RMweb Gold martin_wynne Posted September 17, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 17, 2012 Information provided by Andrew Jukes: PRESS RELEASE – 18 September 2012 An announcement concerning C&L Finescale Modelling Ltd. and Exactoscale Ltd. C&L Finescale Modelling are to take responsibility for and become the sole supplier of the Exactoscale product range. Major changes are to take place in the provision of track and other model railway components with the Bristol-based C&L Finescale becoming the sole supplier of the excellent range of products currently provided by Exactoscale. The Exactoscale products will be incorporated into the C&L range and customers will be able to purchase items for next day dispatch at the C&L website http://www.finescale.org.uk. The full Exactoscale range of turnout kits, track components, loco, coach and wagon wheels, wagon chassis and gearboxes will remain available. In due course there may be some simplification of the combined range, the aim being to carry the range forward with new developments. Pete Llewellyn, the owner of C&L said: “This is an exciting time for customers of both businesses. The changes in management and availability will bring the excellent Exactoscale range to a wider audience and will allow for direct web-based purchasing, with next day dispatch”. Pete added “At C&L, we have a good reputation for the breadth of our product range and for the level of our customer service. Exactoscale have been producing top quality components for a number of years and these changes will enable us to improve the standard of our products and bring together components that complement each other”. It is ironic how things have turned out for one well known modelling personality, Len Newman, who was the founder of C&L many years ago. After selling the business in the 1980s, Len went on to acquire and run Exactoscale with fellow director Andrew Jukes. Under the new arrangements, Len will now work for C&L as a technical adviser with responsibility for developing and managing new products. Andrew will provide advice and financial support for the development of some long anticipated additions to the Exactoscale track range, but will have no direct involvement in the C&L business. At Scaleforum on 29th/30th September, both businesses will have separate trade stands for the last time. Exactoscale will stop processing orders on 12th October 2012. The Exactoscale range will then be moved from Essex to Bristol and added to the C&L web site to allow for direct online purchasing. C&L will commence responsibility for the Exactoscale range from Monday 5th November, 2012. Outstanding orders for Exactoscale products and orders received between 12th October and 5th November will be dealt with as soon as possible after 5th November. Customers are requested to wait until 5th November if at all possible and to then make use of the C&L web site’s online ordering facility. Orders for existing C&L products will not be affected and will be available as normal during this period. Pete finished by saying: “Whilst this is an exciting time for us, it is also a daunting prospect as we have to learn the details of hundreds of new products as well as getting them photographed and available on the C&L web site, ready for our start-up on 5th November. There may even be a few teething problems to begin with as our staff become familiar with the new product range, and even where things are located in our warehouse! However, we feel that this is the right time to make this move to enable us to reach a wider audience and further develop the product range” For further information and regular updates on the implementation of these changes, please see the C&L Website at http://www.finescale.org.uk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueeighties Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 That, is a fantastic piece of news. Exactoscale have a superb superb product range, coupled with C and L's excellent delivery times and service, major benefits all round for us punters. A big thumbs up from me Best, Lee. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
C&L Owner Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 PRESS RELEASE – 18 September 2012 An announcement concerning C&L Finescale Modelling Ltd. and Exactoscale Ltd. C&L Finescale Modelling are to take responsibility for and become the sole supplier of the Exactoscale product range Major changes are to take place in the provision of track and other model railway components with the Bristol-based C&L Finescale becoming the sole supplier of the excellent range of products currently provided by Exactoscale. The Exactoscale products will be incorporated into the C&L range and customers will be able to purchase items for next day dispatch at the C&L website www.finescale.org.uk. The full Exactoscale range of turnout kits, track components, loco, coach and wagon wheels, wagon chassis and gearboxes will remain available. In due course there may be some simplification of the combined range, the aim being to carry the range forward with new developments. Pete Llewellyn, the owner of C&L said: “This is an exciting time for customers of both businesses. The changes in management and availability will bring the excellent Exactoscale range to a wider audience and will allow for direct web-based purchasing, with next day dispatch”. Pete added “At C&L, we have a good reputation for the breadth of our product range and for the level of our customer service. Exactoscale have been producing top quality components for a number of years and these changes will enable us to improve the standard of our products and bring together components that complement each other”. It is ironic how things have turned out for one well known modelling personality, Len Newman, who was the founder of C&L many years ago. After selling the business in the 1980s, Len went on to acquire and run Exactoscale with fellow director Andrew Jukes. Under the new arrangements, Len will now work for C&L as a technical adviser with responsibility for developing and managing new products. Andrew will provide advice and financial support for the development of some long anticipated additions to the Exactoscale track range, but will have no direct involvement in the C&L business. At Scaleforum on 29th/30th September, both businesses will have separate trade stands for the last time. Exactoscale will stop processing orders on 12th October 2012. The Exactoscale range will then be moved from Essex to Bristol and added to the C&L web site to allow for direct online purchasing. C&L will commence responsibility for the Exactoscale range from Monday 5th November, 2012. Outstanding orders for Exactoscale products and orders received between 12th October and 5th November will be dealt with as soon as possible after 5th November. Customers are requested to wait until 5th November if at all possible and to then make use of the C&L web site’s online ordering facility. Orders for existing C&L products will not be affected and will be available as normal during this period. Pete finished by saying: “Whilst this is an exciting time for us, it is also a daunting prospect as we have to learn the details of hundreds of new products as well as getting them photographed and available on the C&L web site, ready for our start-up on 5th November. There may even be a few teething problems to begin with as our staff become familiar with the new product range, and even where things are located in our warehouse! However, we feel that this is the right time to make this move to enable us to reach a wider audience and further develop the product range” For further information and regular updates on the implementation of these changes, please see the C&L Website at www.finescale.org.uk ----------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you for reading Pete Llewellyn Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sulzer27jd Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 Always a mixed blessing with disadvantages in losing diversification and an innovative supplier, yet advantages in a one-stop-shop and great service. Best of luck to C&L though, I am looking forward to seeing this work. If only Ultrascale were available on next day delivery! J Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Y Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 Topics now merged. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
iak Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 An interesting move methinks. Here is to its success and development. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 Always a mixed blessing with disadvantages in losing diversification and an innovative supplier..... Buy now whilst stocks last? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Oldddudders Posted September 18, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 18, 2012 I used to know an Andrew Jukes. I think he had worked on RB211, then the Central Line refurbishment, before joining BR as Investment Adviser to the Board in the late '80s. He then went on to head up Eversholt ROSCO. Intrigued to know if it's the same chap! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jol Wilkinson Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 I used to know an Andrew Jukes. I think he had worked on RB211, then the Central Line refurbishment, before joining BR as Investment Adviser to the Board in the late '80s. He then went on to head up Eversholt ROSCO. Intrigued to know if it's the same chap! Probably, I have heard that he made his fortune from his role/position in BR when it was privatised. Fortunately he invested some of it in Exactoscale. I infer from the PR that C&L will be the "distributor" (MSE currently retail some Exactoscale items). Perhaps new poduct development will still be in the hands of Len Newman. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 I used to know an Andrew Jukes. I think he had worked on RB211, then the Central Line refurbishment, before joining BR as Investment Adviser to the Board in the late '80s. He then went on to head up Eversholt ROSCO. Intrigued to know if it's the same chap! Presumably not this man Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Decapod Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 No, this man http://www.scalefour.org/shows/scaleforum2009/traders/traders09.html Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Oldddudders Posted September 18, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 18, 2012 Presumably not this man Er - no! A J Jukes would be a bit older than that, is a bit older than me! But LNWR modeller confirms it - the ROSCO sales were a cause celebre at the time. All that happened was that there was no market in railways, and as the ROSCOs were among the first items out of the BR door, few were bidding high. Within a short time the true value emerged and those who'd been prepared to take the risk did well. Then and now I find it hard to blame anyone - Government, its advisers, or certainly the players who came away with the dosh - for how the sale was conducted. ISTR the first TOC sales were similarly beneficial to the winners, while the later sales were conducted with a much tougher edge, as everyone looked for a slice of this new action. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 No, this man http://www.scalefour.../traders09.html From that angle, he starts to resemble Jonathan Pryce in the latter's media mogul role in Tomorrow Never Dies...... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Oldddudders Posted September 18, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 18, 2012 No, this man http://www.scalefour.../traders09.html Yup! TVM! An engineer who worked on a major jet engine probably understands tolerances down to P4 standards! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_long Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 I hope we don't lose some of the exactoscale track components in favour of the home brand, as IMHO the exactoscale are a finer product in a lot of cases. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Taylor Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 I wish all concerned the best for the future and hope that we are left with the best combined comprehensive product range. I think we should also take this opportunity to thank Len for all his help and enthusiasm over the years and to wish him all the best now some of the pressures have him been reduced...... subtext: Len, any chance of NER heel and narrow chairs ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
C&L Owner Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 I have a few points to make which will hopefully clear up any misunderstandings that may have arisen from my Press Release. From C&L's point of view, this change will enable us to use the Exactoscale tooling, which is both newer and more robust than some of C&L’s, to continue to produce the Exactoscale products, allowing some of the older and less reliable C&L tools to be retired. The C&L tools were made almost 30 years ago and were never intended for such a long lease of life. The Exactoscale tools were made by Len to last, and have specially hardened parts so that they will not wear out. The products that they produce are therefore going to be of a higher standard in most cases. I want to maintain the standards that Exactoscale have set and to use Len's skills and abilities to finish off the products that he and Andrew started to develop, but never got into production. By the time that has happened, I will have been able to take stock and see what other C&L items to drop/replace with Exactoscale ones. I will then be able to task Len with designing and developing products to fill in any gaps in the range. They will need to be commercially viable, but he will then bring those into production without the hindrance of having to deal with packing stock and sending out orders, which has been his problem in recent times. In effect, he will go back to doing what he does best! I will take possession of the current Exactoscale stock and store it at my premises, in order to be able to send out next day. I will be able to replenish stocks by using the Exactoscale tooling and have already visited/spoken to various of their suppliers, with the intention of carrying on using the same firms, in order to maintain the high standard that Exactoscale customers have come to expect. Len, Andrew and I all see this as a potential ‘win win’ for all of us and our customers. Andrew wants to take time out to concentrate on his own modelling and other projects. Len wants to get back to design and development work, and I want to improve the standard of the products that C&L sell, and to drive the business forward by bringing on new products, which has not been happening at either C&L or Exactoscale for some time. Customers might worry about all their eggs being in one basket, and I understand that. However, unless the 'basket' is big enough to both survive and grow, then neither business will succeed, and customers will be left with no one supplying these products at all. The cost of tooling for new products is currently so expensive, I can't see anyone coming forward to pay for 30 or 40 tools to start a new range, when the chances of recovering their investment, in what is actually a very specialised and small marketplace, are virtually nil. I therefore hope that the majority will see that we have done this with the best motives, and with a lot of effort and hard work, hopefully it will succeed and bring the products that you want to the market place, available to all at a reasonable but realistic price. Pete Llewellyn Owner of C&L Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
barrowroad Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 I'm not unduly surprised by this announcement and as Pete says I agree it is a win win suitation for all concerned. I look forward to collecting some more Exactoscale chairs from the C&L premises in due course Robin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hayfield Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 Always a mixed blessing with disadvantages in losing diversification and an innovative supplier, yet advantages in a one-stop-shop and great service. Best of luck to C&L though, I am looking forward to seeing this work. If only Ultrascale were available on next day delivery! J I hope we don't lose some of the exactoscale track components in favour of the home brand, as IMHO the exactoscale are a finer product in a lot of cases. I use parts from both companies and to be quite honest considering the problems of obtaining Exactoscale parts in the past having C&L as the distributor is super news as is - Len will now work for C&L as a technical adviser with responsibility for developing and managing new products. Dont forget Len was responsable for C&L's beginnings under K&L as well as C&L, the parts are interchangeable and in some cases duplicated, if this means more chair varients come on to the market then it can only be for the better. As for Peter Llewellyn, he has taken the existing service ( which was good under Brian) levels of C&L and improved them. He is extreemly enthuastic about model railways and is ever present on the exhibition circuit. With Peter and Len (and not forgetting Andrew) working together and combining their skills, the outlook for hand built track components has never been better in recent years. I for one would like to wish all 3 the best of luck for the future. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_long Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 Thanks for the extra input Pete. Good luck with the venture, anything that will safegaurd either business is worth it! Best regards Dave Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Prism Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 Thanks for that strategic statement, Pete. Is it perhaps an opportune moment to decide whether you are 'C+L' or 'C&L'? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Fatadder Posted September 18, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 18, 2012 All sounds promising, particularly if it results in more development. A question, is the intention to continue to develop the driving wheel range? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
C&L Owner Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 Thanks for that strategic statement, Pete. Is it perhaps an opportune moment to decide whether you are 'C+L' or 'C&L'? Brian's company was LCP International Ltd.and he used 'C+L Finescale' as the trading name. When I went to register 'C+L Finescale Modelling Ltd' as the new company name for my business, I discovered that you are not allowed to use '+' in a company name. I spoke to the people at Companies House and they told me I was OK with 'C&L', so that is what I used. All of our adverts etc use the '&', but there were hundreds of header cards that I inherited from Brian that had C+L. Obviously I was not going to throw them all out and buy new ones, having just started up! As luck would have it I am getting close to using them all up and so I will design new ones that reflect the new business situation. I have not sat and thought about this as yet in any detail, but whatever I do, it will have to be 'C&L' to be consistent with the our company name. I hope this explains the inconsistency, which I hope will soon end! Pete Owner of C&L Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Prism Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 Thankyou, Pete, for that clarification. I suspected the naming dilemma might be caused by Dickensian practices at Companies House! 'C&L' certainly reflects the vast majority of colloquial use by us punters. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flymo748 Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 At Scaleforum on 29th/30th September, both businesses will have separate trade stands for the last time. A quick note to say that the Scalefour Society welcomes this development, and the potential benefits that it will bring to finescale modelling as a whole. The Scaleforum organisers are currently looking at whether the planned layout of stands can be re-arranged at the last minute to enable C&L and Exactoscale to be placed next to each other. If this is possible we hope that this will symbolise getting the new combination off to the best possible start. To see whether we are successful in achieving this, come along to Scaleforum 2012 at Leatherhead on 29 and 30 September and see for yourself! Cheers Paul Willis Deputy Chairman Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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