Skip to main content

This has probably been discussed, but I thought MTH was folding it's tent about now (May, 2021), yet it seems production is continuing. Among other things, new special runs are being announced currently with deliveries not until the end of the year. Has there been a change?

Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

It seems possible that MTH may continue to produce small built-to-order runs of Premier locomotives with the items offered on its website rather than in a catalog. For the owner, that would be a lot less effort and much more like retirement than producing the huge variety of products that were offered twice yearly in MTH catalogs. And it would keep him active in the model train business which I think he loved and succeeded in so well.

MELGAR

Last edited by MELGAR

Pure speculation on my part, but I would not be surprised if there's an announcement within the next few months from the owner that, because no buyer stepped forward to purchase the entire business operation, different product lines have now been individually sold off to other companies and that MTH will survive and continue as a much more streamlined business model focusing on the  specific production and sale of engines and limited peripheral products.

Sort of like a hybrid business model between the old MTH and 3rd Rail/Sunset.

Just my $ 0.02

To keep selling to people new to MTH products who have no chance of ever finding a TIU to operate them properly?

Or maybe to help the eBay cretins who do find the TIU's and want to make a killing off of them.

John

EDIT:  I stand corrected.  Further down someone explained about the soon to be released WiFi TIU which will do everything.  Great to know.

Last edited by Craftech

I posted on another (of the many) MTH speculation threads that I have been told by a person who "should" know that the MTH folks who couldn't/weren't ready/didn't want to retire will continue to operate the company using the portions that haven't been sold off.  Considering that various vendors are offering exclusive runs that won't be delivered for several months (and engines will need a year of warranty after that), I think there's a good chance that my source is correct.

@Craftech posted:

To keep selling to people new to MTH products who have no chance of ever finding a TIU to operate them properly?

Or maybe to help the eBay cretins who do find the TIU's and want to make a killing off of them.

John

No - I believe one of the off-shoots of MTH will be a group of people/company that will manufacture and sell the electronics, including a TIU in whatever variation they decide.   

@Richie C. posted:

No - I believe one of the off-shoots of MTH will be a group of people/company that will manufacture and sell the electronics, including a TIU in whatever variation they decide.   

The DCS portion is being spun off and is going to keep operating. I suspect that the poster is referring to the fact that going forward they are going to only be supporting (if I heard correctly) wifi access of the TIU, that it won't support the hand held remote (that they no longer make) via this new unit) and that is the complaint, but DCS itself is not going away. The unit if I recall correctly supports a wired remote on it.

@bigkid posted:

The DCS portion is being spun off and is going to keep operating. I suspect that the poster is referring to the fact that going forward they are going to only be supporting (if I heard correctly) wifi access of the TIU, that it won't support the hand held remote (that they no longer make) via this new unit) and that is the complaint, but DCS itself is not going away. The unit if I recall correctly supports a wired remote on it.

It also won't support subway station announcements either.  You need the elusive TIU for that.

John

EDIT:  I stand corrected.  I wasn't aware of the new WiFi TIU although I should have been.  Sorry.

Last edited by Craftech
@bigkid posted:

The DCS portion is being spun off and is going to keep operating. I suspect that the poster is referring to the fact that going forward they are going to only be supporting (if I heard correctly) wifi access of the TIU, that it won't support the hand held remote (that they no longer make) via this new unit) and that is the complaint, but DCS itself is not going away. The unit if I recall correctly supports a wired remote on it.

until it becomes not longer profitable. at which point DCS is gone.

@Craftech posted:

To keep selling to people new to MTH products who have no chance of ever finding a TIU to operate them properly?

Or maybe to help the eBay cretins who do find the TIU's and want to make a killing off of them.

John

It would seem that DCS will continue to live on since Atlas licensed DCS from MTH and they've announced a new TIU with integrated Wi-Fi (product 50-1039) that's currently available for pre-order, at least with my local dealer.

https://mrmuffinstrains.com/products/50-1039

Of course, I have no idea when it's actually going to get released.

Last edited by Up & Down the Monon
Post

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×