Whatever happened to International Hobby Corporation? I still have their GG1 locomotive which I recently upgraded to sound with a Digitrax DH165AO and a Digitrax Soundbug SFX004. I suspect they went out of buisness or another company bought it. If the corporation still exists where is their website?
IHC went out of business last year. The news reported here was that the owner had entered a nursing home and no one wanted to buy the company, so it just ceased operation.
By chance IHC’s main supplier of locomotives was Mehano located in Slovenia which shut down production. There was some information on the European web sites that operations had moved to China and that some European items were being produced. No word if North American items would also be produced.
This is too bad, as the last engines produced by Mehano was their 2-10-2 which received good reviews overall, was priced well also.
From what I’ve heard, look for Mehano items to re-appear on our shores late this year, or early next. However, at the same time anticipate their prices for upgraded locomotives similar to the IHC line to be at least double and perhaps significantly more than that.
CNJ831
One of my best running locomotives. I added sound, smoke, and marker lamps. No one believes it’s an IHC.
Mehano was located in Slovenia, which was part of the former Yugoslavia, Slovakia being part of the former Czechoslovakia. An important point if you are from either of the two countries. The Mehano web site is still up, so someone must be paying the bills. It has not been significantly updated, but no longer lists IHC as the US rep and is now showing US prototype locos in their Prestige line with Lok Sound decoders installed.
It seems odd that a firm such as IHC could not have found a buyer, but seemingly the owner had not done any transition planning at all and eventually was in no condition to do anything other than let the business expire of its own accord - a classic case of waiting too long. I have noticed that IHC structures (some of which are classic kitbashing raw material) are already either hard to find at swap meets or have been jacked up in price. They are the only part of the IHC line that I personally would miss but the hobby needs entry level trains and choices
Dave Nelson
That wasn’t the situation at all, Dave. IHC’s supplier Mehano was in financial straights for a while and was increasingly encountering difficulties supplying product in a timely fashion. Who would dare purchase a small U.S. retailer where their sole foreign supplier’s ultimate fate was in question at the time? Just look at the recent history of failures, re-organizations and buy-outs of virtually all of the European model train manufacturers. Talk about instability!
Mehano has apparently re-organized and come around now, but I’m told it may now be more desirous of selling direct to U.S. hobbyists in the future, rather than through a separate company. That, too, is an increasing trend in the industry and undoubtedly flavored circumstances of any potential sale of IHC at some point.
CNJ831
Alloboard or anyone else who can help…
I recently picked up an IHC GG-1 at a train show. Although it runs well, the lights don’t work. Do you have any tips on how to get the shell off. Thanks.
Tom
Just spread the sides out and lift. There are four invisible latches molded onto the shell and frame. And to get the shell back on, all you have to do is drop it in place and give it a gentle press down.[:)] The IHC lights are pretty dim, so you may just want to replace them all together.
[:)] Yes do as 
Darth Santa Fe mentioned replace your lights with hight quality LEDs. In fact it’s a good time to upgrade it to DCC. I upgraded mine with a Digitrax DH165AO DCC board and a Digitrax Soundbug SFX004. Or you can upgrade with with a Digitrax SD164D an in one decoder with sound or any other 3rd party DCC decoders. I’m currently sticking with Digitrax, because I like their DCC system. I will be purchasing one Train Control System decoder for the Proto 2000 E7B unit locomotive.
Too bad about IHC. They were the only company that I know of that sold steamers with Lake Superior and Ishpeming markings. I have been trying to find one for years but it is now a little unlikely unless I can pick one up somewhere. I always recall that they had a decent product.
I send an e-mail to MR a couple of months ago to see if they had any information on IHC status, they had heard nothing from the company or the family that ran it since it went out of business. The thing I am going to miss are their passenger car interiors.
My little IHC B&M 2-6-0 is a fine runner. I like it alot. I’m sorry to hear the company has folded up. Guess I better pay attention at the swaps and shows for IHC deals.
Could you purchase an undecorated engine and add the Lake Superior and Ishpeming decals yourself?
That is probably my only option right now. I will need to find the decals and I think I saw them at Champ. Will need to order before they close their doors.
After reading this thread I pulled my IHC 2-10-2 out of storage and finally gave it it’s break in. This engine after about an hours running time it ran very well.
As I had just purchased some digitrax DCC decoders I decided I would add DCC and see just how well it runs. It ran fine on DC, it is a flawless runner. Superb slow speed control. It pulls well and once I add additional weight it will pull much better.
I forgot just how much this Mehano steam engine had been upgraded. It is indeed to bad for the hobby if Mehano is not able to produce again for the hobby.