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Post by ashpit on Apr 29, 2016 3:07:06 GMT -8
Sighted an unsubstantiated rumor that Jordan Products is quitting business! That the owner "Jordan Jackson" had passed and his will stipulated that business cease and the assets sold off. I am skeptical of this information as first off the owners name was Harvey W. Jackson and not Jordan Jackson. Also, stipulating that the business cease seems incongruous to me!
If the rumor is true, it is a sad day for the hobby, as again another "KIT" producer has quit making kits. Jordan's products were unique, wonderful and filled a void, which may not be filled again! Their products were not "Shake the Box" to build, and took some effort/skill on the part of the builder. Effort and Skill seem to be going away in this hobby!
CORRECTION: Harvey Jackson was Jordan's father and actually started the business. Jordan Jackson, the son, has run the business since his father passed it on to him. So my original statement was incorrect. It's my opinion selling the business as a whole will produce a much higher sale price than selling off the assets, so the stipulation that assets of the business be sold off individually does not make sense! Also to attract a buyer; which one would assume to be another plastics molding company; or, someone wanting to start a business, it makes better sense to sell the business off as a whole!
However, if a business owner with assets of 300 million can overlook the simple responsibility of providing a will, any business owner can certainly wish his business to cease to exist, I guess.
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Post by Christian on Apr 29, 2016 4:31:59 GMT -8
That would be unhappy. I hope it is just hobby shop gossip. Jordon has been around fifty some years. My first HO scale vehicle was a Model T which in those days had stamped aluminum fenders. Just in the past couple days I repaired a bus and a fire truck which had been packed away for a few years. And marveled once again at the precision of the parts.
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Post by edwardsutorik on Apr 29, 2016 7:26:08 GMT -8
I heard that an agent for North Korea bought the dies but the shipment was intercepted by a US submarine.
So, while production was briefly halted, it should be resumed. Presumably by an arm of the US government. Price increases are expected.
Apparently, North Korea's plan was to rename the company Kim Jong Un Products, in a effort to ingratiate the nation with a politically powerful group of (HO) model railroaders.
Ed
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Post by mlehman on Apr 29, 2016 10:13:58 GMT -8
I suspect that the "cease" part is either misunderstood or unsubstantiated. Jordan Miniatures has to be a steady performer, as their products are a staple of steam and transition era modelers. I presume what's intended is to sell the business as a whole to someone with an interest it seeing it continue properly. A small outfit like this represents the several lives work of Jordan and his father (who started the biz and passed it on to him.) If he wanted to call it quits, that could have been done any time. At least he had a will, so he's better off than Prince's family. Estate planning can be complex and uninspiring, which is why so many avoid it. In my case, the only planning I've done is get married and told my wife that Ebay is her friend in the event of my passing... I found a nice, fresh kit for a Jordan Erie steam shovel at our local train show about a month ago, just when news of this started getting around. Walthers and most other online sources show low or no inventory, so if you can find it and may need it, act now. I'm sure that even with a timely sale, new production is at least a year away.  |
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Post by nebrzephyr on Apr 30, 2016 5:55:59 GMT -8
The current owner of Jordan products was Jordan S. Jackson was passed away recently. Jordan's father Harvey started the Jordan line many years ago.
Hard to say what will happen to the Jordan products. Hopefully, someone will acquire the line of products.
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Post by ambluco on Apr 30, 2016 6:53:17 GMT -8
The obit was in the latest MR.
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Post by onequiknova on Apr 30, 2016 8:06:49 GMT -8
I saw the same thing, word for word on Facebook. If it's true, hopefully the tooling can be picked up by someone.
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Post by stevewagner on Apr 30, 2016 8:48:16 GMT -8
Mike, your Jordan steam shovel reminds me strongly of Mary Anne, the heroine of Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, a truly classic children's book (1939) by Virginia Lee Burton, who created both the "words" and the "pictures". A boy suggested its great ending to the author, who hadn't figured out how to end the story.
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Post by mlehman on Apr 30, 2016 9:53:34 GMT -8
Steve,
Yes, I loved that book. It was helped along by the fact that I lived a couple of years in the Canal Zone, thanks to Dad's most expenses paid world tour courtesy Uncle Sam. I can't recall much of it, as I was 4 to 5 years old at the time, but subsequently always paid attention to the old films, pics, etc of the Panama Canal's construction. Come to think of it, circa 1960 was about as far away from that on the timeline as I am now from my youth. Sometimes the past is barely past...
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Post by jbilbrey on Apr 30, 2016 15:59:11 GMT -8
The steam shovel was tooled by another company [the name escapes me right now], but Jordan purchased the molds for it, the steam crane, and their railbus.
I built the shovel back in the mid-90's and loved building it. The only problem is that I followed the directions - not the plans - so the frame that sticks through the roof was off. My fix was less than elegant; what I should have done was recut the wires that braced the fame. Live and learn, I guess...
James Bilbrey
LaVergne, TN
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Post by GP40P-2 on Apr 30, 2016 20:23:16 GMT -8
Vintage Vehicles.
They had the steam shovel and a Mack Railbus (one sitting in front of me now on its way to the 'bay). These were very "Jordan-ish" and always seemed to be related in some way. Maybe Jordan tooled it for VV, then later bought it?
Jim
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Post by Spikre on May 2, 2016 13:04:04 GMT -8
?? it is possible that Jordan did the Tooling for VV,but slow sales forced them to return the molds to Jordan ?? a lot of newly tooled items are put on the market by one Company with intentions to Sell the Tooling if Sales are slow. still trying to figure out how to make the Steel Fordson Wheels,any good ideas for them ? Spikre  |
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Post by jbilbrey on May 2, 2016 16:04:29 GMT -8
?? it is possible that Jordan did the Tooling for VV,but slow sales forced them to return the molds to Jordan ?? a lot of newly tooled items are put on the market by one Company with intentions to Sell the Tooling if Sales are slow. still trying to figure out how to make the Steel Fordson Wheels,any good ideas for them ? Spikre If you are talking about the wheels that consist of a flat part with the treads, perhaps using heat and/or boiling water to gently bend the treads into a circular shape. It may be better to gradually shape them instead of bending them into a circular shape all at once. James Bilbrey LaVergne, TN |
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Post by ashpit on May 3, 2016 3:04:43 GMT -8
I suspect that the "cease" part is either misunderstood or unsubstantiated. Jordan Miniatures has to be a steady performer, as their products are a staple of steam and transition era modelers. I presume what's intended is to sell the business as a whole to someone with an interest it seeing it continue properly. A small outfit like this represents the several lives work of Jordan and his father (who started the biz and passed it on to him.) If he wanted to call it quits, that could have been done any time. At least he had a will, so he's better off than Prince's family. Estate planning can be complex and uninspiring, which is why so many avoid it. In my case, the only planning I've done is get married and told my wife that Ebay is her friend in the event of my passing... I found a nice, fresh kit for a Jordan Erie steam shovel at our local train show about a month ago, just when news of this started getting around. Walthers and most other online sources show low or no inventory, so if you can find it and may need it, act now. I'm sure that even with a timely sale, new production is at least a year away. |
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Post by ashpit on May 3, 2016 3:09:30 GMT -8
Mike, love your Erie Steam Shovel and yes it does bring to mind Mike Mulligan and his steam shovel. In fact when I was a kid in the 1950s and 60s, all excavators of any type where termed "Steam Shovels"! However, even when new, I think they ended up being much more sooty, rusty and dirty than yours is!
Great job and now I want one!
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Post by Spikre on May 6, 2016 9:24:35 GMT -8
 James, yes,those flat strips are supposed to go into the cardboard cutouts. they seemed to keep popping out on one side,or not lining up correctly. could build it as a tractor getting wheel work,and just show the front of the tractor. another PITA kit was a Kibri tracked back hoe,first the tracks ripped apart,then something else messed up,and put it back in its box. think the tracks shrunk too much. thought the kit would assemble like the Gould Crane,but was really disappointed with it so far. Spikre 
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Post by Christian on May 6, 2016 15:02:02 GMT -8
James, yes,those flat strips are supposed to go into the cardboard cutouts. they seemed to keep popping out on one side,or not lining up correctly. Roll them first around a smaller cylinder or tube. Go slowly or you'll be done with that set of strips.  Make sure the ends take a bit of the curve so that you're driver isn't shaken to deeth every turn onto the flat spots. Don't worry about the butt joint until later when the wheel is in the form. It's easy to spring into alignment and do a dab of glue. I did mine many moons ago so I don't recall my forming tube. |
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Post by jbilbrey on May 6, 2016 15:17:13 GMT -8
James, yes,those flat strips are supposed to go into the cardboard cutouts. they seemed to keep popping out on one side,or not lining up correctly. could build it as a tractor getting wheel work,and just show the front of the tractor. another PITA kit was a Kibri tracked back hoe,first the tracks ripped apart,then something else messed up,and put it back in its box. think the tracks shrunk too much. thought the kit would assemble like the Gould Crane,but was really disappointed with it so far. Spikre Honesty, I tried to roll mine and the treads broke into multiple segments. I kept the engine, fuel tank, and transmission/trans-axle around for couple years before tossing the whole mess. I bought a second one that had pre-curved sections of treads, which appeared to be a more-sane approach to modeling the treads. James Bilbrey LaVergne, TN |
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Post by Spikre on May 7, 2016 10:23:49 GMT -8
 James, Your similar problem with the wheels makes me feel that I'm not the only one that had problems. the other problem would be needing a respirator while holding the wheels while the glue sets up. maybe stealing some rubber tires off an Athearn john Deere tractor would be workable ? Spikre 
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Post by Christian on May 7, 2016 12:00:31 GMT -8
maybe stealing some rubber tires off an Athearn john Deere tractor would be workable ? Spikre Rubber was a 1927 option. Certainly common after that. The JD tires look a bit (OK a lot) too big. Likely something wherever poorly scaled die cast vehicle models are sold. |
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