I esp. enjoyed the latest CTT interview w/MTH leader, Mike. I really learned quite a bit incl.
difference between using someone’s blueprint and reverse engineering
how to grow the world’s greatest hobby and opening up York to more people
I agreed with the majority of everything Mike said but am not quite sure I fully agree with 2 of his assessments
TV advertising ineffectual. He may be right on this could since cable has really diluted the market and ads are overpriced. However, TV ads placed in the right target audience, e.g. a action starter set for kids or more traditional stuff for the age 55+, might grow the hobby more than he thinks. Again, it is “smart” advertising.
Mike’s philosophy that brick and mortar is the mainstay. I would say that 5 years ago that may have been the case, but if you want to build a new base of younger kids, you need to tap into the power of the Internet. Perhaps create some MTH blog sites (that are sanctioned my Mike and allowed to run with minimal controls, ie high, risk, high gain). Also, demos in the form of “short takes” could be floated on the Internet, perhaps with a story line or something humorous.
I admire Mike’s foray into tin plate, his risks in producing DCS, and his creativeness in using the Harley and other brands. Man oh man did I misjudge the consumer markets. Never realized just how popular licensed products really are.
I’m a big MTH fan, though I have a soft spot for all brands of trains. I’m not, however a fan of their track, though as Mike mentiones, they were the first to come out w/plastic roadbed.
Looking forward to other in-depth interviews w/other companies–if they have the willingness to engage as Mike did.
This is a good piece of journalism from an interview perspective (as opposed to an investigative piece).
Oh, one other thing. Seems Mr. Williams realized Mike’s ambitions and potential when he told them this was his l
I’ll know better from when I actually get to read the whole interview as to what I think. I did read the excerpt that is on the CTT main page:
“I’ve had dealers tell me they weren’t going to put out a ProtoSound 2.0 locomotive until they’ve sold all their old ProtoSound locomotives. What’s that consumer going to do? He’ll go to another store to make his purchase.”
“I’d say that most of the products being dumped aren’t our products. But it is partially our responsibility to make sure we don’t overproduce, which is why consumers have to order our trains in advance.”
The thing from my perspective is that dealers and customers don’t want to pre-order, and the PS1-PS2 changeover is one example of a good reason why. Mr. Wolf is right in that the customer who wants PS2 will go to another store. But what is that first retailer to do? Risk buying more inventory to have that soon be outdated too???
Technology is cool. But there needs to be some compatability. That also goes for operating couplers and 3-rail train track. While the various companies are trying to make more money for themselves, they are also making it so much harder for the newcomers to the hobby to figure this all out. At least in the old days, 027 track was just that and was compatable.
I also recall Mr. Wolf in the last CTT interview of why he was so insistent on being paid for product on time. He should understand then, why a dealer doesn’t want to take a bath on inventory items that have been outdated by changes in technology. Of course, this kind of thing happens… that’s the nature of technology moving forward. But I can also understand someone’s reluctance to order inventory or pre-order product if you have been burned.
“Word of mouth is the most important vehicle that the industry has.”
Mr. Wolf is absolutely right. This is true of any business. But without
Many of us have learned to view with scepticism those who loudly proclaim their own great achievements while disparaging those of their competitors. A recipe for hard feelings at best and ultimate fall from grace at worst.
I read the article and was pretty impressed. I have had a bad impression of Mike Wolf because of the Lionel lawsuit. I actually have more MTH locomotives than Lionel, but Lionel is like Apple Pie and Baseball – it IS America. So, I’ve been kind of miffed at him for suing “America”. But I came away with a different opinion after reading the article. He mentions how he tried to settle the case and could not even get a counter proposal from Lionel, much less a settlement. I have to admit, that if I had been Mike Wolf, I’d have had to go through with the lawsuit, too. I also have to say that he really seems to have pushed the innovations of the trains, too. My MTH Reading T-1 is much nicer than my Lionel Reading 4-6-0 Camelback, although nothing beats the Lionel sounds. That camelback’s whistle is so awesome that I sometimes have to turn around and look behind me to make sure there is not really a genuine locomotive in my train room. I’m not a good judge of whether Lionel is better than MTH or the other way around. I only collect Reading steam era locomotives, and Lionel only has the Camelback from a few years ago, and the 0-6-0 docksider. MTH has several modern era Reading steam engines, and they are really nicely detailed, and they run really smoothly. The DCS, TMCC, TMCC2 thing is nothing to me. I don’t see so good, and I really don’t like remote control handsets. I can do OK with a cell phone, but even something like a pocket PC is too hard for me to use. When I hike with a GPS, I have to use a magnifier, so I am not interested in command control for trains. I’m sure it is awesome, both DCS and TMCC, but I am more comfortable with the throttle handles on the ZW. Anyway, I have a much more positive attitude about Mike Wolf now. I officially forgive him for suing Lionel, and I have to admit, I love the Reading steam locomotives that MTH has made.
MTH’s advertising constantly knocks Lionel, yet many of thier products are replicas of old Lionel’s trains. I think that’s low. If Lionel is/was so lousy, why is MTH replicating thier stuff?
I thought the interview was very good. MTH seems to be doing a number of innovative things that other O manufacturers aren’t. I notice that a number of steam locomotives in their premier line are available with scale wheels. This should boost sales. If he decides to jump into the S scale market, I for one will consider his products. (While I don’t know all the details of the lawsuit, it seems a jury found that Lionel and it’s contractors had stolen MTH blueprints and the result was harm to MTH.)
Enjoy
Paul
IMO, Mike Wolf and folks like him represent the future of O-Gauge Trains. He’s willing to take chances and try out new things. Anybody can make rehash Postwar and call something a 6464 but MTH is now the innovative force in O-Gauge… Just look at subways, while Lionel keeps taking surveys MTH keeps cranking out sets. And I believe that Milwaukie Bi-Polar is one of the most beautiful engines ever produced.
Having grown up with Lionel and then disconnecting from the hobby for nearly 20 years (high school, college, etc.), I was really struck by the amazing diversity of product available, and by the tremendous technological advances. Mike Wolf should definitely get some of the credit. When I was a kid, I had never heard of him, or of MTH. At the same time, Atlas seems to be setting the standard on realism and detail, and Lionel’s TMCC technology was first to market. In addition, as jaabat points out, much of MTH’s growth was built on Lionel’s image, history, and product line (in fairness, so is much of Williams’ growth today). The jury, of course, found Lionel liable, and Mike Wolf’s use of legally unprotected Lionel postwar designs, though somewhat unseemly, was a good business decision (and Lionel’s folly).
I always say that we’re better off for the competition, and the sheer diversity of product available today. While I’m grateful for some of Mike Wolf’s contributions and innovations, on balance I probably wouldn’t invite him to my next cocktail party.
FJ&G Posted I’m a big MTH fan, though I have a soft spot for all brands of trains. I’m not, however a fan of their track, though as Mike mentiones, they were the first to come out w/plastic roadbed
When my friends refer to my trains, I have never heard them say, “You should see Buckeye’s Mike Trains”. They commonly say, “You should see Buckeye’s Lionel Trains.” (I have a hound dog mixture of everything and anything.)
When Mike get’s this problem solved, he has become an American Icon. Yes, he is paving the way into new exciting technology, but so did the Edsel, the Duesenberg, and the Studebaker.
Exactly, and I get disgusted when I see MTH bash Lionel’s product on one page of their catalog, then glom onto Lionel’s heritage on another by trying to recreate 2 post-war sets. To read the copy under those 2 sets, you’d think it was MTH, not Lionel, who made those original sets 50 - 60 years ago. Very selective propaganda, I mean advertising on MTH’s part.
Williams makes Lionel replicas, but they put a positive spin on it. As far as I know, they don’t put down the very company they’re emulating.
Saying “Lionel” means toy trains to a lot of people the same way “Coke” means soda or “Kleenex” means tissues, and it’s always going to be that way, whether MTH likes it or not.
Pretty good interview, IMO but hardly worth getting into a shoving match.
Where’s Mr. “Can’t We All Get Along” when we need him?
Man, I’ll be glad when this heat wave is over, it’s been so hot here the farmers are feeding their chickens crushed ice to keep them from laying hard-boiled eggs.
The interview with Mike Wolf was great! Mike deserves much of the credit for the revival of O gauge and the innovations that we see today. Lionel would be much better off if he was the owner instead of the venture capital bean counters that now control it.
I’ve talked with Mike Wolf personally when he came to the train store I work at. He is a nice guy, and offers very nice products, that are so much better than Lionel’s in my opinion. We don’t sell much Lionel at all, because everyone wants MTH.
“He is a nice guy, and offers very nice products, that are so much better than Lionel’s in my opinion. We don’t sell much Lionel at all, because everyone wants MTH.”
These are the types of wildly inaccurate, unfair, and self-serving comments that have contributed to the divisiveness in the hobby and industry, and incidentally earned Mike Wolf, MTH and their most ardent followers the public reputation they now have, which is not a good one, overall. It has obviously cost them sales and will continue to do so, IMO, as long as it continues and is encouraged.
I totally agree with the statement above! The latest Lionel catalog is disappointing to say the least. I was hoping that the new Lionel CEO would turn the company around but he appears to be all talk and no substance.