Author Topic: Lone Star Engine Works  (Read 5707 times)

Offline maury

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Lone Star Engine Works
« on: July 14, 2017, 08:05:30 PM »
This announcement is to inform y'all that Lone Star Engine Works will be shutting
down this year. Two main factors have contributed to this. The accelerating decline
in the interest in casting kits is the main one. The second is the loss of my
iron foundry this spring. I have been able to connect with another foundry, but the
lagistics are very bad.

I have several of each of my kits in stock and a bunch of spare parts available for support. I
plan to keep my doors open until the inventory is gone.

I want to thank everyone who has purchased a kit from me, and I will be available
to support those folks who have questions or need spare parts. It has been a joy working
with the many hobbiests who have supported me, and who have enabled me and encouraged
me to develop the kits I have brought to the hobby.

I won't be going away, I have a lifetime of machining to do on the kits under my bench
which I have collected over the years.

I believe my web site is down, It was supposed to stay up until next month, but I
guess the host got in a hurry. To contact me, send email to: maury@ecpi.com, or call
512-260-8215. Leave a message if I'm not available.

Thanks,
maury
"The trouble with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money."... Margaret Thatcher

Offline b.lindsey

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Re: Lone Star Engine Works
« Reply #1 on: July 14, 2017, 08:28:25 PM »
Maury, sorry to hear this, but certainly understandable in this day and age. I can well imagine the travel to various shows gets a bit cumbersome at times too. Very happy to know that you will remain in the hobby though even if in a slightly different role. All the best going forward.

Bill

Offline J.L.

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Re: Lone Star Engine Works
« Reply #2 on: July 14, 2017, 09:37:40 PM »
Hello Maury,

I am new to this model engineering hobby and admit that I have not had the opportunity to support your foundry with purchases. I am saddened that your business is shutting down. It is almost as though an era is ending for many hobbiests in this field. Times are a'chang'in.

Enjoy many hours with those castings under the bench!

Cheers...John



Offline gbritnell

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Re: Lone Star Engine Works
« Reply #3 on: July 14, 2017, 09:59:49 PM »
Maury,
We have known each other for quite a few years and I consider it a pleasure to have this friendship.
I'm sorry for the turn of events that has caused your business to cease operations.
As all of us 'old timers' have said, we just don't have new, meaning younger, fellows coming into the hobby. Take care and enjoy the time you'll spend machining on your stash of castings.
Hopefully we'll see each other at NAMES or Cabin Fever.
George D. Britnell
Talent unshared is talent wasted.

Offline kvom

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Re: Lone Star Engine Works
« Reply #4 on: July 15, 2017, 12:56:50 AM »
I have seen some of Maury's plan sets, and even without castings some of these engines could be built.

I hope we'll still see you at the shows.

Offline Dave Otto

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Re: Lone Star Engine Works
« Reply #5 on: July 15, 2017, 01:18:24 AM »
Hi Maury

I'm sad to hear about Loan Star Engine Works, I guess I do understand that for everything there comes a time. You had a good run and made a great contribution to our hobby, I would rather be hearing about a new and different engine kit that you will be offering but that is the way it goes.

The lack of good foundries and demand is no doubt changing the engine kit landscape. The hobby will always be here in one form or another but as time goes on we as model engineers may need to be more creative on our projects. Me, at the rate I work, I probably have 10-20 years of things on the shelf to work on. Two of them are kits I purchased from you. I enjoyed working on the Goulds pump project with you and will think of you when I see it pumping away; it is really a nice piece.

Anyway, enjoy your time in the shop and garden and please don't be a stranger.

Best regards,
Dave

Offline gerritv

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Re: Lone Star Engine Works
« Reply #6 on: July 15, 2017, 02:16:26 AM »
Sad to hear the closing of another business. Some of us are late starting in the hobby, perhaps too late :-(

A snapshot of your web site can be viewed from the Internet Archive's Way Back Machine: https://web.archive.org/web/20170216184646/http://www.lonestarengineworks.com/ at least the way it was in Feb 2017.

Gerrit
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Online Jasonb

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Re: Lone Star Engine Works
« Reply #7 on: July 15, 2017, 07:54:35 AM »
Always sad to hear of a supplier closing up shop but as has been said the market is getting smaller and usable foundries fewer and far between. I hope this will give you some additional time to spend on your own projects in the shop.

Are the patterns going to be going to a new home ? maybe Doug at Minicastings like the Monitor did as it would be a shame if these subjects were lost.

J

Offline Myrickman

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Re: Lone Star Engine Works
« Reply #8 on: July 20, 2017, 01:03:08 AM »
Maury- very sad news but I understand. It was a real pleasure seeing you at the shows and your handiwork. The Swan kit was top shelf in terms of casting quality and documentation. Hopefully someone will have the pattern torch passed to them. Looking forward to your future endeavors. All the very best, Paul

Offline jeff l

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Re: Lone Star Engine Works
« Reply #9 on: July 27, 2017, 02:11:48 AM »
Very Sad news for sure Maury .
 Years ago selling casting to build a model was much easier to do, today young people aren't interested in building but I have found they are interested in models already built.
 When I made the decision to take over Historic Models and Reproductions I knew that selling the casting wouldn't generate much revenue ,I wanted to at least keep the models available as Dennis did so much research and work getting them to market .Jeff

Offline maury

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Re: Lone Star Engine Works
« Reply #10 on: August 02, 2017, 03:52:17 PM »
Y'all, I'm a bit slow about posting back, it's been crazy here.We have been remodeling our house, and it's been a LONG slog. Been at it since last November. It's mostly over now and I can get back into the shop some. I was able to upgrade my shop with some nice cabinets and granite we removed from the house. See the pics.

I want to thank everyone for the kind words and the support you have given me over the years. It's been a lot of fun supplying kits and new designs to the hobby. (soon I'll be posting a new thread on a new design).

Thanks,
maury
"The trouble with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money."... Margaret Thatcher

Offline Dave Otto

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Re: Lone Star Engine Works
« Reply #11 on: August 02, 2017, 04:26:35 PM »
That's a nice addition to your shop Maury!

Dave

Offline blopoulos

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Re: Lone Star Engine Works
« Reply #12 on: July 15, 2021, 09:22:54 PM »
Hello, does anyone have current contact info for Maury @ Lone Star?  I just tried his e-mail and it does not work

Thank you

bill

Online Jo

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Re: Lone Star Engine Works
« Reply #13 on: July 15, 2021, 09:28:23 PM »
Hi Bill,

Would you like to introduce yourself to the membership and tell us about your interest in making model engines before you start asking favours of them....  :)

Jo
Enjoyment is more important than achievement.

Offline maury

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Re: Lone Star Engine Works
« Reply #14 on: July 15, 2021, 10:06:31 PM »
Bill, thank you for asking. Maury at Lone Star is still around. Lone Star Engine Works has closed up shop. Some of the designs went to Minicastings. If you need to contact me, send a PM through this forum.

Thanks,
maury
"The trouble with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money."... Margaret Thatcher

 

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