Matchbox club

[radar]

I worked for MICA for many years.

In Victoria means Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance - before I moved into offshore safety.

Guess it's an age profile thing looking at the pic. Recently attended a Meccano exhibit in Melbourne and all bar one of the displayed looked like my grandfather.
One exception was a new age mother and her two teenage sons - and their model. I commented my sons would be more interested in Nintendo and it was good to see boys that age keeping Meccano alive.

Quickly replied, "don't even have TV or computer in the house."

Sure I could smell the goats milk cheese.

[Tinman]

Some things do die off with a generation. It's the realization of that (along with another time related conclusion) which prompted me to sell off my collection sooner rather than later. I never lost my love and passion for the models and the hobby. It was a difficult decision but I have very few regrets. My models are now resting in the collections of others, many of whom are younger than I and they will be able to enjoy them for years to come. I had control over where the models would go rather than leave that up to my widow or my children. It's a burden for others to have to clear out a very large collection along with the rest of your estate.

Time changes all things and clubs are not exempt. Besides, the driving force that keeps most clubs alive and working can be narrowed down to one or two key individuals. With so many of the web sites we love, there is only one person behind the whole thing and when their interests shift or they pass, that will be the end for those sites. I still fondly remember Nigel Clarke's web site along with other sites that are now gone.

The members of MICA with whom I've discussed the issue, for the most part, all had the same feelings about the club. They wanted to keep the printed magazine (even if it was also presented online). They wanted the auctions to continue. In fact, for the most part, they didn't want anything to change from how it was being run. So many of these clubs and sites embody the spirit of the people who found and run them. Without these people at the helm, they fade away.

For many of us older collectors, the days ahead are far shorter than the days behind. All too soon, our names will be the topic of a short lived post which announces our passing. In the next few years we will lose all of the authors of the books and guides we love. We will see more famous collections on the auction block and their models spread to the four corners of the world. We will see more web sites we love go dark. Younger collectors will lose the last connection to the people who made these models. We will lose the people who searched the hobby shops and toy stores to purchase the models new and those with the greatest knowledge of the regular wheel era history.

The younger collectors who have invested heavily in books and printed guides are the wise ones. Those who keep their own Stannard addendums, lists and who save articles and posts are the ones who will be the history guardians of the future. One thing that is certain; time and change marches on and with each new day there will be fewer of the "old guard" who breathed so much life into this hobby.

[nickjones]

Some things do die off with a generation. It's the realization of that (along with another time related conclusion) which prompted me to sell off my collection sooner rather than later. I never lost my love and passion for the models and the hobby. It was a difficult decision but I have very few regrets. My models are now resting in the collections of others, many of whom are younger than I and they will be able to enjoy them for years to come. I had control over where the models would go rather than leave that up to my widow or my children. It's a burden for others to have to clear out a very large collection along with the rest of your estate.

Time changes all things and clubs are not exempt. Besides, the driving force that keeps most clubs alive and working can be narrowed down to one or two key individuals. With so many of the web sites we love, there is only one person behind the whole thing and when their interests shift or they pass, that will be the end for those sites. I still fondly remember Nigel Clarke's web site along with other sites that are now gone.

The members of MICA with whom I've discussed the issue, for the most part, all had the same feelings about the club. They wanted to keep the printed magazine (even if it was also presented online). They wanted the auctions to continue. In fact, for the most part, they didn't want anything to change from how it was being run. So many of these clubs and sites embody the spirit of the people who found and run them. Without these people at the helm, they fade away.

For many of us older collectors, the days ahead are far shorter than the days behind. All too soon, our names will be the topic of a short lived post which announces our passing. In the next few years we will lose all of the authors of the books and guides we love. We will see more famous collections on the auction block and their models spread to the four corners of the world. We will see more web sites we love go dark. Younger collectors will lose the last connection to the people who made these models. We will lose the people who searched the hobby shops and toy stores to purchase the models new and those with the greatest knowledge of the regular wheel era history.

The younger collectors who have invested heavily in books and printed guides are the wise ones. Those who keep their own Stannard addendums, lists and who save articles and posts are the ones who will be the history guardians of the future. One thing that is certain; time and change marches on and with each new day there will be fewer of the "old guard" who breathed so much life into this hobby.

Speak for yourself. I'm going to live forever.
pmsl.

[nickjones]

No seriously, Great post Joe.

[David Tilley]

I was an active part of MICA for many years. After Paul Carr stopped doing the articles about what was new for Matchbox, I took up the mantle and prepared a report for each magazine. That was many years ago (late 1990s, early 2000s? I can't even remember it was that long ago). When they went online it changed to a quarterly report and I continued on with it. Kevin spoke to me at the last convention about the possibility of me taking over the club. With all the hours I work anyway I decided it would be too much of a responsibility for me. As I was still in my late 30s then he had a vision of me taking the reigns and keeping it moving forward for perhaps a quarter of a century. It was nice to be thought of that way, and had I been in a different position, I might have been able to do it. But I just knew I could not give it the attention it really needed. So I passed on the opportunity. I kept a really good relationship with Kevin throughout it all and continued to do my articles, and help out with anything else I could help with.

Then I prepared my last article for them and submitted it across as usual. I never got my usual response back. I emailed and heard nothing. I thought maybe he was just offline or something. I waited for the email to say the latest magazine was ready for downloading. I never got anything. I went on the site to see whether it was there and found nothing. A number of emails later with no response, I finally received a generic email from the new owner saying he was working on some things. I emailed offering my assistance and for any help with articles or anything. I never got a reply. Over the next year or so I got a few generic emails about things. Whenever I tried to reply I never got a response. So I just gave up. They obviously want nothing to do with me so I moved on to different things. I know when I am not wanted.

I don't even click on the site any more. I haven't had an email for a long time and didn't even know it was still going. Oh well.

[Tinman]

Speak for yourself. I'm going to live forever.
pmsl.

My first plan is to burden one of my daughters with the wife and I moving in. From that point on I plan to daily remind them how much they cost to raise and how much of an emotional toll that each of their screw-ups took on their mother and I. Next, I will critique their every adult decision and then complain how "unfair" every decision regarding our care may be. They will have to interrupt their schedule to drive us around everywhere. We will constantly ask for expensive items that they can't afford (then again remind them how "unfair" they are being when we don't get them). Whenever they can't perform to our desires, I plan to throw a fit telling them how they have "ruined my life."

Seriously, I just hope to one day pass quietly in my sleep and not suffer a long decimating, incapacitating illness. I've long given up any folly of immortality.

[GHOSTHUNTER]

I am loving all that Joe is saying in his above posts, I wish I were one of his neighbours, I would be round his house every Day listening to his outlook on life and the many tales he has yet to tell us, Joe my friend, you are one hell of a Man and you come across as one of the more mature elder statesman that some us can only look up to, keep it up mate, I love you and if there was a way I could visit you I would be on the next plain out.

David, thanks for the insight to your involvement with MICA. It is a shame when something as good as what you had has come to such a sad end and it is very un-professional of them to not acknowledge the good work you did for them or to give you a final statement about their position with the club and what they intend to do with your services and help and if they want you to still be involved with the club.

If members here on this forum start thinking along the lines of saving MICA from what seems an ultimate death and we need volunteers, I am sure you will be one of the first to hold his hand up and I will be standing next to you with my hand up. I would like to see it saved and morphed into this forum in some way and as soon as there is an on-line petition to rescue MICA, I want my name on it.

GHOSTHUNTER.

[radar]

Speak for yourself. I'm going to live forever.
pmsl.

My first plan is to burden one of my daughters with the wife and I moving in. From that point on I plan to daily remind them how much they cost to raise and how much of an emotional toll that each of their screw-ups took on their mother and I. Next, I will critique their every adult decision and then complain how "unfair" every decision regarding our care may be. They will have to interrupt their schedule to drive us around everywhere. We will constantly ask for expensive items that they can't afford (then again remind them how "unfair" they are being when we don't get them). Whenever they can't perform to our desires, I plan to throw a fit telling them how they have "ruined my life."

Seriously, I just hope to one day pass quietly in my sleep and not suffer a long decimating, incapacitating illness. I've long given up any folly of immortality.

Well said and so true as the (proud) father of two sons at Melbourne University. My younger son says I gotta be nice cos he and his brother will be the one selecting the "quality" of my nursing home when I have dementia.

Nevertheless he has some interest in model cars - no passion - would occasionally allow him to select from Australian Trax catalogue. Or when touring, ie Guinness factory in Ireland would always buy the "model car/van/lorry souvenir set".

[Tinman]

I am loving all that Joe is saying in his above posts, I wish I were one of his neighbours, I would be round his house every Day listening to his outlook on life and the many tales he has yet to tell us, <some text deleted>

Kevin, you flatter me too much with your comments. I’m not the interesting one in my household. That position falls to my wife Marilyn. She was an accomplished ballerina and danced for two of Canada’s major ballet companies. She was with the Royal Winepeg Ballet when she left her career as a ballerina and ballet instructor. Marilyn would dance for Queen Elizabeth, Prime Ministers from around the world and Presidents before leaving her position as the lead Ballerina of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. She traveled to the Soviet Union and danced with Mikhail Baryshnikov. She was a star of stage and screen during her dancing career.

She decided to abruptly leave the ballet and run away with the Circus for many more adventures. After leaving Royal Winepeg, she was on the road with the Circus for 4 years. The circus spends the winter on west coast of Central Florida. This close proximity would lead to our chance meeting. The Florida Railroad Museum owns several cars from the circus train that she lived on while being a member of the show. Marilyn has provided the museum with accurate information about the uses of the various circus train cars and equipment and related an in depth accounting of what life was like while living and traveling all of North America by rail with the circus.

One would think all that time living on a train might sour one to rail travel. She enjoys rail travel as much as I do and we’ve logged many miles on long distance trains. At one point we traveled so much on Florida trains that the crew members and station attendants knew us by name. They actually held a train at the station just for Marilyn on one eventful day when she was delayed arriving for her trip (they never did that for me). Another special treatment she received was the dining car staff would often prepare a healthy snack for her, between regular dining hours, if her blood sugar ran low.

She was a popular patron in the Club Car (the bar car/lounge) and the conductors would often upgrade her to First Class for a token amount (remarkable since we both always traveled on a rail pass and didn’t even purchase tickets or make reservations). She was also the only person I ever saw that Amtrak crew members would allow to stand in a vestibule and open the top half of the Dutch door just to get fresh air and view the scenery (something that’s strictly against the rules here in the U.S.). Her stories, of her time on the rails with the circus, was always a favorite with the older crew members.

Later, after going into a legal career she would specialize in real estate mortgages and title. When the economy began to fail, Marilyn was called to Washington D.C. and was instrumental in providing the language to close some legal loop holes in VA mortgages. Today, she travels around the country representing J.P. Morgan Chase in trials, hearings and depositions. She is one of the most knowledgeable people about the in’s and outs of home mortgages and title law that one will ever find. While still a Canadian citizen (and a resident alien in the USA), she has sponsored bipartisan meet the candidate forums and her views about the importance of local politics have been published in a national magazines.

She’s never let being a lifelong diabetic slow her down. She was the cover story on Canada’s Diabetes Association magazine. A giant mural of her and her dance partner at the Royal Winepeg Ballet Company were featured on the side of a building at an outdoor Canadian shopping mall for over two decades. She is at home on and in the waters of Florida just as she is in Canada. She enjoys spending time at her cabin in the woods on Sand Bay just as much as she enjoys the outdoors of Florida with me.

Last year, she became a citizen of the U.S. She now has dual citizenship in Canada and the U.S. (she’s the only person I know who legally holds more than one passport LOL). She has had as many adventures as me if not more. Here’s just one example: In her 50’s while we were on a pleasure boat with friends, she discovered that the onboard bar lacked Grand Mariner. We were off the coast of Jacksonville Beach and she had the captain pull the boat as close to shore as possible in front of the 1st Street Bar & Grille. To the amazement of everyone, she dove off the boat, swam into shore and walked up to the beach bar. She then convinced the bartender to give her a bottle of Grand Mariner and swam back (through the surf) with the bottle in hand. Now that’s a skill set that anyone can appreciate!

[motorman]

Sounds like your punching above your weight Joe being married to a celebrity!!!!