More on Lionel HO

[jlong]

Lionel posted this on their facebook page a month ago.

Lionel Trains
August 10 at 8:05 AM ·
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!

Lionel is pleased to announce that it has agreed to a deal with ATI Model Products Inc., doing business as Model Power, to acquire a broad range of model train tooling used to produce the Model Power/Mantua product lines. Final details of the agreement are being worked through and the tooling is expected to transfer to Lionel in September of 2018. No previously produced product is contemplated in the transaction. This strategic acquisition will accelerate Lionel’s expansion in the HO category, while adding complementary products and accessories to other portions of its business. More details will be shared as they become available.

[healey36]

Built a bunch of Mantua gear from kits back in the 1960's (I think the kits were mfg'd during the late 1950s). Back then they were all metal, weighed a ton, ran like champs. Still have a Mantua USRA Mikado around here somewhere. I didn't realize vestiges of Mantua still existed.

Paul

[G3750]

I hope this doesn't end up like Lionel's previous HO ventures - big noise, then pfft!

Isn't this like Lionel's 5th incursion into the HO market?

George

[jlong]

Built a bunch of Mantua gear from kits back in the 1960's (I think the kits were mfg'd during the late 1950s). Back then they were all metal, weighed a ton, ran like champs. Still have a Mantua USRA Mikado around here somewhere. I didn't realize vestiges of Mantua still existed.

Paul

Yes, me too. Mantua steamers are bullet proof. I still have my childhood A5 switcher that runs like a watch. People associate Model Power with junk. MP did do a premium line that was built by Ajin of Korea which are of good quality such as FP7's with diecast shells. I have a set and they are silky smooth stump pullers. They also did diecast metal freight cars. Many aren't aware this stuff.

[jlong]

I hope this doesn't end up like Lionel's previous HO ventures - big noise, then pfft!
George

You mean like MTH HO???

[G3750]

I hope this doesn't end up like Lionel's previous HO ventures - big noise, then pfft!
George

You mean like MTH HO???

Yep. Or like MTH's wonderful "S" stuff. Or Gauge 1.

My God, how many customer groups have they stranded in the past 10 years? Are they still making European trains (not that I give a ****)?

George

[jlong]

I hope this doesn't end up like Lionel's previous HO ventures - big noise, then pfft!
George

You mean like MTH HO???

Yep. Or like MTH's wonderful "S" stuff. Or Gauge 1.

My God, how many customer groups have they stranded in the past 10 years? Are they still making European trains (not that I give a ****)?

George

Well they certainly didn't get the standing ovation they were expecting. "MTH saves HO"

[christopher2035]

MTH makes S & G ???? lol

[healey36]

MTH acquired the assets of S-Helper Service back in 2012 or 2013. MTH used that for what appears to have been a half-hearted attempt to enter the S-gauge market.

[v8vega]

i used to read the Model Railroading forum. I think the HO guys prejudice against 3 rail O gauge MTH never stood a chance with that crowd.

[G3750]

MTH makes S & G ???? lol

Chris, when I got back into the hobby in 1995 MTH was heavily advertising their Gauge 1 line. Yeah, they were in it. I haven't heard anything about that in years (10+).

George

[healey36]

They published a catalog for 2017, featuring a pretty extensive line-up of gear. How much of it has been produced I couldn't tell you, and I haven't seen a 2018 listing. I've seen some of the older pieces in the shop in Hagerstown, and they look brilliant. But of course, from my perspective, that's the knock on MTH...stuff looks great but performs less than that, especially out of the box.

https://mthtrains.com/sites/default/files/catalog_files/2017_rk1_v_1/index.html

Often considered a loop in the garden, but at this point I'd prefer some outdoor O-gauge...

[robert.]

Mantua also had Tyco

[rogruth]

Didn't Lionel have a G gauge or I gauge in the late 1990s? What I saw several times was nice looking and seemed to run well.
I also think they had Lionel type couplers.

I had some HO Mantua kits that I assembled in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Most were brass and were NOT shake the box type.
Soldering was a necessity for locos. Some of the rolling stock kits could be glued and screwed.

It seemed to me and I could be wrong but Tyco was the ready made train sets that eventually pushed Mantua into the land of the lost.
There is much more to the brand names but I don't remember it. I'm sure a little research will tell all.

[robert.]

An online search shows. Model power bought Tyco.(Tyler company. Former owners of mantua). If I know how to post a link with my iPhone. I would. Search Tyco wiki for a quick history .