M.T.H. Trains President Mike Wolf has announced his May 2021 retirement and the subsequent closure of the company after 40 years in business.
“It is, therefore, with mixed emotions that I tell you I have decided to retire in 2021 and close the business,” he said in a June 8, 2020 letter to the industry.
“The last two M.T.H. catalogs, our 2020 Volume 2 O Gauge catalog, and our 2020 HO catalog and all non-delivered items from our 2020 Volume 1 O Gauge catalog, 2020 Ready-to-Run Train Set catalog, 2019-2020 S Gauge catalog, and 2019-2020 G Gauge catalog will feature the last products produced by M.T.H. Electric Trains,” the letter stated.
However, in a communication to the dealers the following day, the company revealed its electronics department will live on as a separate entity. “The new tech company will continue to manufacture and provide support including any necessary software updates to the DCS hardware or DCS WiFi App. In fact, new and exciting product ideas are currently under development.”
The DCS System controls any Proto-Sound 2.0 and later equipped locomotives. The new company will be comprised of current M.T. H. staff.
The items in those catalogs will be available now through April 2021 and will carry a limited 1-year warranty supported by the company’s Authorized Service Center network and the M.T.H. Service Department. After the company closes in May 2021, the ASC network will provide warranty coverage through April 2022.
Wolf thanked the retailers who have carried the company’s products throughout the years. “M.T.H. Electric Trains would not have enjoyed success without the support of the M.T.H. Authorized Retailer network. I wish all of them good luck and prosperity in the years to come.”
Additionally, he praised the people who make the company run. “I want to thank all of my employees for their hard work over the years. Most of them have been with me for decades and their loyalty and talents were paramount to our success.”
Wolf is open to the possibility of selling the firm’s thousands of tools, molds, and intellectual property and days he’ll “entertain various options and buyers.”
One scenario is a new company organized and owned by members of my current staff,” he said.
The company was founded in Columbia, Md. in 1980 as Mike’s Train House, a manufacturer of reproduction Lionel standard and O gauge trains. It remains headquartered in Columbia.
I sure am glad that I stayed with
Lionel….that
I grew up with. Just imagine if Lionel would have retired and closed shop!…Now I see faded boxes of MTH
products sitting on the shelves of the
very few true hobby shops
still in business…..
Wow.
Its a damn shame Mikes train house is closing. I have several of their trains and like them very much Quality products.
Whats even worse is the lousy job the model train industry has done promoting their industry. I can recall ever seeing advertising or commercials anywhere promoting the product. Their sdownfall is their own doing. They let the video game market lure these kids to it, Most kids dont evem know what model trains are. I have 2 grandchildren and have partially dragged them away from that video game crap,and taught them to use their hands and brains working with me with my many layouts.
They’re arent many like me. So model train industry: congratulations on screwing yourselves up. Nic going