Office of Steam Forum for Model & Toy Steam Gas & Hot Air Engines
The Regular Stuff: Chat, Buy, Sell, Off Topic, etc. => General Discussion - Model & Toy Steam Engines – Stirling Cycle – Flame Lickers – Small Antique Originals => Topic started by: Jim on July 28, 2024, 06:32:40 pm
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It is always sad to see a steam engine maker close down for good.
We can celebrate the years and engines that Mamod gave us.
Gil
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It just occurred to me that it has been 72 years since the last Weeden was manufactured and there are still lots of them around.
True that!!!
It is fairly certain that we'll not see the pool of used Mamods dry up in our lifetimes.
But it is a sad day just the same, as I'm sure it was when Weeden closed up shop as well.
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It just occurred to me that it has been 72 years since the last Weeden was manufactured and there are still lots of them around.
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You are certainly not wrong on that point Mike!
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It’s sad to see any business fail and close its doors. With the advent of eBay, one can easily find a nice used model engine for the same price as a new toy engine especially since a lot of sellers now post videos of an engine running which really makes it less of a gamble now.
Also, the younger generation doesn’t seem to have the interest in any kind of engine. Probably because engines are portrayed as being bad in schools and one of the things blamed for climate change. These kids are being told the world is coming to an end. I believe this is part of the problem too.
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This happend to many companies in Europe - since PRC floates our markets
with products that are cheaper than the material value. For Mamod and
us collectors it is a real desaster. On the other hand steam toys are not
first choice of the youg generation - they all prefer electronics.
I hope that the tooling of Mamod survives and these nice products come back...
Arnold
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Sad news.. I don’t own any Mamod’s but I played with an SE3 and the quality was superb.
Now I wish I owned a few Mamod’s, I could see the value of them going up.
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Very sad news!!! My very 1st steam engine was the Mamod small one. I have the green pickup also new when I was 9 or 10, I’m 60 now. I still have those and many more used Mamods that I purchased over the years.
I wish it was here in the United States. It would be great to own and operate the company here if I had the funds.
It’s really sad to see this company go out of business!!! So much History is with the Mamod Company!!!
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Simply and sadly put, the market isn't growing as fast as the target population of enthusiasts is losing interest or dying, thus second-hand engines are nearly enough to keep the market saturated!
Also, the bargain priced, more advanced machines from markets like China, are a definite factor hurting the traditional tin toy and simpler engine makers as well.
Though we bemoan what is occurring, we may well be the ultimate cause of these traditional companies struggles, for the reasons that Jim, Nick and I have mentioned above.
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I’ve only bought 3 new Mamods and had issues with all 3 purchases, none of which were fixed by Mamod (different owner at the time). There are just too many cheap secondhand pieces on eBay. I’ve also never bought a new engine from Jensen, just parts.
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It is sad news, but not terribly surprising, Mamods just keep on running so by picking up a used one there is a big savings, and so far there is lots of choice out there. I have two grandsons and despite my best efforts they show passing interest at best in my steam engines or Meccano for that matter, times are changing.
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He was running Mamod only a year, doesn't seem very long....
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I've been into steam engines for awhile now and whilst I have a lot of Mamods, only one was bought new.
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Very sad, but no surprise really!
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Attention Mamod Enthusiasts,
As the new owner of Mamod, I've faced significant challenges over the past year. Upon taking over, I discovered the landlord planned to raise the rent from £24k to £38k per year, plus extras, totaling over £40k annually. Additionally, he demands a full repairing lease, making us responsible for all repairs, despite neglecting the property for nearly 30 years. He also requires a personal guarantee, which I cannot provide as it would jeopardize my own home.
Another major issue emerged in February with the fuel crisis, which should have been addressed in October. Due to poor communication from the government, we were unaware and had to invest heavily in researching new fuel alternatives while managing our stock of Hexamine-based solid fuel.
We considered relocating, but the staff, who mostly walk to work, opposed it, leaving us no choice but to close Mamod in its current form.
We invite you to our open day on Saturday, August 3rd, at the factory. This will be your final chance to visit, with limited tickets available at https://mamodopenday2024.rsvpify.com/. You can purchase Mamod engines and spares, with 40% discounts and end-of-the-line sales on incomplete models. We've also built more Red London Buses with seats and lights and hope to finish a batch of SP5 and SP5Ds before closing. The event will feature a full-size traction engine, catering with tea, coffee, and hot sandwiches, a train track running our trains and traction engines, and guided workshop tours every 15 minutes showcasing the construction of the last Mamod engines.
Despite my efforts, managing Mamod for the past year without any return and covering my son's wages, I can no longer invest time and money into the company as it stands. However, I hope to continue providing spares and limited production of some engines in the future.
I have tried everything to keep us running, but after managing the place for the last year without receiving any return and paying my son’s wages, I cannot keep investing time and money into Mamod as it is now. I hope to continue providing spares and limited production of some engines in the future.
Adrian Lockrey