MPC Era Books

[Cheese]

Hello All,

My interest in the area of MPC trains has grown considerably. Can anyone point out some "fine literature" about this era? I have noticed there is quite alot of books on Prewar and Postwar books, but not that many MPC books, at least from what I've seen anyway.

Cheese

[choochin3]

Hi Cheese,

I have 2 books put out by Greenbergs,writen by Roland LaVoie.

The first one is a guide to Lionel Fundimentions Trains 1970-1985.

This book is long out of print but it is a useful reference book.

The second one is a guide to Lionel Train Sets 1970-1991,this is also a useful book for finding the contents of sets cataloged,and uncataloged,and also includes club cars like TCA,and LOTS,etc.There is one on ebay right now.

I'm also a MPC collector,mostly boxcars and cabeese.

Carl T.

[Bob Keller]

Both out of print:

Greenberg's Guide to Lionel Trains 1970-1991, Vol. I: Motive power and rolling stock by Roland Lavoie (3rd Edition, 1991). The standard loco and rolling stock book format.

Greenberg's Guide to Lionel Trains 1970-1991, Vol. II: Special production, sets, department store specials, boxes, factory errors and prototypes, Classic, and Large Scale (One heck of a long sub-title). Only printing 1991. Also by Lavoie. A prtty interesting collection of info.

[trigtrax]

Both out of print:

There seems to be a growing collector interest in MPC Era trains. Maybe it's time to consider another printing of both books.......

[Roger Bielen]

Both out of print:

There seems to be a growing collector interest in MPC Era trains. Maybe it's time to consider another printing of both books.......

From what we've seen this is quite true.  The store bought a large MPC era collection last spring.  It was an open the box, put it on the shelve collection.  Luckily the collector saved all the boxes, including the set boxes.  Some things were/are mint still in the brown shipping cardboard.  To get back to my original thought, there has been a good deal of interest in the items and they have sold well.  The owner is currently bidding on another collection,it has a lot of MPC tankcars, since the first went fairly well.

[Bob Keller]

No market - at least for us.

I had been pleased to read that Doyle was working on a modern era book, but I wouldn't be surprised if that hasn't been nixed due to the lawsuit.

[bfskinner]

Cheese,

You might try this link, but no guarantees:

            http://www.abebooks.com/

[ADCX Rob]

David Doyle is 2-3 + years into the research on a modern era book.

Rob 

[LL675]

untill you find your own copies, be sure to check out your local library.I get the Greenberg books I don't have there for two weeks at a time, and I can call a renewel in on the phone.

[Cheese]

No market - at least for us.

I had been pleased to read that Doyle was working on a modern era book, but I wouldn't be surprised if that hasn't been nixed due to the lawsuit.

Whoa!,

Whats this about a lawsuit? I haven't heard anything about that.

Cheese

[krapug1]

As has been mentioned check your Library, as their is one book that I keep checking out, and will buy a used copy when I can find it. That being.........

Geenberg's Guide to Lionel Trains, 1970 - 1991, Volume I, Motive Power and Rolling Stock

That book continues past the MPC era, and serves as a good bridge.


Another MPC era book that I highly recomend is:

Lionel, A Collectors Guide and History, Volume IV, 1970 to 1980.

This book has a detailed account of the creation of Lionel/MPC, and the work involved.


.......also don't forget to check used Bookstores, many now have search services.

Ken

[Chris F]

Whats this about a lawsuit? I haven't heard anything about that.

Cheese

Her ya go... www.trains.com/trccs/forums/1227494/ShowPost.aspx

[Chris F]

Another MPC era book that I highly recomend is:

Lionel, A Collectors Guide and History, Volume IV, 1970 to 1980.

This book has a detailed account of the creation of Lionel/MPC, and the work involved.

Ken

This one was part of a 6-volume set by Tom McComas and James Tuohy, covering everything from Prewar to 1980 production, and volumes on the archives and advertising/art.  The last time I saw complete sets for sale was at the DuPage County train show in the mid-90's (Tom drove over from Michigan to sell his wares at most of these monthly shows).

Tom also sold computer CD's, "The Most Complete Guide to Lionel Trains".  The first was for the Postwar Era, 1945-1969, and the second was for the Modern Era, 1970-1997.  The latter CD included many quotes from his Vol. IV book.  There were plans for two Prewar CD's, but they were never produced due to low demand for the first two.  I don't recall seeing anyone mention them on this or the OGR forum - maybe I was the only customer?

Kalmbach issued another book, "Greenberg's Lionel Trains, 1987-1995 (Richard Kughn Era), Motive Power and Rolling Stock" by Michael Solly, copyright 2002.  AFAIK, this one's out-of-print, too.  Although technically not the MPC era, it still shows a lot of "MPC-like" product that should be available at relatively low prices.

Another source for information would be Lionel catalogs, but the pictures and descriptions may not reflect what was actually produced, and some of the items weren't produced at all.

[butleryard]

Also check out your local hobby shop. Most of these shops will buy collections and some of these collections contain books and literature. I have picked up a few books, this way!

[sulafool]

Bob Keller,

 What do you mean "no market"? Aren't you in the train publication business? If there is no market for toy train information then why is there a CTT?? I'd bet the train manufacturers lose more on releasing various products with very limited appeal, yet they perservere. Does Kalmbach not have deeper pockets than MTH or Lionel? And once a book is written and published initially (gotta be the most expensive part), how much more can it be to run off some more copies?  

[trigtrax]

What do you mean "no market"? Aren't you in the train publication business?

It's been my position for a long time that the Hobby "Toy Trains" is becoming more and more fragmented. For a long time MPC was shunned by collectors looking for postwar.. Years back there was another boundry at pre and post 1954 trains. Some say they're looking at MPC as a "Made in the USA" backlash against current Chinese imports.

But looking across the spectrum you have the Scale Big Boys and the Beeps. Atlas now makes 3 types of O-Gauge. You have bare bones Williams, Legacy and DCS. Starter Sets and Premium.

Every part of the hobby is becoming smaller as it becomes more specialized. I take Bob's comments to mean that although interest in MPC is growing it might not be large enough to make the minimum printing numbers profitable.

[krapug1]

This one was part of a 6-volume set by Tom McComas and James Tuohy, covering everything from Prewar to 1980 production, and volumes on the archives and advertising/art.  The last time I saw complete sets for sale was at the DuPage County train show in the mid-90's (Tom drove over from Michigan to sell his wares at most of these monthly shows).

Thats the one, and as I mentioned this particular book has a detailed history of how General Mills wound up buying Lionel, the creation of Lionel under MPC, and interesting notes about what was happening in both Michigan and New Jersey. Lionel/MPC did continue to do some work out of a portion of the Hillside plant until the mid-70's. The archives of all Lionel eras are discussed in this book also.

[bfskinner]

Lottsa good ideas here. Nevertheless, I am going to re-post the link to abe book exchange. But first, from their promotional material:

         Search 13,500 booksellers selling 110 million books 

That's a lot of sellers and a heckava lot of books. I have found things there that I couldn't find anywhere else. and the site is very easy to navigate. So, once again, the link:

                     http://www.abebooks.com/

Someone probably already mentioned it, but when sees estate sales in the newpaper that mention train collections, there are often extensive libraries of train books and mags also.

 

[twaldie]

Hello all,

Done putting down new wood flooring for the day.  From now on when I see people on TV say it is a one day job I'm just going to laugh..... there days must be longer than mine.

I have been looking for references that cover the MPC era also.  I like the MPC stuff because it isnt expensive, and there is a good selection available.  I've been collecting Trainmasters lately, what great engines they are!  Probably my favorites (for the moment...)

Bob - if you reprint I'll buy one, I promise.

Have a great evening.

Tim   

[Bob Keller]

No market means a product can't be sold that makes a profit that covers the cost of production, distribution, advertisement, etc.

An example is that a modest print run of a major reference book remains with unsold inventory for seven years. The multiply that by six or seven titles, and it becomes a subject area to avoid. That is why most of our recent titles have been focused on operation, repair, scenery, etc.

Trust me, if the numbers were there, we'd be cranking them out.

[Northwoods Flyer]

Bob,

I watch several of Kalmbach's out of print guides on ebay, just to see what the going price is. The Greenberg guides to American Flyer Prewar O gauge by Schuweiler consistenly go for double what their original selling price was, and that is for both editions.  The guide for Wide Gauge has gone for 2-3 times its original price, and the reprint of the Flyer Catalogues 1946-1955 is at least double, and that was $125.00, to begin with.  It seems to me that there are plenty of bidders for those items. Amazon.com has standing requests for these items as well.   I realize that I am not saavy to the printing business but the numbers bidding and the prices that are being acheived would indicate to me that there is a demand for some of these books to be reprinted How many copies are there in a small run?

Greg

BTW, are you or any of the staff going to be at Mad City train show in Madison next week?