Got a new Lionel Hudson I ordered ysterday. The box said "Made in Korea". Any one know did they move their factory stuff there?
Posted by Cthetrains (Member # 2148) on :
Yes, some of their stuff is made there. I just found this out yesterday at "Halls Trains"; a Marklin/large scale retail store inside the Hallmark Crown Center here in Kansas City
------------------ Cory (o:}=
[This message has been edited by Cthetrains (edited 01-17-2003).]
Posted by Chuck Walsh (Member # 677) on :
The Lionel Corp production unit was in Chesterfield Mi up until the summer of 2001. It's latest President, Richard Maddox was a former executive with Bachmann and was instrumental in relocating product to China. The company had approx. 325 production workers, member of the UAW, and Maddox wanted MORE profit. "What would cost a half a million dollars to manufacture stateside would cost $50,000 to $75,000 overseas.
There's a great video about the first 100 years of the Lionel Corp covering the first model train to the current high end collectors market.
The Company also enjoyed write ups in USA today, Dec 00 and business week, Dec 00.
I'm a HO guy, but I saved all the articles and the videos. Lionel was also featured on PBS DEC 25-00, TRAINS. I guess labor in Korea is cheaper than China.