"Life Like - Hong Kong". I didn't know that we were doing
plastic "China" things back that far, except for Oriental brass
engines & cars??

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

A lot of model railroaders are genuinely suprised when they learn the
first US model railroad manufacturer to do extensive business in Asia
(for other than brass) was Athearn -- they were Sanda Kan's first US
customer for model train products back in the 1950s. At that point,
the SDK was still in Taiwan, as the founder had escaped from mainland
China.

That individual (who is a wonderful, highly regarded gentleman)
eventually moved to the US and settled near Baltimore . . . he has
had a long term business and personal relationship with the principal
at Life-Like until they both retired a few years ago.

Sanda Kan is one of the larger Chinese companies, and it is today
owned (primarily) by other US (non model railroad related) investment
firms . . .


So, no, not surprised at all to see Life-Like Hong Kong from 20+
years ago -- if you look hard enough you'll likely find "Life-Like
Taiwan" as well.

Marty McGuirk