[1250ships]

Originally Posted by smartd

Should be fun when China starts sending cheap automobiles over here and really kills manufacturing in North America.

Not until they improve their safety standards. One Chinese car recently failed a Russian crash test and the Russians are not known for rigorous safety rules. Another car was tested in Germany and the amount of damage was so severe that on the video you can hear the German engineers laughing.

[jim]

In 2002 I inspected the first attempts by the Chinese at making airline products of the type the company I used to work for made.

The quality was dreadful and delivery was a joke.

In 2004 I inspected the products from China again and found them superior to any made in the west and at a quarter of the cost.


3 years later the company I worked for closed and all the orders are now sent to China to be made.

I will leave it to you all to draw your own conclusions from that example.

[Hornchurch]

Originally Posted by jim

In 2002 I inspected the first attempts by the Chinese at making airline products of the type the company I used to work for made.

The quality was dreadful and delivery was a joke.

In 2004 I inspected the products from China again and found them superior to any made in the west and at a quarter of the cost.


3 years later the company I worked for closed and all the orders are now sent to China to be made.

I will leave it to you all to draw your own conclusions from that example.

Exactly.........

The words........."writing".... & ..... "wall"..... spring to mind,


Jim's scenario, sounds like that of the (once mighty) British Motorcycle industry

Jap bikes were scoffed at & folks poured scorn on those that rode them in the 'sixties............

Within a decade, they sounded the Death knell of the Brit' Motorcycle industry, as the once proud 'names' were bought to their knees

The M/cycle in my 'Avatar' (mine) is a prime example (1979 - Suzuki G.S.1000) of just why they kicked the 'Brit's' into-touch........


The Chinese economy is in 'blast-off' mode......... & things (for them) will only improve, as they take "our" manufacturing bases away

Jim's case is (sadly) one of (far too) many

[Nimrod48]

Originally Posted by Hornchurch

Exactly.........

The words........."writing".... & ..... "wall"..... spring to mind,


Jim's scenario, sounds like that of the (once mighty) British Motorcycle industry

Jap bikes were scoffed at & folks poured scorn on those that rode them in the 'sixties............

Within a decade, they sounded the Death knell of the Brit' Motorcycle industry, as the once proud 'names' were bought to their knees

The M/cycle in my 'Avatar' (mine) is a prime example (1979 - Suzuki G.S.1000) of just why they kicked the 'Brit's' into-touch........


The Chinese economy is in 'blast-off' mode......... & things (for them) will only improve, as they take "our" manufacturing bases away

Jim's case is (sadly) one of (far too) many

One of the British motorcycle manufacturers bought a 250cc Honda CB72 in 1963 to dismantel & see "what made it tick" & to quote one of their senior engineers "frankly it was so good it frightened us it is the product of original thinking & technical genius".
I had a 1963 125cc Honda CB92 sports bike & it was a little jewel & forget about Japanese bikes being cheaper than the domestic product my 125 was £199 19 00 which was quite a bit more than some Brit bikes of twice the size.
Compare these specs:

BSA Bantam 125cc Honda Benly CB92 125cc

Engine: 125cc 2 stroke premix type lubrication Engine: 125cc 4 stroke Single Overhead Camshaft
Cylinders: One Cylinders: Two
Gearbox: 3 speed Gearbox: 4 Speed
H P: 4.5 H P: 15
Max Speed: 50mph Max Speed: 80 mph
Brakes: Half width single leading shoe 4inch dia front Brakes: Full width twin leading shoe 8inch front
Half width single leading shoe 3inch rear Full width single leading shoe 8 inch rear (This added up to more swept braking area than a 1000cc Vincent)
Starting method: Kickstart Starting method; Electric start & kickstart
Price in 1963 £99 Price in 1963 £199 19 00

I was one of the first on our estate to buy Japanese & I was none too popular for doing it but even without the Japanese the Brit bike industry would have died killed off by low quality & outdated designs & the advent of the Mini & ever cheaper used cars.

[stwhite]

Unfortunately these statements do not sound too good: Source http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/da...333106.htm#Key

In the event that market conditions and demand for our products continue to deteriorate and decline, causing operating losses and negative cash flows from operations to continue and, despite our best efforts, we are unable to secure additional financing sources from lenders and/or other parties to fund our operations and obligations, we will be required to dispose of business units or assets, perhaps at a significant discount to the fair value thereof, seek bankruptcy protection or commence liquidation or other administrative proceedings

We plan to engage in acquisition or mergers, which may affect the profit, loss, revenues, profit margins, capital expenditures or other aspects of our business.


Clearly Corgi is hurting. It seems they neither have the cash or the credit, however in other parts of the report:

Our growth strategy is to be the leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of high-quality die-cast collectibles, as well as a significant participant in mass-market toy products that benefit from the use of the Corgi brand name. Our strategy calls for continuous strengthening of our relationships with our multi-national customers and increasing and diversification of our customer base. To achieve these goals, we have been focusing on the following:

• broadening our unique line of collectible products in order to increase channels of distribution and acquire a wider target audience of adult collectors;


• developing a range of toy products for entry into mass-market distribution channels to increase sales volume and re-launch the Corgi brand name into the mass market after many years of absence. This strategy is also designed to increase the number of collectors of Corgi products as they progress into their adult years.


Brand Development

We seek to further develop our Corgi brand in the U.S. We have established a direct sales force for our collectible Corgi line of die-cast replica items in the U.S. along with strong associations with die-cast distributors and direct-to-consumer mail order and Internet customers. We expect to continue strengthening our marketing infrastructure and to advance our goal of worldwide growth and expansion in collectible and mass markets. We actively participate in five major toy shows in New York, Hong Kong and the U.K., which are convenient for major mass-market and specialty store buyers at key selling dates during the year.

Also, Corgi was bought out by Zindart Manufacturing in 1999. Basically they DO have a manufacturing site in China, however they still need other site to do "other" things.

[smartd]

Originally Posted by stwhite

Unfortunately these statements do not sound too good: Source http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/da...333106.htm#Key

In the event that market conditions and demand for our products continue to deteriorate and decline, causing operating losses and negative cash flows from operations to continue and, despite our best efforts, we are unable to secure additional financing sources from lenders and/or other parties to fund our operations and obligations, we will be required to dispose of business units or assets, perhaps at a significant discount to the fair value thereof, seek bankruptcy protection or commence liquidation or other administrative proceedings

We plan to engage in acquisition or mergers, which may affect the profit, loss, revenues, profit margins, capital expenditures or other aspects of our business.


Clearly Corgi is hurting. It seems they neither have the cash or the credit, however in other parts of the report:

Our growth strategy is to be the leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of high-quality die-cast collectibles, as well as a significant participant in mass-market toy products that benefit from the use of the Corgi brand name. Our strategy calls for continuous strengthening of our relationships with our multi-national customers and increasing and diversification of our customer base. To achieve these goals, we have been focusing on the following:

• broadening our unique line of collectible products in order to increase channels of distribution and acquire a wider target audience of adult collectors;


• developing a range of toy products for entry into mass-market distribution channels to increase sales volume and re-launch the Corgi brand name into the mass market after many years of absence. This strategy is also designed to increase the number of collectors of Corgi products as they progress into their adult years.


Brand Development

We seek to further develop our Corgi brand in the U.S. We have established a direct sales force for our collectible Corgi line of die-cast replica items in the U.S. along with strong associations with die-cast distributors and direct-to-consumer mail order and Internet customers. We expect to continue strengthening our marketing infrastructure and to advance our goal of worldwide growth and expansion in collectible and mass markets. We actively participate in five major toy shows in New York, Hong Kong and the U.K., which are convenient for major mass-market and specialty store buyers at key selling dates during the year.

Also, Corgi was bought out by Zindart Manufacturing in 1999. Basically they DO have a manufacturing site in China, however they still need other site to do "other" things.

Bonhams – the international fine art auctioneers – has been appointed by Corgi – one of the best-known die-cast model makers in the world – to sell its archive of coveted prototype and “Number One” vehicles. The unique auction will take place on 3 October 2007 at Bonhams’ Knowle salerooms in Solihull, West Midlands.

Until now, it has been Corgi’s policy to retain the first item off the production line for the archive and it is a selection of these ‘Number One’s’ that Bonhams will sell along with a selection of prototypes used in the manufacturing process, such has hand-painted resin samples and mock-ups.

With over 500 lots for sale the stars of the auction will be the “Number One” models” and collectors will be given the unprecedented opportunity of bidding for classic archive properties including models relating to:


Items from Corgi’s Aviation ranges, such as Spitfires and The Battle Of Britain, will be sold too, along with a selection of classic car models, buses and coaches, commercial, haulage, transport and vehicle ranges.


“Corgi has a rich heritage stretching back over 50 years, but this means that our archive has reached pretty sizeable proportions and in order to maintain the archive for the collectors of the future we need to make some room,” says Darren Epstein, Executive Vice President of Global Business Development at Corgi International. “We felt there was no better way to make space for the next 50 years than to open up the archive and allow everyone a chance to obtain some of the cherished content. Of course we will be sad to see our ‘firstborns’ go but we know that they will be going to excellent homes.

“We are delighted that Bonhams has chosen to recognise the popularity of a contemporary collectible by supporting this auction. Corgi products are very popular with both hardcore and casual collectors of all ages and this auction is an excellent opportunity for anybody to obtain legitimately unique and highly collectable items that have never been made available before.”

Sale catalogues listing all of the Corgi items to be sold by Bonhams, cost £15 each plus postage and packaging. To order a copy, please call Bonhams’ Catalogue Subscriptions on +44 (0)1666 502 200


http://www.corgi.biz/news/

[jim]

Hello Nimrod, even the Bantam was a "borrowed" German design, My memory is not so good but I think the Bantam was a DKW in a former life.

[JustPlaneNuttz]

Originally Posted by Celtic

. . . one of the US businessmen threw a Zippo lighter across the table and said to the Chinese, "When you can build one of these, then come see us!" Well, I think that arrogance could now be reversed, and it would be the Chinese throwing a few things across the table, like computers, computer monitors, iPods, disk drives, mass storage devices, and just about anything made of plastic, silicon, or aluminium. Yes, higher prices are in the offering for all of us, and it is ultimately the result of the business-worlds cost-cutting greed, and our consumers' unwillingness to pay the true living-wage prices (not slave-wage prices) of the products they buy.

Well, considering the Q/C issues with hard drives, laptops, motherboards, laptop BATTERIES (yes, Sony, I'm talking to you), and related iPod items, I am not yet convinced China could make a Zippo lighter consistantly well (let alone better). My Zippo is archaic and still works every day. Once Chinese manufacturing DOES meet the standards required over a consistant period of production for a larger amount of commodity items, they will start jacking up their rates, to your point, indeed. China is not there yet. My guess is in a few years though we will have to be looking for our new slave labour source. I vote for a wider use of robotics(!)

[Nimrod48]

Originally Posted by jim

Hello Nimrod, even the Bantam was a "borrowed" German design, My memory is not so good but I think the Bantam was a DKW in a former life.

Yes Jim the Bantam was a DKW design taken as part of the war reparations, it was manufactured in the US I believe as the Harley Hummer & it was also the very first motorcycle that Yamaha produced known as the YA1 Red Dragonfly circa 1955.