ATLANTIC CENTRAL Uncle_Bob A new post on the website says they're not taking orders while they're reorganizing. Sounds like one hand doesn't know what the other is doing. Refresh your browser and try again: https://www.modeltrainstuff.com/ Sheldon
Uncle_Bob A new post on the website says they're not taking orders while they're reorganizing. Sounds like one hand doesn't know what the other is doing.
A new post on the website says they're not taking orders while they're reorganizing. Sounds like one hand doesn't know what the other is doing.
Refresh your browser and try again:
https://www.modeltrainstuff.com/
Sheldon
Sheldon,
I'm going to assume you and I are in the same age group (lets say vintage) and we had quite a few choices when it came to hobby shops. Marconi's in Brooklyn (Baltimore) was within walking distance as a boy. Later in life Pro Custom Hobbies and Kleins were my preferred shops. Sadly, as we all know, the area around Kleins suffered from crime and other urban issues. I remember city work crews power washing the area under the JFX to remove the unfortunate smell. Also on a bright Saturday morning I walked into the store and not 5 minutes later a older gentleman walked in who had just been beaten and robbed. At that time I was younger and stronger so I guess they chose a more vulnerable target. That being said, shopping at the brick and mortar Kliens was always enjoyable. Selection was good, prices were good and sometimes Ted was there and you could watch him do old fashioned math calculating your purchase. After the move I never made it to the new store. TTH offered similar prices, similar shipping, and at the time no MD sales tax was collected. I will always have fond memories of browsing the aisles and looking at that huge glass case where the locomotives were displayed. Sorry for being long winded, i got a little nostalgic.
jeep35 Sorry for being long winded, i got a little nostalgic.
Sorry for being long winded, i got a little nostalgic.
jeep35 Sheldon, I'm going to assume you and I are in the same age group (lets say vintage) and we had quite a few choices when it came to hobby shops. Marconi's in Brooklyn (Baltimore) was within walking distance as a boy. Later in life Pro Custom Hobbies and Kleins were my preferred shops. Sadly, as we all know, the area around Kleins suffered from crime and other urban issues. I remember city work crews power washing the area under the JFX to remove the unfortunate smell. Also on a bright Saturday morning I walked into the store and not 5 minutes later a older gentleman walked in who had just been beaten and robbed. At that time I was younger and stronger so I guess they chose a more vulnerable target. That being said, shopping at the brick and mortar Kliens was always enjoyable. Selection was good, prices were good and sometimes Ted was there and you could watch him do old fashioned math calculating your purchase. After the move I never made it to the new store. TTH offered similar prices, similar shipping, and at the time no MD sales tax was collected. I will always have fond memories of browsing the aisles and looking at that huge glass case where the locomotives were displayed. Sorry for being long winded, i got a little nostalgic.
In the very early 60's my uncle, Freddy Stroh had a shop in Glen Burnie. I knew the Marconi's well and stayed in touch with Jackie almost up to her passing in 2018.
Yes, Pro Custom, City Wide, I even remember Lloyd's before they closed.
My father took me to all the old shops when I was young.
At age 14 I was working in the Depot Hobby Shop in Severna Park. After they left town I got a job at a place that had just opened, Glen Burnie Hobby World. Worked there until about 1980, managed the train department. Long retired, the owner is still one of my dearest friends.
Ted Klein knew my Uncle and father and would ask about my family every time I saw him.
I could go on and on listing the people in this business and hobby that I had the privilege to meet and know over the years. This region seems to have always been one of the hot spots for this hobby and this business.
LifeLike, AHM, Bachmann, Atlas, Aristo Craft, NJ International, all call/called the Mid Atlantic home.
But time marches on...
I checked their website the other day, they said that they're closing after 111 years. What a shame. Apparently Hattons, the parent company closed for some reason and they took Kleins down with them.
Wolf359 I checked their website the other day, they said that they're closing after 111 years. What a shame. Apparently Hattons, the parent company closed for some reason and they took Kleins down with them.
Obviously you did not read any of the other posts in thread?
I thought this thread was locked the other day?
I was thinking the same thing.
Regards, Chris
Remember the Lifelike headquarters as they were close to where I lived when in Maryland, long time ago.
So it seems that MTS is officially Kaput, for the time being and maybe forever.
No matter, I will continue to use the many other outlets that provide good prices and the expected great (same) service.
Hiawatha Hobbies, Sprink Creek Model Trains, Lombard Hobbies, Midwest Modeler, High Country Hobbies, TrainMasterModels, YankeeDabbler, FactoryDirect, TrainWorld, Trainz. There are probably others. I would mention Tony's Trains, but I'm not sure they are interested in staying in business.
Most of those have a free standing shop with lots of inventory if you visit.
Over the years when I checked the MTS site for somehting, they hardly ever had the best price and very little In-Stock....I guess I had to be a "preorder member" or something. Being short on In-Stock items without the best prices seems like a business that would go Kaput eventually.
- Douglas
So today I attended the Great Scale Model Train Show in Timonium, MD and had the opportunity to speak with as few people I know in the industry.
The events that have been reported in this thread are generally what happened.
The Klein family was ready to sell or shut down the business. Hattons bought the inventory and the name.
Then, for whatever reasons, Hattons decided not to continue operations here or in the UK.
The building ownership is listed as a real estate holding company - so the Klein family may still own that. It is a pretty high rent area of Baltimore, a good investment as a landlord.
That's too bad.
This struck me as kind of odd: A couple days ago, I got several emails asking me to give reviews on products I bought from MBK a few months ago. Why is a defunct business asking me to review products they're no longer selling, on a website that no longer functions?
Thanks for getting and sharing the additional info, Sheldon.
Uncle_BobWhy is a defunct business asking me to review products they're no longer selling, on a website that no longer functions?
Obviously, Hydra has reared its ugly head in its attempt at world domination of MRRing. Not to worry. Cap'n will take care it...
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
rrebellFunny I never felt unsafe arrounf Kleins but that was in the early 80's
Neither did I, but a couple blocks north or east and you were definitely outside the wire.
Sheldon I remember the name Lloyds. Where was it? I vaguely remember a train store in Stoneleigh, but my father never took me there.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
BigDaddy rrebell Funny I never felt unsafe arrounf Kleins but that was in the early 80's Neither did I, but a couple blocks north or east and you were definitely outside the wire. Sheldon I remember the name Lloyds. Where was it? I vaguely remember a train store in Stoneleigh, but my father never took me there.
rrebell Funny I never felt unsafe arrounf Kleins but that was in the early 80's
Lloyds was orginally in the city, N Charles St if I recall, but they moved to York Rd in Towson, near the beltway early in the 60's?
Stoneleigh Cycle and Hobby, right on York Road in the Stoneleigh Shopping strip. They were a Marklin dealer. Was only in there a few times, pretty good inventory of basics for a very small shop.
In the 80's I sold tools in southeast Baltimore, Dundalk, Caton, Highlandtown, etc. Never had any issues, never felt "unsafe" - and I was carrying $2,000 in cash in my shirt pocket and driving a truck with almost $100,000 worth of tools.
After I left that business, some of those areas have had some issues, but here is my take on urban crime. Sure, there will always be "crimes of opportunity" especially in ecconomically depressed areas.
BUT, most of the crime is gang/drug territory conflicts, or thugs fighting each other over women/money. You don't bother them, they won't bother you.
But trick is to not look scared, don't look like a "victum", act like you belong there.
Doughless So it seems that MTS is officially Kaput, for the time being and maybe forever. No matter, I will continue to use the many other outlets that provide good prices and the expected great (same) service. Hiawatha Hobbies, Sprink Creek Model Trains, Lombard Hobbies, Midwest Modeler, High Country Hobbies, TrainMasterModels, YankeeDabbler, FactoryDirect, TrainWorld, Trainz. There are probably others. I would mention Tony's Trains, but I'm not sure they are interested in staying in business. Most of those have a free standing shop with lots of inventory if you visit. Over the years when I checked the MTS site for somehting, they hardly ever had the best price and very little In-Stock....I guess I had to be a "preorder member" or something. Being short on In-Stock items without the best prices seems like a business that would go Kaput eventually.
Mike
ATLANTIC CENTRAL So today I attended the Great Scale Model Train Show in Timonium, MD and had the opportunity to speak with as few people I know in the industry. The events that have been reported in this thread are generally what happened. The Klein family was ready to sell or shut down the business. Hattons bought the inventory and the name. Then, for whatever reasons, Hattons decided not to continue operations here or in the UK. The building ownership is listed as a real estate holding company - so the Klein family may still own that. It is a pretty high rent area of Baltimore, a good investment as a landlord. Sheldon
Sheldon, thank you for the update. I was ready to post a somewhat speculative post about what Hatton's must have acually bought from Kleins. It really seems like they would not have bought much other than the inventory.
They would not want a hobby shop, or a building. While being a commercial real estate investor might be lucrative, I assumed Hatton's wanted to stick to the train business.
What is the Brand name worth? Its not really MBKlein's anymore...but a generic ModelTrainStuff. In the sea of other online names, what is that really worth?
And, how much value did the website have? You yourself pointed out that it lagged in efficiency compared to some others.
SInce Hatton's apparently partly owns a distribution process in Nebraska, it looks like Hatton's came in to buy the inventory and then liquidated it during their big sale a few weeks back. Maybe the Klein's simply wanted out quickly and completley before the Holiday's and didn't wan't the hassles of going through the shut down process? Maybe they were losing employees and couldn't do it.
No matter. Just a weird series of events that will probably go unexplained to its fullest.
Doughless ATLANTIC CENTRAL So today I attended the Great Scale Model Train Show in Timonium, MD and had the opportunity to speak with as few people I know in the industry. The events that have been reported in this thread are generally what happened. The Klein family was ready to sell or shut down the business. Hattons bought the inventory and the name. Then, for whatever reasons, Hattons decided not to continue operations here or in the UK. The building ownership is listed as a real estate holding company - so the Klein family may still own that. It is a pretty high rent area of Baltimore, a good investment as a landlord. Sheldon Sheldon, thank you for the update. I was ready to post a somewhat speculative post about what Hatton's must have acually bought from Kleins. It really seems like they would not have bought much other than the inventory. They would not want a hobby shop, or a building. While being a commercial real estate investor might be lucrative, I assumed Hatton's wanted to stick to the train business. What is the Brand name worth? Its not really MBKlein's anymore...but a generic ModelTrainStuff. In the sea of other online names, what is that really worth? And, how much value did the website have? You yourself pointed out that it lagged in efficiency compared to some others. SInce Hatton's apparently partly owns a distribution process in Nebraska, it looks like Hatton's came in to buy the inventory and then liquidated it during their big sale a few weeks back. Maybe the Klein's simply wanted out quickly and completley before the Holiday's and didn't wan't the hassles of going through the shut down process? Maybe they were losing employees and couldn't do it. No matter. Just a weird series of events that will probably go unexplained to its fullest.
Yes, the family was clearly looking to cash out, that rumor had been around this town a few times since Ted Klein passed.
I do think that both "names" had some market value. And while the location may be a great rental for the family, it was not the best place cost wise for a model train warehouse.
But if the other speculation, about Hattons thinking they could do business in North America by getting manufacturers to do drop shipping, that might have actually been the final blow to any plans Hattons had for North Amercia.
There is no logical reason for Walthers, Horizon, Bowser, Bachmann, Intermountain, Concor, Atlas, BLI or any North American based manufacturer to do business with Hattons on that basis - they ALL already sell direct to customers and to retailers who do their own warehousing.
In fact the manufacturers want most of the product to leave quickly in case lots and go to the other retailers - it is a better cash flow formula. Then they can keep just enough on had for their own retail volume.
Doughlessit looks like Hatton's came in to buy the inventory and then liquidated it during their big sale a few weeks back. Maybe the Klein's simply wanted out quickly and completley before the Holiday's and didn't wan't the hassles of going through the shut down process?
You know, in a funny roundabout kind of way, that's exactly what Hatton's business was. "Sell your pre-owned model railroad collection for cash" indeed.
NittanyLion Doughless it looks like Hatton's came in to buy the inventory and then liquidated it during their big sale a few weeks back. Maybe the Klein's simply wanted out quickly and completley before the Holiday's and didn't wan't the hassles of going through the shut down process? You know, in a funny roundabout kind of way, that's exactly what Hatton's business was. "Sell your pre-owned model railroad collection for cash" indeed.
Doughless it looks like Hatton's came in to buy the inventory and then liquidated it during their big sale a few weeks back. Maybe the Klein's simply wanted out quickly and completley before the Holiday's and didn't wan't the hassles of going through the shut down process?
Rich
Alton Junction
I guy on another forum posted a link to his info on the closure if MBK. The info I took away that I didn't know were the following.- when the owner of MBK, Ted Klein, died in 2020, his long time girlfriend took over as owner, and when she died her daughters became the owners. They wanted to sell it and be out of the business.- per this guy, Intermountain was interested in buying MBK but was outbid by Hattons.conrail1285.com/so-what-happened-to-mb-klein/
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
thanks for posting. the pics of the old store were nice to see. It was a great train shop.
This is an update on the modeltrainstuff.com website..
Says they're coming back...
We shall see..
Neal
As of this morning:
York1 John
What a total fiasco!
richhotrain What a total fiasco! Rich
Maybe, or they had a plan all along which is about to play out.
Rick
Maybe Hattons has sold what remains to Intermountain.
Maybe Hattons realized in all this that they don't have any idea how to sell model trains in North America.
Since Intermountain apparently expressed interest, it makes sense. Intermountain was once a small distributor, and does sell to retail customers if you call up and ask to buy stuff.
Sounds like they have a definate interest in becoming like Bowser, competitive online retailer and Manufacturer. This could springboard them into this senerio.
I don't have any knowledge of Hattons before their first ads in the US, but they did really approach things wrong from every standpoint. They simply were arrogant or misinformed about things over here.
But if Intermoutain is the new owner/operator, the physical plant will no doubt move to Colorado.
This could actually be a very good thing....... If they fix the web site so you can find stuff with surfing thru 15 pages.
hbgatsf richhotrain What a total fiasco! Rich Maybe, or they had a plan all along which is about to play out.
For us golfers, this is like LIV and the PGA Tour.
So now what? Intermountain to the rescue
Hattons has a change of heart
Or the Klein sisters have sellers remorse? (sarcasm)
More plot twists and turns than a 80s prime time soap. You cannot make this stuff up!
Jim
Here is what I don't get.
Klein wants to close down.
Hatton's steps in and buys Klein.
Hatton's goes bye bye.
Klein's closes down.
No, wait, Kleins is reorganizing.
No, wait, Kleins is reopening.
Or, is it?
Maybe it is selling itself?
To Intermountain?
So, I ask, what would be the appeal to a buyer?
The name?