Here's what I know about Brooklin...

Thanks John. 

Posted by: @jkuvakas

If he had not stepped in when he did, Brooklin would have been gone over eight years ago

I said this exact thing 8 years ago, and have been saying it since.

Bulgari pulled Brooklin out of a hole and has been essentially financing Brooklins losses for the last 8 years.....this is not a dig at Brooklin, but the comments I have read online blaming Bulgari for the recent events are troubling.

Brooklins models improved drastically since Bulgari took over....I wouldn't buy a Brooklin model until the improvements were implemented.

Thank you for your worldly wisdom John, I agree with you 100%.

This from Jack Dodds who is struggling with his phone at the moment,

" My view on this news as an "outsider" with very limited direct knowledge of Mr. Bulgari or Brooklin operations is of course quite simple.  Bulgari thankfully is a car lover who, like all of us, also loves quality models.  He saw a failing model company and had the financial resources to rescue it.  Attempts to date to make it viable included upgrading and diversifying the traditional Brooklin product and exposing it to a much larger segment of the public.  It is important to remember that the traditional Brooklin product that we all loved was no longer a viable business model and would have ceased production if not for Bulgari's interest.  It now seems that their initial business model has not been as successful as hoped, so operations have now been streamlined; sadly at the cost of jobs.  This is a sad reality of the times we live in.  We all have seen or experienced similar business reorganizations occur in recent years and inevitably there are functions made redundant which negatively  impact staff.  No one wants to see this occur of course but the alternative of ceasing operations is obviously much worse.  Times change and Brooklin Models has to continue to change to remain viable in our fast changing business world.  All we can do as model enthusiasts is try to support them and appreciate the challenges they are trying to overcome.  Lastly, let's  not lose sight of the fact that Mr. Bulgari is a billionaire and as such he doesn't  need the struggling Brooklin Models company to increase his wealth; nor does he need the associated headaches.  IMHO he has taken this project on simply because he loves cars and wants Brooklin Models to continue.  He is the only person who has stepped up to do this.  I choose to support Brooklin as well as I can within my limited budget and wish them all the best."

Very good points, John ! Yes, some people tend to jump to conclusions and pick someone or some medium used for the models to blame ...... they should re-think their incorrect views. Hopefully, things will settle down into a viable situation and there will be Brooklin models around a long time. We should appreciate someone like Mr. Bulgari stepped forward and also remember that their white metal models are among the best out there.

Just musing about the future of scale models made of white metal which I believe is a lead based material.   I have loved and collected Brooklin models for decades, but in recent years they have been labeled by the state of California under their proposition 65 as a health hazard.   Warnings come first but sometimes transition into prohibitions.   It galls me that even in another state, the California law apparently requires my purchases to be labeled as such.   Will the day come when white metal products are prohibited by some  (overreaching) legislation?

@john-quilter John, you should be glad you left California when you did and avoided the rush. This Prop 65 label is on EVERYTHING! I found it on a package of seaweed for human consumption from Trader Joe's!

John, your insights as well as those of Jack Dodds help put into perspective the complex factors facing Brooklin Models.  

Posted by: @john-quilter

California

Not making a political statement....just posting a fact....you get what you vote for, and sometimes you get what somebody else voted for 🤗 

I live in Taxachusetts where the brave 'independent' single mothers get everything for free, so I am getting what somebody else voted for 😫 

@john-quilter Brooklin said in their statement the market changed and suddenly made the decision to shut down their operations. They just realized the situation changed after investing 4 months ago in a costly move and relocation????? What's that? Is this sound business acumen?

The bottom line is they use lead in their products and it needs to be advertised. Fine.

This may be the reason they don't sell anymore through dealers because this label you posted a picture is crucial for import duties and regulations and country of origin. Again, it's fine.  Who sells Brooklin models as an agent in USA? Nobody.

Now again, somebody has to explain me why I should still buy a new overpriced white metal model when the content is lead?

Whitemetal is an alloy of lead, tin and other trace elements.  Different combinations give different properties, so I am not certain there is lead in every model car.  In any case, it is painted and not a toy, so it is perfectly safe for us.  As an engineer, I am always interested in exactly what alloy Brooklin, SMTS, and others use, but I think it may be company secrets.  They found the 'best' alloy and don't want others to know...

Taken from the page of the same name from the route 66 website.....

The making of a white metal model

1. A brass master is carefully made by hand out of sheet brass by a skilled model maker taking hundreds of hours. When the brass master is complete a rubber mold is made for the various parts that will be needed in making the finished model.

2. A special alloy of white metal, a specific temperature, a specific speed, a specific time and other exact measures must be incorporated to cast the white metal model. These are cast one at a time.

3. After being cast, the parts are carefully removed from the rubber molds. Flashing is carefully removed and the parts are then prepared for either painting or chrome plating. The windows are vacu-formed. The tires are made of a special compound and parts are readied for assembly. Parts are all assembled by hand and any additional painting such as tail lights will be done at this time.

4. Some of the more intricate designs such as emblems etc. are photo-etched and attached to the brass masters prior to making the rubber molds, thus achieving fine detail.

5. As you can see much work goes into making an individual White Metal Model as opposed to inexpensive die-cast models which are produced by the hundreds of thousands. White Metal Models are produced only in small quantities, thus making them truly collectible miniatures.

And a video explaining the difference in white metal versus other materials, brought to us by John K.

Another video showing the complex stages of making a white metal model.

I have my 3rd white metal model from Buz (rt 66 models) in the last 30 days coming in the mail today, and I couldn't be more excited.

@ben-lampson 

I have the same 1959 Pontiac from Buz, except in a different color. It’s very nice.

Also, what are the other two models from Buz?

@ed-davis

The other 2 models were the Conquest 1958 Cadillac series 75 limo (which I got for $200 due to it being the model of the month at rt. 66, with a $75 savings) and the Conquest 1947 Chevrolet Stylemaster.....the Stylemaster is a lot nicer than I thought it would be.

The new Pontiac Bonneville will sit next to the convertible Bonneville that Buz sent me a while back.

What color is your sport sedan? 

Do you also have the convertible?

@ben-lampson These are the three 1959 Pontiacs I have:

Bonneville Safari Wagon in Concord Blue Poly by Conquest

Bonneville Convertible in Mandalay Red by Madison

Bonneville Four Door Hardtop in Canyon Copper and Cameo Ivory by Madison