MartyE posted:C W Burfle posted:The only "Lionel" aspect of the line were the Lionel emblems on the trains. Everything was made by/for MTH. I don't understand why folks would refuse to buy if the trains are released with an MTH logo.
I'd rather have an original prewar Lionel piece in good or better condition.Well a couple of things... MTH, without the license, would not be allowed to produce the Orange and Blue color scheme due to Lionel's copyright. Personally for me I like the look. The logo on the side is less important but again for me it's a cool reminder of the past.
An original doesn't have the sounds, smoke, and control of the MTH line. For many of us that's important. My engine pictured above is fully conventional though.
It's a shame the licensing agreement is coming to an end. I suspect but have no proof that if tinplate was selling, MTH would have pursued the licensing again. Maybe Lionel wanted too much, I don't know. MTH has done an incredible job with the tinplate line regardless whos logo is on the side of the engines. The paint, the control, and the spirit of the past comes out in their tinplate trains.
Thank you MTH for bringing the Lionel Corporation Trains back.
Frankly I would rather have the MTH logo on the sides. It's rather confusing to have a product wholly made by one company with another company's name on it. While I absolutely love it my mth premier tinplate, having a different name on the sides always felt a little like a corvette with a blue oval on it. I have never personally been a big fan of the blue and orange combo.
Frankly as far as not selling well, I think its a combination of a saturated market and a stale product line. I have two mth tinplate steamers with ps-3, a 261 and a 263. While the other engines available are very eye catching, I am not in the market to drop a wad of cash on the same thing I already have with a different paint scheme. If there actually a new model, I think it would sell great. Most of the same old trim parts could be used, but God help me how about a different wheel arrangement? Also I think cancelling the transition cars that had box couplers on one end and lobster claw couplers on the other was a huge mistake. Most non-tinplate folks won't crank out their own conversion car, but I find having one greatly enhances my enjoyment of our hobby.
I look forward to seeing what mth does with the product line once the agreement expires. And that you to mth for making this product in the first place.
