Here's a funny one

[Anonymous]

In the recent Lionel "catalog" 2004 Volume 1, page136 there is a building called, "Kiddie city toy store." If you look closely to the left of the doors you'll see a "window sticker." It is that of a Lionel authorized dealer.

There are no TOY stores that carry Lionel. This is exactly what we all were talking about in the thread entitled, "What would you come up with for a starter set?" The thread can be seen here:

http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=17301

Does Lionel REALLY believe that their products are available at places like Kiddie City Toys? Are they living an illusion?

And just an aside: Our local Ace Hardware store wanted to carry Lionel in their hobby department. Lionel would not authorize them to become a "value-added" dealer.

Also, our local train store here in Tucson is called Arizona Trains. They are connected to the AZ trains in California as well and are the ONLY ones that carry Lionel here in Tucson. The owner Ken, is getting up there in age and is looking for someone to buy his store. I would, but he wants $4 million or something for it because he has the Lionel licensing.

What's up with this? Arizona trains is going out and Lionel won't allow Ace to have a license? I think there very well must be more to this story than I know.

[guilfordrr]

Perhaps the building is made to represent an earlier period of time?

[Anonymous]

I think the designers at Lionel LLC may be poking a little fun at the mess Roy Cohn made of the original Lionel Corporation. Lionel Leased the rights to their train line to General Mills in 1969 and reorganized as a holding company (Lionel Corporation of New York) operating a chain of toy stores - Lionel Kiddie City. They screwed this venture up too, and closed for good in the late 80's.

Just my take on it.

[eZAK]

Good eye Jack!

Good bit of history there Rick!

[Anonymous]

Yes, I remember Lionel Toy World. I bought some Batman action figures there in 1989 when the Michael Keaton movie came out. Three months later it was gone. I remember their catchy phrase: Turn a frown upside down. Their mascott was a kangaroo and joey.

The building very well may be for an earlier period in time, Lord knows it isn't for 2004. Good point!

[brianel027]

Well Jack, might even be funnier if next year when the toy store is re-released with a sticker on the door saying "We are an authorized MTH dealer." [:D]

Okay, bad joke... but who knows with all this legal stuff blowing in the wind. Kinda like being downwind from the cow barn... it all stinks but what are we gonna do about any of this?

I'm sure the sign on the store was a throwback to the past. Just as much of this hobby is. Sure there were some good thoughts on the "What would you come up with for a starter set? thread. But truth be told, since kids today don't have much of a clue what Lionel Trains are (nor a clue of what they meant to another generation), the trains are being marketed to adults. Not only the scale proportioned adult product, but the starter set product as well.

Kids aren't asking for train sets. They don't even know about them. It is the dad (or grandfather) who happens to see a train shop; thinks about his childhood trains and the memories of fun; he's the one who buys the train set. The sets have roadnames that appeal to the older buyer, who then give the set to their sons or grandsons. KIds may ultimately connect to a road they have a chance of seeing today, BUT the set has to be purchased first. And most older adults don't have fond memories of Conrail or Norfolk Southern the way they do the New York Central or the Pennsylvania.

Jack, I don't know how long it has been this way, but I suspect the MPC period of Lionel was the last time is was fairly easy to obtain Lionel product. Other than the so-called "grandfather" clause (which favors and forgives long-time dealers), most new Lionel dealers have more or less "sold the farm" to become Value-Added dealers.

Even the so-called diplay layouts of today are many times nothing more than a loop of track. I recall display layouts that were display layouts... advertisements for Lionel without question. Because there was a variety of stuff on them, which helped to sell the dream to a dad and son that one day they too would have the same kind of layout. Too expensive in today's profit-margin bottom-line driven economy.

Sure ain't the way it used to be (in oh so many ways).