Walthers purchases assets of Life-Like Products Toy and Hobby Division; Roco declares bankruptcy

[ndbprr]

Well I guess I am the curmudgeon in teh crowd becasue I see nothing good coming from this. I've never had trouble getting the P2K engines and cars I wanted but I sure have with Walthers testing the water and then claiming the runs were sold out and not available any more when they were never made. I also would love to see Walthers broken up becasue they control the distribution and availablity of too much of the hobby. Lastly guess what is going to happen to P2K pricing to pay for the company? Think Walthers will eat that? Ever try to get something a year or two old from Walthers? Dream on that availablity will increase. This is a black day.

[Ibflattop]

I just think Walthers got scared when Horizon bought out Athearn and MDC. They seen the time to move and they got it!! I will still buy from them. Kevin

[Anonymous]

I heard about Walthers buying Life-Like from friend.I didnt think he was right till I read the news.

[orsonroy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by IRONROOSTER

I guess acquistion fever has finally come to model railroading. Walthers needed this to secure a low end line. I wonder if IHC or Bachmann is next?
Enjoy
Paul

Bachmann's on the buying end, not the selling. They're possibly the largest toy train manufacturer in the world.

It sorta looks like we'll end up with five or so large manufacturers, and a host of cottage industries: Bachmann, Model Power, Horizon, Walthers, and Bowser (they've been buying out manufacturers for years now; Stewart is only the newest takeover. Haven't heard anyone complaining about them...)

I see Branchline and Accurail being gobbled up next.

[vsmith]

Look for Walthers catalog to get a little thicker....

Bummer about Roco...

[randyaj]

Kinda reminds me of the farming equipment buyouts or the trucking industry. It hasn't turned out as well as the promises that it would, I suspect that this fever of buyouts won't be helpful in the end to us either. One or two megagiants are not what the hobby needs.
Just my two cents
Randy Johnson

[scubaterry]

I'm thinking this is going to be a good thing for the Hobby however that is based on very little expierience/time in the hobby.
Terry

[davekelly]

Interesting to say the least. I wouldn't be surprised if Horizon's buyout of Athearn/RDC was a factor in Walthers making this determination. Walthers now has a pretty much complete line under its umbrella - structures, passenger cars, track and now a very well received line of engines and freight cars. Will this be good or bad for the hobby? Time will tell.

My magic 8 ball sees one of the distributors buying out a DCC manufacturer.

It was also interesting to read the short article about Roco. Will we see Roco moving their manufacturing to China or Korea as part of the reorganization?

An interesting time to be sure.

[Anonymous]

Well, if it includes P2K and P1K, it was smart move for Walthers.

[BRAKIE]

QUOTE: Originally posted by IRONROOSTER

I guess acquistion fever has finally come to model railroading. Walthers needed this to secure a low end line. I wonder if IHC or Bachmann is next?
Enjoy
Paul

Paul,I believe you and I are on the same track..IMHO all of these buyouts can't be good for the hobby in the long run..Sadly there is more to come..[:(]

[IRONROOSTER]

I guess acquistion fever has finally come to model railroading. Walthers needed this to secure a low end line. I wonder if IHC or Bachmann is next?
Enjoy
Paul

[BRAKIE]

Guys What does Horizon buyout of Athearn and MDC have to do with the buyout of LL by Walthers? Can't you guys stop being bias and attacking Horizon and look at the overall affects this means on the hobby?[V]

[RMax1]

Maybe there will be better availability of Proto 2000 Locos. Sometimes it is hard to get certain roads. Also a larger line of Proto 1000's would be nice.

RMax1

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by simon1966

How much more available can they be? The products from LifeLike are already prominent in the Walthers catalog and the lower end trainsets are already at Walmart and Toys R us.

Funny,since WHEN did these 2 stores EVER carry LifeLike? BOTH dont carry a [censored]thing for model railroaders!!

[Anonymous]

I am hoping that the P2K line keeps its high standards.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ebriley

Well, it makes up for the loss of access Walthers used to have to Athearn and Model Die Casting. Once again they will be the distributors of a very popular line of equipment.

[#ditto][#ditto][#ditto] I for one am VERY happy that Walthers did this.Now will see just how "great" Horizon is gonna be.[;)][^][:D]

[Anonymous]

Wow! Just like the Big Railroads alot of merging and buyouts are going on out there!

[BRAKIE]

Tom,I suspect Horizon might go after one of the bigger fish in the pond-not that LL is a minnow mind you..The only real question is who is next on the chopping block? Atlas or Kato USA?
I suspected Walthers would strike back by buying a manufacturer as that only made good business sense and I even stated that...I called it the streamlining of the hobby..
Hang on to your engineer hat as this is not the end of the buyouts.

[simon1966]

How much more available can they be? The products from LifeLike are already prominent in the Walthers catalog and the lower end trainsets are already at Walmart and Toys R us.

[orsonroy]

I'm thinking that the purchase of LL by Walthers will ultimately be a good thing, with their cars and engines being more readily available. Time will tell...

[tstage]

Had to check the calendar...Nope, it's not April 1st. Wow! Maybe the rubbing problem with the Walthers trucks and frames undereath their gondolas and cabooses will get fixed now. (Wouldn't that be nice. [:)]) Well, at least Horizon didn't purchase them.

Tom

[Anonymous]

Well, it makes up for the loss of access Walthers used to have to Athearn and Model Die Casting. Once again they will be the distributors of a very popular line of equipment.

[SpaceMouse]

Whoa!

[TrainFreak409]

Walthers and Life Like, who'da thunk?

[Anonymous]

Bit of a surprise - I'd read about the Roco business this morning but Walthers buying Lifelike? Could be interesting. I wonder if they'll integrate their loco and car ranges under the "Proto" name?

[cgrivno]

Read the full stories in MR Express:
Walthers: http://www.trains.com/Content/Dynamic/Articles/000/000/006/040zecdn.asp
Roco: http://www.trains.com/Content/Dynamic/Articles/000/000/006/039felou.asp