Hey Y'all, I wanted to pass along to you that the owner of Jordan Highway Miniatures passed away and it is being reported that he, nor his family, want(ed) the business continued, and as part of the Will of Estate, all the molds, etc., are to be destroyed. This is unconfirmed, as some are reporting that they are in storage to be dealt with at a later date, however, it has not stopped the greed on eBay as standard wagons with two horses are now being gouged at $60.00 each or more. I feel for the family, and offer my dearest condolences, hoping they will not stop the product but will find a willing buyer to produce them. Just wanted to give you a heads up. If you need them, and see them, get them, because they are no longer being made. Manny
Sad indeed Manny. But the mere mention of destroying the molds wow, wonder why they would do that instead of selling them huh. Lets hope they sell the molds or continue production as you say.
Got to the TOC19 HO scale party too late (over the past year I have purchased some TOC19 HO models) so I don't have any Jordan products. In spite of that, for sure I am not going to pay the stupid prices on eBay for the Jordan wagons and stuff. However, the word is spreading about Jordan's demise and the panic/impulse/hoarder buying is driving up the price to idiotic levels. Isn't model railroading fun?
Just got back from my LHS and he still has a stack of Jordan kits, mostly horse drawn stuff but there is a steam excavator and some of those van type trucks. At suggested retail. If interested call Hobby Hut 970-242-8761. He (Chris) told me Walthers was talking about doing something with the stuff as well. Who knows right?
I got busy buying more of them back when I heard he had died and I even cleaned out my favorite hobby shop. I've completed 26 kits and I have 29 waiting to be built. These kits are practically mandatory to model my era in HO scale. Thanks for the heads up, Tom.
Kinda silly that the estate to their own detriment would destroy the molds and not sell them and make themselves money!!?? Tom G.
Jim cleared me out of all my Jordan models this past summer during my fire sale. Good timing on my part, huh! Not really - I was glad to see him get them as he does such a great job building them. Sorry to hear of the family decision regarding the future of these models. You would think they would want his legacy to continue, sort of like Irv Athearn. Ken
Unless his family regarded him as one of those "crazy ol' model train guys.". "You know, our eccentric uncle that plays with trains." Tom G.
The news about the possible fate of the molds for the Jordan products brought to mind a bit of news just heard from the new owner of Hobby town of Boston, that when he inquired of Bowser about the molds for the steam loco's and parts that he was informed that not only did Bowser stop production but that they destroyed the molds and dies so no one could ever bring them back. A sad way to treat items of such possible historical value. I don't think I will plan on buying anymore new Bowser items.
A lot of uncertainty, but if a decedent stipulates something to be done in a will, usually it'll be done. A lot depends on state-to-state law, probate, etc. but even if there's an interested and willing buyer, it simply might not be possible to buy the molds, etc. At least that's my rudimentary understanding of estate law. Nevertheless, I think there is a lot of exciting potential for prototype modelers through advancements in 3D printing/rapid prototyping. Things like the aforementioned with Jordan and Bowser might be short-term obstacles, but wherever there's a modeler that needs a particular item, there'll always be someone who finds a way. Best Regards,
My Local Hobby shop owner tells me Jordan miniatures is going to start production again, up grade their packaging, sounds like it is staying where it is. Again nothing in writing, just what I was told.
