Atlas factory in China closing ...

[Neil]

Seriously? The unemployment rate went from 10 to 4.1% during the previous administration and from 4.1 to 3.9% during the current administration. The graph above has an abscissa that doesn't include 0 or 10, which makes the latter tiny change look huge. It isn't . That's 30 fold difference in favor of the black dude versus the orange dude.

I'm pleased more people are working, but let's keep things in perspective, since the current administration isn't big on facts. Granted most politicians tend to exaggerate, but the current guy is in a league of his own in this regard.

[christopher2035]

Seriously? The unemployment rate went from 10 to 4.1% during the previous administration and from 4.1 to 3.9% during the current administration. The graph above has an abscissa that doesn't include 0 or 10, which makes the latter tiny change look huge. It isn't . That's 30 fold difference in favor of the black dude versus the orange dude.

I'm pleased more people are working, but let's keep things in perspective, since the current administration isn't big on facts. Granted most politicians tend to exaggerate, but the current guy is in a league of his own in this regard.

They are, but they just use their own set of 'alternative facts'. Seems to work just fine for a certain % of the population. Say 36-39%

[christopher2035]

bottom line - Americans want cheap stuff & want it now. How many people who go around waving a flag & eagle perched on their shoulder screaming "BUY AMERICAN!!" would actually buy that product if it costs 10, 20, 30% more? I'd bet you not many. It's a sad fact, but the global economy is a reality that can't be undone. Companies are always looking for the most profit, so in a few years when China becomes too expensive, there will be a new 'China'. Atlas, Lionel & so many other companies are held hostage by the Chinese govt with their tooling, etc. These ill-advised tariffs & ridiculous trade war will only worsen things.

[HONDO74]

Affected by the closing of Affatech

Atlas (Official Announcement)
Bluford Shops (Official Announcement)
Bowser (Official Announcement)
ExactRail (Official Announcement)
Fox Valley Models (Official Announcement)
Intermountain (Official Announcement)
Spring Mills Depot (Official Announcement)
Trainworx Inc. (Official Announcement) Note: Not Darci's Trainworx
Wheels of Time (Official Announcement)

Not affected are:

Athearn (Official Announcement)
Bachmann/Kader - Kader owns their factories
Rapido (Official Announcement)
Scale Trains (Official Announcement)
Walthers (Official Announcement)

Not dependent on China:

Accurail (Illinois based with in house production)
MTL (Oregon based with in house production)
Kadee (Oregon based with in house production)
Kato (Japanese company with production based in Japan)
Shinohara (Japanese based, but shutting down due to retirement)

From what is being published, the impact is going to be most felt in HO and N scale, however there is also collateral damage to the O and Z scale sectors.

[rogruth]

bottom line - Americans want cheap stuff & want it now. How many people who go around waving a flag & eagle perched on their shoulder screaming "BUY AMERICAN!!" would actually buy that product if it costs 10, 20, 30% more? I'd bet you not many. It's a sad fact, but the global economy is a reality that can't be undone. Companies are always looking for the most profit, so in a few years when China becomes too expensive, there will be a new 'China'. Atlas, Lionel & so many other companies are held hostage by the Chinese govt with their tooling, etc. These ill-advised tariffs & ridiculous trade war will only worsen things.

I agree but keep in mind how difficult it can be to find stuff made in the U.S.
It can be even more difficult depending on where one lives.
I had an aunt and an uncle that lived in Orville, Ohio (Yes, the Smuckers place) who NEVER went to or bought anything from Walmart.
They saw very early what could and would happen to small businesses. Walmart now claims that they sell more U.S. stuff than ever.
I don't know anything about economics or have any answers but must continue to live since a person can get in big trouble if they try to die or help someone try. So I buy what I can afford. Most of my trains were made before the exodus to Asia and were bought used, mostly.
Oh, I am NOT contemplating suicide. Not now but who knows about the future especially since government agencies want to ban the few drugs
that arecheap and help keep the pain at a level I can stand.

Thanks for reading another Roush Ramble.

[KeithL]

Seriously? The unemployment rate went from 10 to 4.1% during the previous administration and from 4.1 to 3.9% during the current administration. The graph above has an abscissa that doesn't include 0 or 10, which makes the latter tiny change look huge. It isn't . That's 30 fold difference in favor of the black dude versus the orange dude.

I'm pleased more people are working, but let's keep things in perspective, since the current administration isn't big on facts. Granted most politicians tend to exaggerate, but the current guy is in a league of his own in this regard.

Speaking of facts, the simple (U-3) unemployment rate can be extremely misleading. Over the course of the Obama years, the labor force participation rate dropped to its lowest level in decades, i.e., since before women began entering the labor force in larger numbers. The decrease in the size of the labor force accounted for much of the supposed decrease in the unemployment rate. On top of that, a large portion of whatever new jobs were created consisted of part-time jobs or low-wage jobs. So, while the unemployment rate decreased, the bottom line was more people not working and more people earning lower wages. This austere version of "economic growth" played a large role in the election of Donald Trump.

[2railjon]

bottom line - Americans want cheap stuff & want it now. How many people who go around waving a flag & eagle perched on their shoulder screaming "BUY AMERICAN!!" would actually buy that product if it costs 10, 20, 30% more? I'd bet you not many.

This has never been an inexpensive hobby. The cost of a Lionel set back in 1953. I think it was comparable to the average workers weekly wage back then.


And yet it still thrives. If someone wants something bad enough, they’ll pay.

[rogruth]

My first Lionel set was given to me by my aunt in 1946. It cost $25.00 That was close to two weeks or 10 days pay.
Today a Lionel starter set can be had for @ 3 days pay.

[E7]

Today a Lionel starter set can be had for @ 3 days pay.

Where are you getting your statistics from???

[webenda]

And Mike Reagan is available to repair my trains if no one else can. That guy is one of the single most hopeful things for the future of the hobby as he's in the prime of life. What is he, 45 or so?

Mike Reagan still repairs your trains? You are so fortunate. Mike left Lionel and now works at Director at TW TrainWorx - East Coast Division. Does he repair Lionel trains on the side?

[Neil]

Mike Reagan started a repair service as part of his TW TrainWorx operation. Not a sideline. I haven't needed his services yet, but will use him if any of my Lionel, Atlas or K-Line stuff goes south. He can handle MTH too, but I don't have any MTH electronics or locos at this point.

Rumor has it that Mike can fix anything .

[rogruth]

E7,
I did not use minimum hourly wages to figure it for today because other than very base workers I understand that most make from 10 t0 15 dollars an hour. Many starter sets are being sold @ $250.00. $80.00- $120.00 should buy it. According to my aunt she was making $.25 an hour = $2.00 a day.
Divide by $2.00 =12.5 days work. Most workers in our area got base pay in 1946.

[Neil]

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median wage for workers in the United States in the fourth quarter of 2017 was $857 per week or $44,564 per year for a 40-hour workweek.

So, even though you pay in after tax dollars, a $250 Lionel starter (most are $150-300 street price), a Lionel set is about 11-12 hours of work,
figure 1.5-2.0 days labor before taxes and other deductions.

[E7]

My first Lionel set was given to me by my aunt in 1946. It cost $25.00 That was close to two weeks or 10 days pay.
Today a Lionel starter set can be had for @ 3 days pay.

Roger,

I agree with your aunts wages in '46, but I think there are some states where you would have a problem affording it in 3 days pay!

Rich

[HONDO74]