Just three years ago, MANTUA closed its doors after 75 years of business in the Model Railroad Industry. Since, Model Power with the purchased the MANTUA train line currently are still working to release the first of the new MANTUA CLASSIC locomotives. However, like many manufactures, the model railroad train industry has become a tough market. Although, MANTUA was not alone in dropping the train line due to profit margins.
We have seen RIVAROSSI purchased by an independent investor and set up an exclusive contract with WALTHERS. The all new tooling and superb improvement did not provide the investment return hoped for and the business dropped falling into bankrupcy. LIMA picked up the Line of Rivarossi and Arnold N Scale Trains, but with in its first year, failed as well and the debt forced their sale to HORNBY, UK picking up receivership of LIMA,RIVAROSSI, and ARNOLD Trains.
We also saw in 2004 the growth of Horizon Hobby and buy out of long time model railroad ATHEARN family. Yet too surprise a silent buy out of Model Die Cast from C. H. Menteer as Clarance decided to move into retirement after full ownship of MDC since 1939. However, the sell outs continue of business large and small of our model railroad hobby.
Just Tuesday, October 19, 2004, Stewart Hobbies, Inc., Chalfont, Pa., was purchased by Bowser Manufacturing Co., Inc., Montoursville, Pa. Just three years after MANTUA close their doors to Model Railroading. The sale has been announced jointly by the two companies. Although no explanation to why the 20-year-old business, founded in 1984 by Steve and Terry Stewart, producing HO scale locomotives and freight cars decided the sell of the made in the USA business.
Some recent releases by Stewart included a 70 Ton G39A Pennsylvania RR ore car and several new diesel locomotive models including an Alco C-630 and Baldwi
i got a rivarrossi HO scale hudson loco. it was so bad that i gave it away
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QUOTE: Originally posted by austinsdad
Just three years ago, MANTUA closed its doors after 75 years of business in the Model Railroad Industry. Since, Model Power with the purchased the MANTUA train line currently are still working to release the first of the new MANTUA CLASSIC locomotives. However, like many manufactures, the model railroad train industry has become a tough market. Although, MANTUA was not alone in dropping the train line due to profit margins.
We have seen RIVAROSSI purchased by an independent investor and set up an exclusive contract with WALTHERS. The all new tooling and superb improvement did not provide the investment return hoped for and the business dropped falling into bankrupcy. LIMA picked up the Line of Rivarossi and Arnold N Scale Trains, but with in its first year, failed as well and the debt forced their sale to HORNBY, UK picking up receivership of LIMA,RIVAROSSI, and ARNOLD Trains.
We also saw in 2004 the growth of Horizon Hobby and buy out of long time model railroad ATHEARN family. Yet too surprise a silent buy out of Model Die Cast from C. H. Menteer as Clarance decided to move into retirement after full ownship of MDC since 1939. However, the sell outs continue of business large and small of our model railroad hobby.
Just Tuesday, October 19, 2004, Stewart Hobbies, Inc., Chalfont, Pa., was purchased by Bowser Manufacturing Co., Inc., Montoursville, Pa. Just three years after MANTUA close their doors to Model Railroading. The sale has been announced jointly by the two companies. Although no explanation to why the 20-year-old business, founded in 1984 by Steve and Terry Stewart, producing HO scale locomotives and freight cars decided the sell of the made in the USA business.
Some recent releases by Stewart included a 70 Ton G39A Pennsylvania RR ore car and severa
The modeling companies are falling in with the Real RR Companies, mergers buyouts, it is sick. I miss the good ole companies- Mantua, Athearn, and Roundhouse. I know you can still find them, but it is hard in my area unless they are brought to shows. I was just looking for Roundhouse engines and found out Horizion Hobbies bought them out! I hope they dont discontinue their products like they did the ATHEARN BLUE BOX kits! Question what ever happened to Rail Power?
Rail Power Products was purchased by Athearn a couple of years ago. Athearn’s GP60M, GP60B and CF7 are all ex-RPP tooling, with more rumoured to be following.
We recently heard that Horizon Hobbies would introduce some of the Blue Box items as well keep all of the MDC steam era items. However, profit is what a business is about. I’m not sure if it is the greed of money, but profit to stay in business, to pay employees, taxes, overhead and to continue research for improving products is business. I believe if Donald Trump had leadership of most of the manufactures today, he too would drop most items that are not profitable. “IT"S BUSINESS”. Nevertheless, affordability is important.
Note on Rivarossi:
Rivarossi introduce afordability of nice, maybe expressed best asbeautiful locomotives at very low prices for the blue collar collector who could not afford that superb HALLMARK Brass train that good folks like Bobbye Hall imported. However, true, the motoring had always been poor on the steam locomotives buring up, poor hauling ability, etc. Although, the 2001 newtooling and improvements have made great change. They are much stronger, quality motoring and still beautiful but more costly.
The PAST and Future
I was raised with 0-scale LIONEL and MARX trains. Today, anyone under 40 can hardly afford the hobby. If we review “The WORLD’S GREATEST HOBBY”, http://www.greatesthobby.com/ part of the three step five year marketing strategy is to introduce the hobby back to the market through males between the age of 45-65 years old. Hopefully, many of these men will be fathers who will be sharing the hobby with their off spring in this almost all male hobby.
THE BIG PICTURE
Production cost and sales are important. However, the answer to affordability is not through LACK of QUALITY that we often see on the low end Model Power, Life Like or BACHMANN sets which in the long run turn interest towards something else if your first experience is a train s