I am a a "Johnny come lately" on this MPC question, but MAYBE I have some perspective.
Three years ago I started in the O gauge hobby after HO, intending to only buy and run postwar stuff. So- I began w/ a 2055 then a 2026 steamer, 624 diesel switcher etc- all from the 1949- 55 period. All run great, and I was blown away that a TOY, built in probably the highest-cost labor market, in the USA, could be that good- 70 years later.
Then wanting some PRR F7s, I bought an MPC-era set, and they were different - but still great. Then I tried Lion Chief Plus diesels and a steam engine- again, great. Finally, lately I have been buying some new Legacy (F7 AA Set plus/ the Super Bass) , but used TMCC stuff.
Conclusions?? General Mills/ MPC fought the fight for 16 years, I am sure never making money on trains through the period. That's a LONG time in corporate America, if you lose money more often than you make money. They tried retailing- Lionel KiddieCity - re-introduced postwar product, tried producing in Mexico (but wisely bailed out fast when the quality could not be there), tried everything they could. Kudos to them- without MPC, no Lionel today. Probably no O Gauge at all, today.
The came Richard P. Kughn, another reason why Lionel has survived. Under his leadership TMCC was developed (with Neal Young etc,) and the seeds of Legacy were sown. Did Kughn make money? We'll never know, but, maybe not.
Out of Lionel by way of Weaver came Mike Wolf and MTH. His innovation forced the market to go toward scale- attracting many of us HO guys with sore eyes. We and Lionel all gained from the move. Now, Lionel is in business, doing what they have to to make money in the current environment of plastic, Made in China, and Built to Order- all necessary to keep the doors open.
We should all feel thankful we are able to enjoy the hobby, due to a series of lucky strokes mixed with some genius. Have fun- run your trains!!
