New N Scale Coupler Announced! NZT

[TiVoPrince]

Back
when, I had to dismantle a Home Depot dog house kit. Apparently it was not approved by California Coastal Commission. Because I was well away from the coast I did not apply for the stupid (and wildly expensive) permit. Always wondered why a non permanent box needed a CCC permit. Dragged the doghouse into the garage, showed inspector a patch of dirt, plans and a pile of lumber. Two weeks later I pulled out the doghouse and got approved. Dumb knows no bounds when it comes to government. We have to protect those phoney-blaney jobs after all...

[Scottl]

Easy to dump on government workers, but some perspective is always worthwhile.  I briefly worked for a regional government in western Canada, and something that sticks from that time was a statement along the lines of:

Everyone wants to do what they want on their property, the problem is, so do their neighbors.

We had great fun dealing with suburbanites building lake-side palaces and then getting pig farms and sawmills on the next door properties.  In defense of some of the very talented and knowledgeable folk I know in the business, there are some dumba$$ property owners and developers out there too- astoundingly so from my experience.   The policies and rules are a function of elected leadership as much as those that implement them, so as the electorate in NJ, you all share some of the blame through your past choices (as do all of us in our respective jurisdictions).

[C855B]

Easy to dump on government workers, but some perspective is always worthwhile.  I briefly worked for a regional government in western Canada, and something that sticks from that time was a statement along the lines of:

Everyone wants to do what they want on their property, the problem is, so do their neighbors.

We had great fun dealing with suburbanites building lake-side palaces and then getting pig farms and sawmills on the next door properties.  In defense of some of the very talented and knowledgeable folk I know in the business, there are some dumba$$ property owners and developers out there too- astoundingly so from my experience.   The policies and rules are a function of elected leadership as much as those that implement them, so as the electorate in NJ, you all share some of the blame through your past choices (as do all of us in our respective jurisdictions).

Bingo.

I'm on our city's architectural preservation commission, and the idiocy we see daily is astounding. We have two or three professional slumlords, and we have no tools to defend against their renting woefully substandard properties (i.e., collapsing shacks) to the unsuspecting, or worse, career criminals.

That said, I am single-handedly fighting against the other commission members on the issue of imposing mandatory occupancy inspections, the most common legal tool against slumlords, because this inspection/permit system imposes a HUGE burden on the regular schlub just trying to rent/sell his home. The local problem is I'm the only non-native commissioner and the only one who has experience with the business end of these inspection systems. So I understand that it's real easy to impose rules from "on high" when you have no firsthand comprehension of the unintended consequences, and especially their cost to the individual property owner.

This is where the problem comes with environmental rules - you've taken something crafted for large-scale industrial applications and tried to scale it down to 0.0001% situations. The system that was built under the law doesn't scale down, but OTOH there is no "grass roots" push-back against the abuses/misapplication because John Q. Public simply wants their encounter to be over with and get on with their life. Like Lou's lawyer said - pay the money and move on. (Similar - I paid $25K to remove an old heating oil tank at my mother-in-law's house that was originally estimated for half that. No leakage, either, but it still tripped a vast array of inspectors and regulators because they had to cut the tank apart to get it out of the hole. At least none of it was ex-post-facto. )

Another example: I cuss no end at the "no spill" gasoline can crafted by CARB and therefore foisted on the rest of the country. The design committee produced a camel, a camel they never have to use. I've spilled more gas trying to fill my mowers with these abominations than I ever did with the good ol'-fashioned gooseneck can, and it takes twice as long. Frustrating, on a daily basis.

[C855B]

... The policies and rules are a function of elected leadership as much as those that implement them, so as the electorate in NJ, you all share some of the blame through your past choices (as do all of us in our respective jurisdictions).

I do, unfortunately, given that I am an appointed commissioner, have to take issue with this. The public has limited ability to vote me out of office. Obviously, the position is so petty that if more than one or two people complained I would be shown the door, but as long as I am able to hide within the system as a single member of an advisory commission, we craft and advise on ordinances without risk of much consequence. (Granted - as long as we remain reasonable, and pretend to be logical.)

CARB, however, is a perfect example of "the untouchable bureaucracy". They are so beyond the reach of the public that all you can do is keep your head low and hope they don't get around to goring your particular ox.

Also, the individual's ability to influence regulation, even abusive regulation, is very weak. The wheels of representative government turn very slowly, and we should be glad they do. Then there is the other issue of "the best representation money can buy", a sad truism. A local problem is the long-entrenched state rep here (lower house) is renown for ignoring constituents who do not or cannot bring money to his table.

[Dave Schneider]

Could we please get this thread back to the coupler? This other stuff belongs in the Crew Lounge and where I am sure the discussions would produce many hours of fun-filled reading.

David, I have a basic question, which I hope will not be taken as impolite. Many of us are excited by your development of this new coupler. I do have some concerns about the long-term availability of a product produced by a small business such as yours. I realize that there are many model railroad manufacturers that are essentially one-man shows, so I don't mean to single you out for this type of question. Do you have any thoughts you would care to share about the long-term future for your coupler? It looks to be a great design, and I hope that it will be available to the N scale community for many years to come.

Best wishes, Dave

[u18b]

I look forward to David's answer too....

But that is the beauty of a patent.
One of the best things that could happen to David (and his long term pocketbook) is for someone ELSE to get jazzed about selling his couple.

They make it, package and sell it....  all licensed from David and his patent.

So the real issue is---
1. will people like what David did.
2.  Will people buy it.

If the answers are yes, then maybe someone will run with it.

Isn't that what Atlas has done with the coupler they are now using?

[sizemore]

http://www.model160.com/n-scale-news-blog/nzt-announces-new-n-scale-coupler/

Hope this helps,
DFF

Totally missed that...from February 2014 no less. 

Thanks DFF,
The S.

[wcfn100]

The patent documents has other drawings showing how it all fits together.

It also rips on the other couplers out there. 

I'm hoping the 'scale' size coupler will also have a smaller coupler box and not be made as a drop-in to the current wide coupler boxes.

Jason

[Dave Schneider]

It also rips on the other couplers out there. 

Isn't that a patent requirement to illustrate how the design is different?

Best wishes, Dave

[wcfn100]

Isn't that a patent requirement to illustrate how the design is different?

Best wishes, Dave

Yeah, I'm just poking fun.  He did use the work 'Slinky' after all. 


Jason

[Kisatchie]

I'm hoping the 'scale' size coupler will also have a smaller coupler box and not be made as a drop-in to the current wide coupler boxes.

I think a different coupler pocket would seriously cut into sales. I have mostly Micro-Trains couplers, with Accumates a distant second. There is NO WAY I'd buy any couplers if I couldn't install them in my current coupler pockets.


Hmm... I'll take the old
coupler pockets and make
termite apartments out
of them...

[wcfn100]

I think a different coupler pocket would seriously cut into sales. I have mostly Micro-Trains couplers, with Accumates a distant second. There is NO WAY I'd buy any couplers if I couldn't install them in my current coupler pockets.

David has said there will be two sizes.  I fully expect one to be a straight drop in.  I'd just like to see the more-to-scale one maybe take a smaller box.

Jason

[ednadolski]

I have mostly Micro-Trains couplers, with Accumates a distant second.  There is NO WAY I'd buy any couplers if I couldn't install them in my current coupler pockets.

Then enjoy your slinky train.      But I seriously would pay double or triple for the scale ones, to make up for your lost sales.  Otherwise we all would still be running with Rapidos.  (Well, perhaps some folks would, but I would find another scale if staying in N meant being stuck with Rapidos or slinkys.)

This is just like the problem with O scale, where "modern era" to some means 1970.  At some point the market has to get with the times, if it does not want to go obsolete.   

I'd just like to see the more-to-scale one maybe take a smaller box.

This.

Ed

[DKS]

Yes, the plan is for two size couplers: one a drop-in replacement for most current types, the other more scale in size with its own pocket. Not too worried about sales of the latter, as they come along for the ride with their bigger drop-in brothers (and optionally serve the Z market, if there is enough interest). And yes, it will be licensed to interested manufacturers on an OEM basis (already have one very interested party).

[ednadolski]

the other more scale in size with its own pocket.

David, how will that be installed... the venerable 00-90 screws?

Ed