Bachmann bought Williams Electric Trains so I would guess that there will be larger presense of Williams by Bachmann O Gauge Trains. Bachmann's parent company is Kader Industries in China, a very large toy manufacture. They have very deep pockets and currently do contract work for both Lionel and Atlas. Prices have escalated quite a bit the past few years and with a sinking USA economy could be some tough times for expensive electric trains.
Bill T.
Lets All Be Friends
Lionel now has leadership and is led by Jerry Calabrese, MTH is led by Mike Wolf and they are still competitors. They are, however, working together in SOME areas for the growth and good of the hobby.
Yes, Lionel suit against K-Line was won, as Sanda Kan in China manufactures both product lines, a deal was made to have Lionel market the K-Line brand and incorporate the better models into the Lionel Line.
Yes, MTH won the law suit against Lionel but at a much smaller award on appeal.
Yes, MTH won the law suit agains them by the Union Pacific, the settlement gave a restricted, subject to UP approvel, no cost license to model UP trains to all hobby manufacturers.
Yes, as MTH has been manufacturing reproductions of pre-war lionel trains for years, Lionel and MTH has a joint venture that has MTH making the pre-war line of trains with Lionel markings, and jointly marketing to both Lionel and MTH dealers.
Don U. TCA 73-5735
Okay,
I've been away for a while but while surfing today I found "the Lionel Corporation". A joint venture between Lionel and MTH. Is this really true? What's next dogs playing with cats?
Someone please enlighten me as to what's going on. Are all the lawsuit hostilities gone? What ever became of the suit. Is it finally over?
Mike Sacco
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