Con-Cor has died a slow death.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Yes, it was. To me, the story of Con-Cor is what happens when you stop innovating.

I don't think they even really needed to innovate MUCH. They haven't even tried to stay relevant for 20 years now.

They were a mess even when I worked at MBK 22 years ago.

[Mark5]

I don't think they even really needed to innovate MUCH. They haven't even tried to stay relevant for 20 years now.

They were a mess even when I worked at MBK 22 years ago.

I would say more like 30 years - by the mid 90s well into the downward spiral. At that point it was mostly occasional re-runs of old tooling and announcements that never materialized (there was a few cool things after that, the Pioneer Zephyr and maybe a few other niche things that turned out well).

They were also once upon a time a big source for all N products (regardless of manufacturer) - in the 70's and 80's the ConCor catalog was a must have (I still have one of them).

[TechnicalATSF]

That’s a vast oversimplification of the system

Since that is what has happened to a large number of different companies, from train-making, aerospace and modelling, it would interest me to know why you think that?

[peteski]

Update for Con-Cor Customers

Due to the 2018 closing of AffaTech — Con-Cor's sole producer in China — the majority of Con-Cor's tooling and designs were lost. While some production was relocated, outstanding debt and manufacturing constraints in China have made it impossible to move forward with new Con-Cor production. Jim Conway was also unable to transfer the remaining tooling, designs, and records to us before his passing, leaving them unrecovered.

Jim Conway passed the company, remaining warehouse inventory, and the rights to produce new products to his former employee of 40 years.

The Con-Cor website has transitioned to LaBelle-Lubricants.com, where LaBelle Lubricants will continue on, offering their trusted line of products under the new home.

For Con-Cor's remaining limited RTR inventory, ArizonaHobbies.com is your destination. Con-Cor items will be listed as they are processed into the Arizona Hobbies system, so check back as stock becomes available. Beyond Con-Cor, Arizona Hobbies carries a wide variety of model trains and hobby supplies to meet all your modeling needs.

BlueFlagModelTrains.com carries parts for popular Con-Cor locomotives, as well as parts and service for all major brands — making them a great resource for keeping your fleet running.

Labelle Lubricants·3600 S Palo Verde Rd Suite 109 • Tucson, AZ 85713

By a coincidence, couple of months ago, I took a wild chance of finding some spare parts for a Con-Cor model. I remember that about a year back I saw a thread in the Crew Lounge section about Con-Cor's future, their website, and Jim C's wild political rants.  Before reading that thread I have not  visited that website for years, and the last interaction I had with Con-Cor was also quite some time ago, at their vendor booth at one of the Springfiield show (where the mentioned possibility of producing the N scale UP Veranda engine).

But since I was looking for spare parts I did go to the website and found it free of politics and stating that they were getting ready to introduce some new and exciting offerings.  And they did mention that the spare parts service would be handled by Blue Flag Model Trains. So I contacted Blue Flag and after few early problems with communication I ended up exchanging several phone conversations with EJ at Blue Flag.  Super nice guy!  He was actually in the process of moving his own warehouse to another location and at the same time gathering all the spare parts he could from Con-Cor warehouse.  He was intimately familiar with Con-Cor and he also presented me with the history of Con-Cor's demise (slightly more detailed than what is in the writeup above).  The bottom line is that EJ bent over backwards to find the parts I needed (which I was surprised that they were still in Con-Cor's old stock after all the years). I didn't get all the parts I needed, but he is still in the process of sorting and cataloging all the spares, so there is a chance he might eventually find the other parts I wanted.  But unfortunately it now appears that Con-Cor model train manufacturer will not longer exist, except for the Labelle lubricants.

If someone is looking for some older Con-Cor parts, give Blue Flag a call, but I would recommend waiting few months for EJ to get things better sorted.

I also have to say that back in the day, Con-Cor had excellent stock of spares, and they were quite easy to deal with (back when I called them on the phone). I still have receipts for the parts I ordered, printed with a dot-matrix printer.  Yes, Con-Cor was quite a powerhouse back in the day.

Also worth mentioning is that some neat details of early Con-Cor Jim's collaborations with Sekisui Kato are covered in the very nice Kato's "50th Anniversary of Kato N-Gauge Models" hardcover book which I bought in 2019. A must-have for any serious Kato fan, but I think the book is out of print now.  Unfortunately the book is in Japanese. There is a separate English Translation booklet included, but of only the photo captions. However, even just the captions provide some very useful insight into Kato's history, but I wish I could read all the text in the book.   What is shown in the book was that Kato also had some interactions with Kadee's Keith Edwards, and also with German Hobbytrain/Lemke (Kato still produces occasional Lemke European models) and NOCH.  There is also a photo of Mr. Hiroshi Kato with Russ Larson in front of Model Railroaded Mag, offices.  This was around the time Kato USA office was established (and the famous GP-38-2 model produced). Lots of interesting info  . . .

[Mark5]

If someone is looking for some older Con-Cor parts, give Blue Flag a call, but I would recommend waiting few months for EJ to get things better sorted.

I also have to say that back in the day, Con-Cor had excellent stock of spares, and they were quite easy to deal with (back when I called them on the phone). I still have receipts for the parts I ordered, printed with a dot-matrix printer. 

Thanks for the "boots on the ground" report!  I always had good luck with parts the few times I needed them.

[mike_lawyer]

I bought a Con-Cor 2-10-2 years ago.  It could be made into a good runner with better electrical pickup between the tender and the loco.  However, the loco chassis is much too long.  I wish they could have made it dimensionally accurate.  We really need a solid 2-10-x model in N scale.

[Chris333]

That CC 2-10-2 was 3/8 of an inch too long!

[Point353]

What is shown in the book was that Kato also had some interactions with Kadee's Keith Edwards,
This was around the time Kato USA office was established (and the famous GP-38-2 model produced).

Micro-Trains once sold sets which included a Kato GP38-2 (with the couplers converted), an assortment of MTL cars and an oval of Atlas track.

[CNscale]

Again, a reminder of the dangers of offshoring mfg business to China. If they decide to steal everything you gave them to make, nothing can be done to stop them.

That’s a vast oversimplification of the system

Except he wasn't trying to describe a "system" but simply highlighting one of the risks associated with a particular business decision.

[peteski]

Micro-Trains once sold sets which included a Kato GP38-2 (with the couplers converted), an assortment of MTL cars and an oval of Atlas track.

Thanks for the trip down memory lane. I forgot about that one, and it all makes sense.  Looks like Kadee even molded a GP38-2 nest so the loco fit into their standard jewel box (not the original long Kato box).  ALso  included is the magnetic uncoupler in Atlas track (the magnet was likely installed in-house by Kadee). MTL does have a history of collaborating with other manufacturers.

[Jimbo]

ALso  included is the magnetic uncoupler in Atlas track (the magnet was likely installed in-house by Kadee).

They sold these, you know, right?  5” section of Atlas track with uncouple installed?  It wasn’t uniquely created for this set.  I would presume all of these were produced in house.

I had one back in the day… introduced me to magnetic uncoupling.

Jim

[OldEastRR]

Spare parts ... remember Aksarben?

[thomasjmdavis]

They sold these, you know, right?  5” section of Atlas track with uncouple installed?  It wasn’t uniquely created for this set.  I would presume all of these were produced in house.

I had one back in the day… introduced me to magnetic uncoupling.

Jim

I still remember the first time I spotted an N scale car on a siding 'hands free' (1978?).  I think one of those uncoupler track pieces is still in a box or a drawer. 

[Bill H]

Spare parts ... remember Aksarben?

Heck, I even remember Aksarben race track... Jack Van Berg was a friend of mine, different sort of horse FWIW...

[Point353]

ALso  included is the magnetic uncoupler in Atlas track (the magnet was likely installed in-house by Kadee).