Has Anyone Ever Seen or Heard of the GOEMON N Scale Coupler?

[pmpexpress]

Spotted a listing on eBay for something called the GOEMON Realistic Coupler.

         



https://picclick.com/Original-REALISTIC-N-Scale-Coupler-GOEMON-Realistic-201838628895.html

Manufactured in Japan and (ironically) shipped from Lake Oswego, Oregon, the unassembled, injection molded plastic couplers ship without coupler trip pins, coupler centering springs, or draft gear boxes.

From the look of the shank, GOEMON couplers appear to be some kind of an aftermarket derivative of the mechanical design that was originated (and formally patented) by Micro-Trains.

Is the modeled knuckle supposed to represent a North American, or a Japanese prototype?

[ednadolski]

Curious what it looks like next to the TSC, tho it seems a lot larger.   Also looks like it would still do the slinky, which by itself makes it a non-starter for me.

Ed

[Chris333]

looks like it replaces a 1015?

EDIT: looks like the spring is on the wrong side...

[Kisatchie]

Spotted a listing on eBay for something called the GOEMON Realistic Coupler.

         

The assembled coupler on the left looks a lot different than the coupler parts on the right.

The assembled coupler looks like it opens like a real coupler, whereas the coupler parts on the right look like standard MTL parts.


Hmm... gotta get out the
reading glasses...

[C855B]

Here's the direct eBay listing: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-REALISTIC-N-Scale-Coupler-GOEMON-Realistic-Coupler-/201869874847

It appears to be a clever retooling of the 1025 to more closely resemble a proto knuckle appearance. Size is the same as the 1025, and according to the notes on the listing you're supposed to start with a 1025 for the box, spring and trip pin. What you buy from the listing simply replaces the MTL coupler halves. Fully slinky-equipped since there is no change from the MTL design there.

Nice try, but too late. I'll be carrying on with the TSC conversions.

[pmpexpress]

The assembled coupler on the left looks a lot different than the coupler parts on the right.

The assembled coupler looks like it opens like a real coupler, whereas the coupler parts on the right look like standard MTL parts.

Hmm... gotta get out the
reading glasses...

Kisatchie,

Great eye for detail...

Hadn't noticed that the closeup product photos appear to show a different item than what is actually seen on the smaller sprue images.

Given that one would need to purchase Micro-Trains Line 1029 Small Parts Packages to come up with the needed coupler centering springs, coupler trip pins, and draft gear boxes, the potential cost of utilizing the GOEMON couplers could become prohibitive.

http://www.micro-trains.com/tools/tspringsscrews/312040

[Chris333]

I would buy them if they were for a 1015 box. They should couple with regular couplers.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I would buy them if they were for a 1015 box. They should couple with regular couplers.

If they did both of those things, I'd buy a 30 pack.

[Sokramiketes]

I like all the surface detail that's lacking in the TSC.  But, I'm worried it will look as big as a McHenry.  Will be interested to see comparison photos in the wild.

[Kisatchie]

Here's the direct eBay listing: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-REALISTIC-N-Scale-Coupler-GOEMON-Realistic-Coupler-/201869874847

The extra picture clears up my confusion about the possible differences from the original post.


Hmm... reading glasses?
HA! I need a microscope...

[peteski]

Interesting.

 But I have no doubt that it will be smaller than McHenry (boxing-glove jr.). Looks to be closer in size to the standard MTL N scale coupler. Lets also not forget the Rapido/Vlk? coupler which is also more detailed and slightly smaller than MTL.  But all are slinkies if that matters to you.

Someone must have spent a decent chunk of change for those precision sliding molds to make these.  Hopefully they are made from slippery engineering plastic.  Too bad they also didn't make it a complete coupler (with the draft gear box and spring).

EDIT: if this was 2 days later I would have thought it to be April Fool's joke. But it looks genuine.

I think the coupler was designed and molder in Japan and it is drop-shipped to USA for local distribution. The delicate details scream "Japanese precision" to me. So do the hand-drawings. Maybe an ex-Kato engineer made them?

[Kisatchie]

EDIT: if this was 2 days later I would have thought it to be April Fool's joke.

Holy moley... thanks for the head's up!


Hmm... there goes my
April Fool surprise for
Kiz...

[jagged ben]

Who's gonna buy some and give us some caliper measurements?!?!   

Yeah I totally agree with the 1015 comments, as the most prominent location for improved appearance would be on the fronts of locomotives.

[peteski]

Who's gonna buy some and give us some caliper measurements?!?!   

Yeah I totally agree with the 1015 comments, as the most prominent location for improved appearance would be on the fronts of locomotives.

Maybe the 1023/1025 shank design was used because those are the lowest-profile coupler boxes MTL makes?  The 1015 boxes are rather chunky.

[central.vermont]

I'd buy but the $7.80 shipping for a $1.40 piece is a killer.  Damn thing could be shipped for a whole lot less.

Jon