Couplers

[Steggy]

Country singer Tom T. Hall had it, when he once sang "When gas was 30 cents a gallon ..."

I'm old enough to recall when a dollar’s worth of gas got me around all week, and I was being extravagant if I spent five dollars on a date.

Of course, in those days, a decent wage for a full-time employee was $3.00 per hour, with no benefits. The kind of work an average high school student would perform paid much less. My first job was stocking shelves at an A&P supermarket, which paid $1.25 per hour. I worked two hours in the evening after school and six hours on Saturday. My weekly income before taxes was a whopping $20.00.

That said, recent government policies have substantially accelerated the rate of inflation, and right now a dollar is hardly worth anything. It definitely won't get you around all week.

[Dick_Morris]

"It's not more costly over the years than for example skiing"

When someone asks me what a steam locomotive costs I tell it costs as much a a boat. Of course, like locomotives, boats cover a wide price range and good luck or sweat equity can make them a lot more affordable.

However, one instance of inflation caught me today. I bought a pound of aluminum TIG rod. $25!

[Fender]

I think that modern-day modelers are very complacent. When looking at what live steamers built in the 1930s and 1940s, and considering what they had to work with, is very startling! Admittedly, most locos were 1/2” or 3/4” scale. No laser cutting, no milling machines, and the lucky people had access to a 9” lathe! Most everything was made by hand with files and hacksaws.
I think our expectations have grown significantly over the years, but there is no doubt in my mind that the dedicated modeler can still accomplish a lot on a limited budget, by substituting their time, energy and ingenuity for expensive materials.

[pat1027]

On top of increased foundry demand the cost of pig iron is up over 50% this year and over double what it was a couple years ago. Russia and Ukraine are large pig suppliers and their material is off the world market. The large U.S. foundries are out trying to buy all the pig iron they can get their hands on. Magnesium ferrosilicon are also also in short supply.

[Bill Shields]

I think that modern-day modelers are very complacent. When looking at what live steamers built in the 1930s and 1940s, and considering what they had to work with, is very startling! Admittedly, most locos were 1/2” or 3/4” scale. No laser cutting, no milling machines, and the lucky people had access to a 9” lathe! Most everything was made by hand with files and hacksaws.
I think our expectations have grown significantly over the years, but there is no doubt in my mind that the dedicated modeler can still accomplish a lot on a limited budget, by substituting their time, energy and ingenuity for expensive materials.

Charlie Purinton.had a 9" south bend and a drill press for his machinery. He said that when he was young nobody had any $ and everybody learned how to do things. Today everyone as money and machines and nobody knows how to do things.

If a person does not have $90 for couplers then feel free to cut some out of bar.

[Soot n' Cinders]

Yeah, with a few tools and some ingenuity you can make a pair of arch bar trucks and you can go back to link and pin (drawbars) instead of automatic couplers. We’ve just become spoiled with the options available.
The hobby can be done inexpensive but on average it is not a poor man’s hobby.

[RONALD]

Here is a site that lists the daily price of precious metals way at the top:

Iron/steel and it's associated alloying elements, and brasses & bronzes are not considered precious by jewlers.

https://www.riogrande.com

[Fender]

Since when are 1 1/2 scale couplers worth 91 dollars a pair ???

Here you go. Twenty-five dollars per pair, including a link and two pins. These were purchased from a member here. He can chime in if he wishes.

[hoppercar]

Nobody wants those...lol....must be an April fool's...lol

[SZuiderveen]

No, it’s not an April Fool joke! ! For sale for $25/pair. Can get 4 pair in small flat rate box @ $9.45.

szuidervee(at)aol.com.

Regards,

Steve Zuiderveen

[djjh87]

With chain requirements link and pin is a viable alternative. We used link and pin on our 2 foot equipment . Jim