Model Train Journal

webenda wrote:

ScaleCraft wrote:https://www.ebay.com/itm/335983412247

Now, ya gotta dig a bit to see this is Trainz. Small print and all.
Who is Acme, and why did they build 225E/675 motor blocks?
Most of the usable bits are gone......title says "not working", yet product description says:
Condition: Excellent (C-7)
Operational Status: Functional

How can these be not working AND functional?

Whole lotta listings for the Acme outfit. Dozens and dozens.

Is that the new name for Trainz?

Dave,

The chassis is not working in that if you put it on the track, it will not run.
If you are replacing an old chassis with one of these new chassis, the new chassis will run after you install all the parts from the old motor (like the brush holder and brushes) onto the new chassis.

I did a search for Acme Steam Motor Chassis and ran into a quagmire of companies named Acme.

The name Acme became popular for businesses by the 1920s, when alphabetized business telephone directories such as the Yellow Pages began to be widespread. There were a flood of businesses named Acme (some of these still survive[1]). For example, early Sears catalogs contained many products with the "Acme" trademark, including anvils, which are frequently used in Warner Bros. cartoons.

So, I asked Trainz, "I have a question about the ACME company as in, 'Acme 1505L12 Steam Motor Chassis." Can you give me any information about ACME? I tried to find ACME Company on Google Search. It seems to be the most used company name ever. I am not a robot!"

webenda wrote:OK... the ACME in question is,
Anonima Costruzioni Modellistiche Esatte in Italian and
Anonymous Exact Model Constructions in English.
(A.C.M.E.)

Anonima Costruzioni Modellistiche Esatte (ACME) was founded in August 2001 by Alessandro Buonopane and Guido Sala. Their participation in the Hobby Model Expo in Novegro in September of that year marked the official launch of their business, with the delivery of their first model, an FS T2s sleeping car in H0 scale, produced in China in collaboration with Heris.

ACME distinguished itself by producing models of Italian rolling stock aimed at a niche market of collectors passionate about faithful scale reproductions. At the time, the Italian market was dominated by Lima-Rivarossi, but the latter's acquisition by foreign groups led to a decline in the attention paid to models of Italian rolling stock, creating an opportunity for ACME.

In short, ACME's history is that of a company that successfully addressed a specific market need, offering high-quality, historically accurate models for Italian model railway enthusiasts.

ScaleCraft wrote:I re-iterate. Trainz response is hogwash. ACME is not making 80-year-old used motor blocks.

webenda wrote:

ScaleCraft wrote:I re-iterate. Trainz response is hogwash. ACME is not making 80-year-old used motor blocks.

I agree with your statement, "ACME is not making 80-year-old used motor blocks." I think ACME just sold their junk pile of old Lionel Steam Motor Chassis to Trainz.

I trust Trainz's answer. ACME has a parts division, URL: https://www.acmericambi.it/en/
The ACME parts website is currently under development, so I couldn't search to see if any Lionel parts are still available from ACME.

ScaleCraft wrote:Right.
Uh-huh.

Norton wrote:You guys tallking about the same ACME?
Pete

ScaleCraft wrote:Tooling for locomotives, like metal parts.
I don't know why you can't see, those motor blocks are rode hard and put away wet. Missing brushplates, armature supports, commutators filthy, wheels filthy, oily and greasy.
Left over junk taken out of scrapped locos. NOT new stuff made in Italy that none of your links say they ever built.
Never heard anyone claim those blocks were Italian, especially with Mussolini taking over long before we got involved.

Wayne wrote:If you are replacing an old chassis with one of these new chassis, the new chassis will run after you install all the parts from the old motor (like the brush holder and brushes) onto the new chassis.