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Post by JDaddy on Dec 11, 2020 13:41:56 GMT
Absence of a viable business only brings opportunity. Tooling needs to be refurbished anyway before you run it. Most of the dies may need that when the company is purchased. If the dies are in China. Then MTH does not even own the tooling. They lease it. China owns it. So there will be allot of talk flying around before the smoke clears. MTH products were getting very stagnated and very non focused, so lets hope the new owners put some new innovative thought and technology into their products. I for one hope that new company will come out of the ashes. Otherwise, the rest of the manufactures will just rehash their products.
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Post by MichRR714 on Dec 11, 2020 15:03:40 GMT
It's all just speculation and rumor without a press release from the parties involved. I can tell you from experience that negations in the sale of a business are very complex and can change by the hour.
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Post by Craignor on Dec 11, 2020 15:13:06 GMT
I like the good news, hope it’s true. I am surprised anyone would shut down a train shop when there is a fair chance the brand will keep going under new ownership, sounds premature to me. Remember Yogi...
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Post by harborbelt70 on Dec 11, 2020 15:37:13 GMT
I like the good news, hope it’s true. I am surprised anyone would shut down a train shop when there is a fair chance the brand will keep going under new ownership, sounds premature to me. Remember Yogi... I see your point Craig but I am not surprised. The perfect storm of a supplier deciding to withdraw from the market, no real assurance of supplies OR SUPPORT in the future and COVID restrictions on conducting trade could drive just about any small/marginal business enterprise to pack up and leave the market.
For those who want MTH products in the future I hope that they continue to be made but frankly I'm not among you.
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chuck
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Post by chuck on Dec 11, 2020 16:14:04 GMT
Hi, Last month during a virtual Standard Gauge Manufacturers meeting Andy Edleman VP Marketing MTH stated that a new company will be taking over the DCS side of things and is formed by Mike Wolf and Dave Krebiehl. New website to be launched early 2021.
Andy also stated that a new company is being formed to take over MTH parts headed by Mike Wolf, Ryan Eisenmann and Mark Sheff?? New website to be launched early 2021. Fast selling parts will be re-stocked...That would be kinda tough to accomplish if all tooling is destroyed.
Andy also stated don't be surprised to see Mike Wolf make a few pieces of new rolling stock every year but he didn't state if that was standard gauge tinplate only??
So sounds like to me that Mike Wolf is "downsizing" a bit and why not?? For the last 10+ years everybody seems to complain about something like "why doesn't MTH make this or that" or "why no new engines" and on & on...O gauge never had it so good but all folks do is complain about it.
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Post by Sir James on Dec 11, 2020 17:01:13 GMT
Reliable source information means nothing to me without a name. A prefect example of my dislike for M.W. this type of thing has always been his trademark. If MTH comes alive fine if not it won't bother me.
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Post by Country Joe on Dec 11, 2020 19:37:27 GMT
Dave, thanks for the update. I hope your source is right. I am an MTH guy and won't be happy if MTH goes the way of the dinosaur.
MTH owns all their tooling. If a company buys MTH that is part of what they are paying for.
If I were in Mike's shoes and was looking to sell my company I would destroy the tooling if the company did not sell. I wouldn't do it because I was angry that no one paid what I thought they should for it. I would destroy it for two reasons. First, a savvy company looking to take over the MTH brand could either low ball or wait out the sale of the brand. If the brand weren't sold they could scoop up the tooling for nothing. Second, if the brand isn't sold the tooling would go to whoever grabbed it. A Chinese (or any other) company could begin producing MTH trains under a new name with no investment. I would find this unacceptable and an unfair advantage over other train companies. Besides, if I owned the tooling I could do whatever I wanted with it. By letting it be known that the tooling will be destroyed if the brand doesn't sell it tells the vultures that they won't get MTH tooling for nothing.
If Dave's source is right we will know fairly soon who, if anyone, is buying MTH. I personally hope the brand continues though I don't need any more trains. I am not thrilled with Lionel. I have looked at the catalogs over the last few years and there is almost nothing that has appealed to me.
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Post by anjdevil2 on Dec 11, 2020 19:52:50 GMT
I had heard something about this - but obviously I cannot verify - But Atlas came up in the conversation - if it were true - they would make a VERY big splash in the O gauge pool.
Atlas has a big footprint in China, just putting that out there....
God knows, they have enough 2 and 3 rail items - but would they use DCS or stick with TMCC as they are big players in Lionel electronics?
MTH engines with TMCC??? WOW...... plus it would get Atlas in the lower tier market which I think they need to do.
I hope SOMEONE takes the accessories market from MTH - I really like the accessories - the locomotive electronics - meh, not so much
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2020 20:48:02 GMT
Atlas, which can’t get product produced and to market. Atlas that’s priced themselves so high no one can afford? Well if MTH is to be saved better than nobody but I hope it’s not atlas
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Post by Adam on Dec 11, 2020 21:00:17 GMT
I've said it before and I will say it again, my guess is Menards. OK, maybe that is more of a hope than a guess.
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keithl
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Post by keithl on Dec 11, 2020 21:17:05 GMT
You may have misheard some of what Andy Edleman said...Hi, Last month during a virtual Standard Gauge Manufacturers meeting Andy Edleman VP Marketing MTH stated that a new company will be taking over the DCS side of things and is formed by Mike Wolf and Dave Krebiehl. New website to be launched early 2021. Yes, Andy said that Dave Krebiehl will form the new DCS entity, but not that Mike Wolf will be forming it with him. What Andy did say is that Mike Wolf is really retiring, and, if he has any involvement going forward, he might maintain a small involvement in the DCS entity.Andy also stated that a new company is being formed to take over MTH parts headed by Mike Wolf, Ryan Eisenmann and Mark Sheff?? New website to be launched early 2021. Fast selling parts will be re-stocked...That would be kinda tough to accomplish if all tooling is destroyed. Yes, Andy did say that Ryan Eisenman and Mark Sheff would be heading up the new parts entity, but he did not say that Mike Wolf would be involved in it at all. Again, Andy said that Mike Wolf's only possible involvement after May 31, 2020 might be a small one in the DCS entity.Andy also stated don't be surprised to see Mike Wolf make a few pieces of new rolling stock every year but he didn't state if that was standard gauge tinplate only?? I don't remember Andy's exact statement, but I don't think this is quite what he said.So sounds like to me that Mike Wolf is "downsizing" a bit and why not?? For the last 10+ years everybody seems to complain about something like "why doesn't MTH make this or that" or "why no new engines" and on & on...O gauge never had it so good but all folks do is complain about it. Mike Wolf is not "downsizing a bit." He is retiring--at least from the model train business. This is true whether or not it's what we wish...
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Post by david1 on Dec 11, 2020 21:18:09 GMT
Thanks Joe for your very thoughtful response. I did not post this to be a know it all or a seer. Sir James I also did not name the gentleman who let know what was going and I respect Him enough not to blab his name over the internet even you think it is heresy.
Btw everybody here would know his name if I posted it. It makes me feel like I should never have posted the news, but I did for the Mth fans who are concerned about the negotiations. If your not a fan of Mth then stop reading the thread.
Dave
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2020 21:19:27 GMT
Where could Menards find a better deal IF The family is interested to that extent?
I can’t see it being a worthwhile investment for them except they continue to add things aggressively. They appear to be smart and imaginative people.
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Post by 4dogsinjersey on Dec 11, 2020 21:46:45 GMT
Whether a positive or negative outcome, speculation at this point is just that. We will have to wait and see what actually happens.
It’s good to have positive thoughts but the negative side may end up being the case.
I was a big MTH advocate, buying many of their locomotives and rolling stock. I hope to see the line continue in one form or another. Until then, I am pretty much centering any locomotive purchases with Lionel, or manufacturers that can utilize Lionel systems. MTH seemingly has forsaken its past customers. Going out of business due to a bad economy or other issue is one thing. To retire and not have a plan to continue the line just seems odd to me...
Tom
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Post by anjdevil2 on Dec 11, 2020 23:13:49 GMT
Atlas, which can’t get product produced and to market. Atlas that’s priced themselves so high no one can afford? Well if MTH is to be saved better than nobody but I hope it’s not atlas You have obviously NOT read my post --- Recap: They have a big presence in China The Rail King line gets them into the lower/less expensive part of the market. Adding TMCC would be a slam dunk - and gives them a complete line up of scale and semi-scale trains. The plus is that Atlas would not need to develop their own remote control system.
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