Canadian Tri-ang Railways - The 1971-1972 Sets
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1971 - New track but a system in decline
Finally, the Tri-ang Hornby name was officially adopted in Canada and the 1971 Canadian Catalogue introduced the System 6 Track to the Canadian market. However, the introduction of a new track system appears to have been a disastrous decision for the company as Canadian set sales plummeted that year.
More new livery models were promised; most were introduced into the range but, sadly, some never made it into production.
More new livery models were promised; most were introduced into the range but, sadly, some never made it into production.
The company was also under increasing pressure from its competitors in the North American model railway market who were offering quality, accurate HO scale models for the increasingly discerning Canadian and American modeller and at very affordable prices. The OO/HO scale compromises of the models and the incompatibility of the Tri-ang couplings with the North American NMRA design had also been issues for many years. Put simply, Tri-ang was no longer competitive in a contracting model railway market - due to the continuing rise in popularity of slot car racing - except, perhaps, on price; and probably not even then.
1971 Standard Train SetsSix train sets were featured in the catalogue but only three were new.
Sets 914, 918 and 919 were simply re-issues of their 1970 counterparts but with the newly introduced System 6 Track replacing the more resilient Super 4 Track. The ‘new’ Sets 926, 927 and 928 were merely re-workings of earlier sets. Examples of these 1971 sets are particularly difficult to find; suggesting that sales of the sets were particularly poor. Later examples of some sets have been found with System 6 Track Packs in 'HORNBY RAILWAYS' packaging, which date from as late as 1973. Note on the availability of the 1971 SetsSome, if not all, 1971 Sets would have only been available from the second-half of 1971. However, evidence also shows that a number of these sets continued to be available, although not listed in the price lists, right through until 1973 after which the range was discontinued.
1971 Set BoxesThe 1971 outer box was identical to that of the previous two years and continued for many of the later issued sets.
The 1971 set box base also continued with a printed thick red band around the top rim, inside and out. As with previous sets, each set had its own pale greenish-blue individual vacuum-formed styrene tray to hold the locomotive and rolling stock. The transformer, with its card packing piece, and System 6 Track, sometimes 'loose' (not boxed)', were then placed side by side in the remaining box space. Set numbering - 1971 Special Train SetsThe 1971 Standard Train Sets had continued to be numbered with a three-digit code in the 900 series. However, and rather surprisingly, the 1971 Special Train Sets were numbered with a four-digit code in the series 9301 to 9312.
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Model 1000 TransformerAround September 1970 the black Model 1000 Transformer became available and gradually replaced the older red Model 2200 Transformer in sets.
The 1971 Standard and Special Train Sets were only issued with the Model 1000 Transformer. |
Christmas 1971 Tri-ang - Hornby Set Boxes
It was not until late 1971 that the Tri-ang Hornby name finally appeared on a Canadian set box: just in time for Christmas. The attractive display-style set box carried the Tri-ang Hornby logo on newly designed packaging but only two freight sets (CN and Canadian Pacific) appear to have been produced before the idea seems to have been abandoned.
All subsequent sets reverted back to the 1969-style standard Tri-ang Railways set packaging; illustrating the CN and Canadian Pacific Diesels and lots of blue sky.
All subsequent sets reverted back to the 1969-style standard Tri-ang Railways set packaging; illustrating the CN and Canadian Pacific Diesels and lots of blue sky.
1972 - Nearing the end of the line - Louis Marx buys the company
The Lines Bros. parent company had gone into liquidation in August 1971 but the company continued to trade whilst various assets were sold off by the company's administrators. Following this collapse of the Lines Bros. empire, for the first part of 1972 the Tri-ang Hornby brand and the company had continued to trade as
MECCANO Tri-ang Ltd. located at 95 Brown's Line, Toronto 520, Ontario. But the future of Tri-ang Hornby Railways in Canada was confused and uncertain.
Louis Marx & Company, of Canada Limited, at 10 Continental Place, Scarborough, Ontario subsequently purchased the Canadian interests sometime in the first half of 1972; setting up a new trading company called Louis Marx Industries (Canada) Ltd. in June of that year and a Hornby Railways Division was created to continue to manage the marketing and distribution of the model railways.
MECCANO Tri-ang Ltd. located at 95 Brown's Line, Toronto 520, Ontario. But the future of Tri-ang Hornby Railways in Canada was confused and uncertain.
Louis Marx & Company, of Canada Limited, at 10 Continental Place, Scarborough, Ontario subsequently purchased the Canadian interests sometime in the first half of 1972; setting up a new trading company called Louis Marx Industries (Canada) Ltd. in June of that year and a Hornby Railways Division was created to continue to manage the marketing and distribution of the model railways.
No Canadian Catalogue was issued in 1972 and no new Standard Sets were produced that year.
In 1972, production of the 1971 Standard Train Sets continued on a limited scale to satisfy existing orders and demands. In addition, what appears to have been assembled is a continuation of some existing Special Sets (with minor variations of content, dependent on the availability of stock) for department store chains and home shopping / mail order companies in order to satisfy commitments to existing retail customers.
(See, in particular, the 1970 Special Set 925)
Also, early in 1972, a very few new Special Sets (numbered '926') had been produced; which appear to have been aimed at the smaller and individual retail outlets. These earlier 1972 sets still carried the 'by MECCANO Tri-ang TORONTO CANADA' inscription on the set box lids.
In 1972, production of the 1971 Standard Train Sets continued on a limited scale to satisfy existing orders and demands. In addition, what appears to have been assembled is a continuation of some existing Special Sets (with minor variations of content, dependent on the availability of stock) for department store chains and home shopping / mail order companies in order to satisfy commitments to existing retail customers.
(See, in particular, the 1970 Special Set 925)
Also, early in 1972, a very few new Special Sets (numbered '926') had been produced; which appear to have been aimed at the smaller and individual retail outlets. These earlier 1972 sets still carried the 'by MECCANO Tri-ang TORONTO CANADA' inscription on the set box lids.
(Click on the '1971 and 1972 Special Sets' button (below))
1972 Louis Marx revised-style Set BoxVery late in 1972 a new revised style set box appeared on at least one Special Train Set - Special Set No. 1928.
The box had the same illustrations as the 1969 - earlier 1972 set boxes and also maintained the Tri-ang Railways logo on the box lid but the inscriptions 'by MECCANO Tri-ang TORONTO CANADA' had been removed. |
Note about 1973-1974 Train Sets:
The new sets released for the years 1973 to 1974 were issued with the Hornby Railways logo.
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