Old Catalogs

MapJonathanG · March 28, 2017, 03:46:07 PM

Are there pdf versions of older catalogs available somewhere? I'm looking for 2008 and back.
Thanks

GovB · March 28, 2017, 11:11:47 PM

Bachmann or Williams?

Johnb

MapJonathanG · March 29, 2017, 09:39:25 AM

Bachmann

Loco Bill Canelos · March 29, 2017, 12:59:45 PM

Hi guys,

The first PDF online catalog came out in 2009, all the earlier catalogs were the print type!

Loco Bill

ACY · June 03, 2018, 06:53:55 PM

I have some older catalogs but don't have the time to scan them in and upload them.

Radioguy · June 04, 2018, 04:14:26 AM

Quote from: ACY on June 03, 2018, 06:53:55 PM
I have some older catalogs but don't have the time to scan them in and upload them.

How can we find you the time?

ACY · June 04, 2018, 05:07:58 PM

Quote from: Radioguy on June 04, 2018, 04:14:26 AM
How can we find you the time?

As a civil engineer I get paid $45 an hour straight time, so if you want to pay me $45 an hour while I take off work to scan the documents for you...hahaha
In all seriousness, I am sorry friends, I am just too busy as I work about 70-80 hours per week. Good luck with the older catalogs.

Radioguy · June 05, 2018, 03:15:41 AM

Quote from: ACY on June 04, 2018, 05:07:58 PM
Quote from: Radioguy on June 04, 2018, 04:14:26 AM
How can we find you the time?
As a civil engineer I get paid $45 an hour straight time, so if you want to pay me $45 an hour while I take off work to scan the documents for you...hahaha
In all seriousness, I am sorry friends, I am just too busy as I work about 70-80 hours per week. Good luck with the older catalogs.

I was rather thinking you ask your boss where he got his toupee, or something like that. Would've freed up plenty of time for this project right there.

Maybe we can get a kickstarter going...I'm an idea man, though.

Hopefully, someone else will pick up the gauntlet here?

dutchbuilder · June 05, 2018, 03:51:51 AM

Maybe ask Bachmann if they still have the original digital copy for the catalogues somewhere?

Ton

Radioguy · June 05, 2018, 06:47:14 AM

Quote from: dutchbuilder on June 05, 2018, 03:51:51 AM
Maybe ask Bachmann if they still have the original digital copy for the catalogues somewhere?

Ton

ACY · June 05, 2018, 02:14:17 PM

I would think that they might have some from the mid 2000's forward accessible in some capacity on the computer, but going back further than that is where it seems more unlikely, and it is possible that after they printed the catalogs for the year that they did not save the document in any computer accessible format, perhaps only saving one hard copy.
Someone can ring Bachmann or stop by Philly to ask...I suppose

Radioguy · June 06, 2018, 01:18:16 AM

Quote from: ACY on June 05, 2018, 02:14:17 PM
I would think that they might have some from the mid 2000's forward accessible in some capacity on the computer, but going back further than that is where it seems more unlikely, and it is possible that after they printed the catalogs for the year that they did not save the document in any computer accessible format, perhaps only saving one hard copy.
Someone can ring Bachmann or stop by Philly to ask...I suppose

Would be nice, but if they were going to do it, I think we would have seen it by now. Makes you wonder why we haven't (any rights issues?)

Oh, I get what you're saying, but so many companies get set in their ways that, even after others might be saving digital files, Bachmann might have still only kept them on film or microfiche...even into the early 2000s. Who can say, but I think it potentially adds to the reason why we haven't seen them uploaded yet.

Also, keep in mind they contract these things out too (example in 2006). The originals may have had to be submitted to Bachmann, but most wouldn't have been done in-house (likely still aren't, but that's a guess).

3rail · June 27, 2018, 11:09:34 PM

2008 was the first catalog that was generated in digital pdf form. We have scanned some others, but they take a great deal of time to scan. If time permits, I will post the ones that we have scanned.

If anyone has scanned our catalogs and wants to share them, please contact me via personal message feature.

3rail

3rail · June 28, 2018, 11:20:27 AM

Ok, I posted what is available as PDF files on our:

Catalog and Brochures Page.

Have Fun!

3rail

Radioguy · April 25, 2020, 02:42:36 AM

Quote from: 3rail on June 28, 2018, 11:20:27 AM
Ok, I posted what is available as PDF files on our:

Catalog and Brochures Page.

Have Fun!

3rail

Well, thanks for that! I tried sourcing images from several years for a couple weeks after my last post, but was stymied by not having completed them. I think I might be able to replicate a year or two when I get it together (collate!)

So, some interesting gaps there. The mystery of what became of 2001, 2003, and 2005. Odd years indeed!

1984 was a nice touch, although the HO and N scale catalogues from the 80s and 90s was the classic train porn some of us was looking for.

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Old Catalogs