FSI and the future of Quest?

FSI and the future of Quest?

Post by KevinLFu » Wed, 25 Oct 1995 04:00:00



My impression has always been that Quest wanted to be the "educator"
rocket company and really didn't care about direct retail sales.  Maybe if
FSI goes belly up it's the perfect opportunity for Quest to embellish the
educator image -- they'll write a manual for teachers on how to build
their own motors. "Watch those fingers kids!"

The other factor in Quest's woes is/was the rumor that any distributor
handling Quest would lose the Estes line.

 
 
 

FSI and the future of Quest?

Post by Rob Powe » Wed, 25 Oct 1995 04:00:00


Ok, so Quest's primary distributer stops carrying Quest products and sells all
of their stock to Magnum.

Now FSI (who makes--made?--Quest's motors) closes its doors.

Doesn't sound too good for Quest. Can anyone possibly comment on how Quest is
doing? I'd personally be very bummed to see a second company take a hit this
year.

[and what's this with LOC selling its business???? Is there no money to be made
in rockets anymore?]

Rob Powers


 
 
 

FSI and the future of Quest?

Post by Rob Powe » Thu, 26 Oct 1995 04:00:00



Quote:
>Second?
>        Apogee
>        NCR (sold to Estes)
>        FSI
>        MRED (? Self-destruct ?)
>        LOC (? For sale ?)
>        Quest (?)
>Maybe they know something we don't.

I had totally forgotten about the others listed above. Now I'm really bummed.

Rob

 
 
 

FSI and the future of Quest?

Post by Lee Re » Sat, 28 Oct 1995 04:00:00


: Now FSI (who makes--made?--Quest's motors) closes its doors.

Is this right -- FSI makes/made Quest motors?  The first ones we ever
got CATO's splendidly -- burning fuel slug hurtling through the air.
However, two years ago, my 4th grade rocketry program did 75+ Quest
launches (A motors) with no problems.

: [and what's this with LOC selling its business???? Is there no money to be made
: in rockets anymore?]

Apparently there is money to be made with LOC.  A friend says that LOC
claims business is growing to fast, and is no longer the "fun, family
run business" it used to be.  For $350-400K it can be yours.

--
Lee Reep

 
 
 

FSI and the future of Quest?

Post by Mark Johns » Sat, 28 Oct 1995 04:00:00


Quote:

>        Apogee
>        NCR (sold to Estes)
>        FSI
>        MRED (? Self-destruct ?)
>        LOC (? For sale ?)
>        Quest (?)

In Ed's defense, Apogee is NOT dead. It's refocused to just distributing
motors...quite frankly, Ed wasn't making any money given the prices he was
able to charge and the limited market for competition-only parts and kits.
Plus, he was getting squeezed by a times-four wholesale price increase on his
Blackshaft tubing.

Apogee will be introducing a line of 10.5 mm black powder 1/4A, 1/2A, A, and B
motors in the next few months. The 1/2A's were demonstrated at NARAM in July
1995. Prices will be admittedly higher than Estes motors of comparable total
impulse but will be significantly lower than comparable composite motors.

Also...here's my understanding of North Coast. Although the effect is almost
the same, North Coast itself was NOT sold to Estes Industries. North Coast is
operating out of facilities at Penrose provided by Estes, maintains a distinct
catalog and product line, and has a distribution and marketing agreement with
Estes. North Coast president Matt Steele is also a full time employee of Estes
Industries at the present.

I don't have any information on the others right now. That LOC is for sale is
public information; I am also aware of the names of a few of the
prospective buyers, which is NOT public information, in my opinion, so don't
ask. Sorry.
======
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Visit our web page: http://www.symbios.com Wichita, KS  67226

 
 
 

FSI and the future of Quest?

Post by Jonathan Sivie » Sat, 28 Oct 1995 04:00:00


Quote:


>>        Apogee
>>        NCR (sold to Estes)
>>        FSI
>>        MRED (? Self-destruct ?)
>>        LOC (? For sale ?)
>>        Quest (?)
>In Ed's defense, Apogee is NOT dead. It's refocused to just distributing
>motors...quite frankly, Ed wasn't making any money given the prices he was
>able to charge and the limited market for competition-only parts and kits.
>Plus, he was getting squeezed by a times-four wholesale price increase on his
>Blackshaft tubing.

   Is there an alternate source for 18mm and 24mm phenolic tubing?  PML has
29mm, 38mm and so on, but does anyone sell the smaller stuff?

Jonathan

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FSI and the future of Quest?

Post by Stefan E. Jon » Sat, 28 Oct 1995 04:00:00




Quote:
>According to Bob Sanford, when Quest was starting up, Bill
>Stine tried to find the old AVI/MPC motor making machines, but
>FSI got there just before Bill and bought them.  There were no
>manuals (except for one Bill or Harry had!) and FSI's first
>attempts at getting a machine to work resulted in a blown
>machine.  Bill then approached FSI about trading his
>information for their manufacturing his motors.

AHA!  I knew it!  When I first saw Quest motors I saw the resemblance
to old AVI motors and theorized that Quest had somehow used its
Harry Stine connection to get the old machines.  I didn't guess
that FSI was involved.

Now, AVI made many sizes of motors, including 13mm, 24mm, and
35mm (Honest! Giant black powder E and F motors that were really
amazing things at the time.).  Were there machines for these?
Did FSI get them, or were they blatzed in the above-mentioned
accident?

There's a story here.

 
 
 

FSI and the future of Quest?

Post by Buzz McDermo » Sun, 29 Oct 1995 04:00:00



Quote:
>In Ed's defense, Apogee is NOT dead. It's refocused to just distributing
>motors...quite frankly, Ed wasn't making any money given the prices he was
>able to charge and the limited market for competition-only parts and kits.
>Plus, he was getting squeezed by a times-four wholesale price increase on his
>Blackshaft tubing.

>Apogee will be introducing a line of 10.5 mm black powder 1/4A, 1/2A, A, and B
>motors in the next few months. The 1/2A's were demonstrated at NARAM in July
>1995. Prices will be admittedly higher than Estes motors of comparable total
>impulse but will be significantly lower than comparable composite motors.

I talked to Ed (via email) a couple of days ago. He's going to try and keep
the BG and egglofter kits going. Doesn't yet know if he can, though.

Quote:
>Also...here's my understanding of North Coast. Although the effect is almost
>the same, North Coast itself was NOT sold to Estes Industries. North Coast is
>operating out of facilities at Penrose provided by Estes, maintains a distinct
>catalog and product line, and has a distribution and marketing agreement with
>Estes. North Coast president Matt Steele is also a full time employee of Estes
>Industries at the present.

Look for Estes/NCR announcements at the RCHTA show this weekend. NCR is not gone.
It's just being manufactured by Estes and sold as 'NCR by Estes'.

Quote:
>I don't have any information on the others right now. That LOC is for sale is
>public information; I am also aware of the names of a few of the
>prospective buyers, which is NOT public information, in my opinion, so don't
>ask. Sorry.

From what I've been able to figure out (all second and third hand and free
and worth every penny of that :-) is that LOC wasn't really for sale,
in its entirety. Rather, Ron has been soliciting for investors so that
he can grow the company.

Also, MRED is not out of business. I have verified that. It IS in litigation
at present, which means that it won't be producing much product for a while.
My understanding is that the intent is for the company to (eventually) come
out of litigation and resume active marketing and sales.

Also, Quest is not dead, either. It has gotten out of the only distributor
arrangement that it had. It seems to be having difficulty being picked up
by other distributors. It is still selling mail order, direct to hobby
distributors, and to educational outlets. I refer you to Countdown's
posted notice of a new shipment from Quest.

And by all accounts, FSI has truly shut down. Still not known if this is
'permanent' or not.

Buzz McDermott
Dallas, Texas

 
 
 

FSI and the future of Quest?

Post by kaplo.. » Tue, 31 Oct 1995 04:00:00


Quote:

> Look for Estes/NCR announcements at the RCHTA show this weekend. NCR is not gone.
> It's just being manufactured by Estes and sold as 'NCR by Estes'.

NCR was in the Estes booth, with Matt Steele and Dan Kafun both wearing
"Estes Green" shirts.

Quote:
>>I don't have any information on the others right now. That LOC is for sale is
>>public information; I am also aware of the names of a few of the
>>prospective buyers, which is NOT public information, in my opinion, so don't
>>ask. Sorry.

> From what I've been able to figure out (all second and third hand and free
> and worth every penny of that :-) is that LOC wasn't really for sale,
> in its entirety. Rather, Ron has been soliciting for investors so that
> he can grow the company.

Not what I heard this weekend. I'm going to try and get the straight info
from LOC. IMHO, Ron Schultz is 90% of what made LOC what it is, and LOC
loosing Ron (and Deb) won't be LOC any more. The hobby will be poorer if
this happens...

Quote:
> Also, Quest is not dead, either. It has gotten out of the only distributor
> arrangement that it had. It seems to be having difficulty being picked up
> by other distributors. It is still selling mail order, direct to hobby
> distributors, and to educational outlets. I refer you to Countdown's
> posted notice of a new shipment from Quest.

I'll be in Phoenix next week on business. On my agenda is to contact Quest
and chew the fat with whoever I can get together with.


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