Irvine now a part of OS?

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Geoff Sanders - 27 May 2006 23:59 GMT

I just noticed on the British Ripmax site that the newest Irvine engines
are now made by OS. Did OS buy Irvine, or have they farmed out
production to Japan? In this day of farming out darned near everything
to China, this seems quite an amazing development! Anybody know for
sure what's up?

Reply to this Message

Abel Pranger - 28 May 2006 07:35 GMT

>I just noticed on the British Ripmax site that the newest Irvine engines
>are now made by OS. Did OS buy Irvine, or have they farmed out
>production to Japan? In this day of farming out darned near everything
>to China, this seems quite an amazing development! Anybody know for
>sure what's up?

Dunno, but Irvine was long the exclusive distributor of OS in the UK.
Also ignorant of what Irvine engines sell for in the UK, but in the US
they sold for prices comparable to OS........when they sold at all.
Seems like an instance of "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em."

Abel

Reply to this Message

Gavin - 28 May 2006 09:45 GMT

>>I just noticed on the British Ripmax site that the newest Irvine engines
>>are now made by OS. Did OS buy Irvine, or have they farmed out
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>Also ignorant of what Irvine engines sell for in the UK, but in the US
>they sold for prices comparable to OS........when they sold at all.

Slightly cheaper than OS but not hugely cheaper.

They were well made though..

It's probably more to do with the company owning Irvine taking over
Ripmax, and consolidating lines. MDS have gone out of the Ripmax
catalog as a result of the takeover

>Seems like an instance of "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em."
>
>Abel

Reply to this Message

Geoff Sanders - 28 May 2006 16:38 GMT

>Slightly cheaper than OS but not hugely cheaper.

Here in the US Irvine is more expensive than OS, but that's probably due
to the dollar's relative weakness to the pound and to the distributor's
perception of Irvine as a premium brand.

>They were well made though..

Very much so! I have five Irvines to three OS. The quality may suffer
now, though, since Ripmax say they're going to the OS nickel plated
sleeve. Time will tell. Webra uses nickel that doesn't peel, so it can
be done right.

> MDS have gone out of the Ripmax
>catalog as a result of the takeover

MDS disappeared here several years ago. I wonder if they're still in
business. Decent engines, horrible carburetors, IMHO.

Geoff

Reply to this Message

Model Forum / Radio Controlled / Air Models / May 2006

Irvine now a part of OS?