roger
From: Ed Sent: Tuesday, October 23, 2012 12:50 PM To: [email protected] Subject: {S-Scale List} Re: Lionel and scale wheels > Back in March, I wrote to Jon at Lionel, using my most persuasive arguments > to convince them to produce scale items. > Roger Nulton Hi Roger.... Jon works 20 minutes down the road from my home. We have a very friendly relationship. I can assure you that Jon, Chief Technical Officer of Lionel Electric Trains, is quite enthused about doing genuine S scale products. He fully understands and accepts all the needs and desires of the scale folks. However, he can only design what is first approved by the marketing folks. The problem is that the marketing folks do not understand the scale environment. They simply put out a "feeler" in their catalog and wait to see how the numbers roll in. It is just about that simple. No numbers, no product. Stuff gets cancelled. No serious investigative analysis at all. Perhaps a short conversation with a few of their O 3-rail dealers. 'Tis a shame to put it mildly. The problem we face is trying to convince the marketing folks at Lionel that we exist, exist in reasonable numbers, want things slightly differently from the AF folks and are willing to pay for it. In a sense, we have collectively failed to do that. Just as much as they have failed to educate themselves about us. The fingers can point in both directions. Roger, I am glad you wrote to Lionel. I wonder how many others took the time? Try the marketing department if you write. Engineering is already on board with us. Back to the workbench.....Ed L.
