Interview with MTH founder Mike Wolf on Notch 6

Really nice interview. Well done.

 

Sunrise

Are these interviews done live - sitting across from one another? or via phone?  The reason I ask - Mike's voice sounds a bit garbled and hard to understand at times.  Is it just my PC sound with the problem or do others have the same problem?

Some are live, others are by phone. This was a phone interview. Unfortunately we can not always control the quality of the line being used and this was one of those cases.  

Great show as always!

Derek, you are obviously a train enthusiast and it is good to have someone like you doing these interviews versus someone who doesn't know anything about trains. And it is also shows your own creativity that you came up with the idea of doing these podcasts... something that hadn't been done before. Not everyone has the determination to start their own train company, but you've taken your interest and talent and have come up with your own unique idea. Bravo for you.

 

But if I may offer a constructive observation... you sometimes, in your excitement about the hobby, almost answer the question you are about to ask yourself. Like at one point, you tell Mike his philosophy behind his company, rather than asking him what is the philosophy behind his company, or asking him to elaborate on how his philosophy has grown or changed over the years.

 

At another point, you state something that is your observation as if it were a fact... I'd have to listen again to get the exact quote, but you state [paraphrase] that no one today is interested in a train engine if it is not scale. In the news business, this is referred to as editorializing. Although granted, you are doing an "interview" and not front page news.

 

Yes, there is definitely an interest in scale product, but that doesn't mean everything and everyone. I'm sure the overall production numbers of all the various Lionel 4-4-2 starter sets sold over the past 20 years is one very BIG number.

 

The companies today know they are not just competing with each other currently, but also with past production... 90 years worth, as Mike elluded to. Sales figures not reflected in MTH's (and Lionel and WBB) current bottom line. And you currently have RMT, who is filling in this space in the market.

 

Even looking here at this forum, you'd think scale is the only thing. But that's a misleading picture. It might be true to say of the people who actively participate on this forum, but not necessarily true of the overall hobby.

 

Anyways, good interview. Mike has always had enthusiasm for the hobby. Sometimes people criticize MTH for what they do and don't make. And people will say we need more bonafide train guys working in the industry. They forget, Mike Wolf IS a bonafide train guy... BUT he also has a company to run, and a bottom line to meet.

 

I particularly enjoyed where Mike talked about how he got started, and then later, about common consumer goods and how no one expects them to work for decades or to be able to have them repaired... people just replace them. Yet the expectation (and demand) of trains is totally different. I've noticed this for years, so it was nice to hear Mike affirm this in his own words.

 

 

Very informative broadcast. As usual, nice job Derek.

Thank you i enjoyed listening to it.

I thoroughly enjoyed the interview..thanks for sharing.

 

--Greg

Brianel, 

 

I DO appreciate your constructive thoughts on what I can do to improve. I'll be the first to admit that it's a gradual process. It's hard to go back and listen to the early episodes just because of how inexperienced I was. Still a work in progress, and it always will be. I do tend to interject my own thoughts and ideas into interviews from time to time, and I do hope folks understand that. Thanks again for being willing to share honest thoughts and know that I am actively working to make a better show. 

 

Thanks,

Derek

Glad you took it in the spirit that I meant the comments Derek.

 

The broader the scope you can get into your conversations, the potential broader appeal your interviews will have. And you have grown in your interviews from when you first started... but don't get content... keep growing and moving forward.

 

The better your interviews get, the more willing other people you dream of interviewing, will be happy to spend time chatting with you... which benefits all of us.

Derek,

 

I have been listening since episode 1 and I can say your interviewing skills have come a long way. We all know that you are not a professional broadcaster but with every episode you sound like you are becoming more comfortable and more confident. If i can also add a bit of constructive criticism, you could work on your initial response to your guests answers. You tend to follow a lot of the answers with the same "wow" or "that's neat". But, like i said, with every episode your interview skills keep improving and i hope for you that means more subscribers every month! Keep it up!!!!!  

You would not believe how many of them beyond that get edited out.  It's a bad habit, and I am aware of it. I'm trying to find that balance between a show that sounds natural and something that's over produced. There are things that I let slide in now that I would have edited out the first year. Hopefully I can get the WOW factor under control in 2015. 

Have you ever considered doing a Live show maybe at York where you set up in the booth and had manufactures come in and out and maybe have a few attendees at the show come on and talk about the show, or what they've been buying?

Thank you

 

Clem k

Got it ready to go for the gym tonight. From another young guy in the hobby to another, keep up the great work.

thanks for this interview - i love the "new" information for my world

 

rdeal

Derek; another great podcast. I have been listening since episode 1 & have enjoyed them all. Boy was I surprised at the shout out you gave me. Thank you so very much. I'm doing very well and will be going to the Big "E" this Saturday. (01/24/2015)

It really becomes an issue of time for everyone involved. With Madison Poster having a booth now I'm tied down there all day and same with the manufactures and their booths. We have found it best to try and record in the weeks leading up to York and then we can spend a fair amount of time with both Lionel and MTH talking about what's new. I would like to do some live shows from York, but I need to get past the point of being a one man show and get some help handling everything that would need to be addressed.

i enjoyed this interview - thank you

rdeal

Spence, you have been there since the beginning and you always chime in with positive comments. Sending you good wishes was the least I could do. Glad the recovery is going well and that you're getting out to the Big E this weekend!

Dandy interview, Derek!  Thank you.

Mike Wolf is always very enthusiastic about MTH trains. I know his opinion is biased, but he still promotes excitement about his trains. Must be part salesman too? Anyway I always enjoy hearing him speak about MTH. Off to listen now.

 

Thanks for doing these interviews too, I really enjoy listening to all of them as well. Great idea to do these and I am sure you spend a lot of time working on them. It is appreciated.

Like Wow.........

    Great interview, I will never forget the the first time I met Mike Wolf at my local Train Shop. About twelve years ago. 

 

Example of when things go wrong. MTH and my local dealer will help the customer. Mike is all about innovations.

 

PS. I have 16 engines on MTH / DCS Remote, they have excellent phone support and they even fixed an engine out of warranty for free. (New board). 

  Congrats • On this interview.

I never tire of listening to Mike Wolf talk about trains. His passion and his entrepreneurial spirit are extraordinary.

Great interview.  You are getting better at asking questions, listening to the answers, and making  relevant follow up inquiries.  Thanks for what  you are doing  to promote the hobby and educate folks like me.

As for MTH, I only own minimal rolling stock, but after this interview I feel like I should go out and buy a z4000 and DCS system (figuratively).  Has there been a better salesman on your podcast yet. 

Looking forward to your Lionel catalog show.

DLC

As always, with all of the rumors and misinformation on this forum. Its great to hear things "right from the horses mouth".

 

Thanks Derek!

I enjoyed the interview although I am familiar with his biography as well as his pioneering role and focus on innovation. His view of competition is right on target. What did strike me was his direct participation in steering his company rather than leaving it to a committee of market analysts etc.The only thing missing was a more detailed probing of not so much technology, but rather how he views developing new models of prototypes that have not been done before a zillion times... While what road name is attached to a boxcar bores him, I think a question regarding new road names might have had an interesting response either way. I did not care for his response on the long term viability of his product...his response seemed more like a rationalization.A question on the lack of O gauge standards would have been interesting as to his opinion. 

I think Mike was an enormous factor in the revival of O gauge and his innovations pushed the competition.

Thanks for doing this  Derek.

 

This is a great service for all of us this great forum.

Derek

 

Another good one!  Thanks!

I found Mike's comments (expressed with apparent surprise) about how customers expect their trains to last 50 years or more and to also have repair parts available, to be quite interesting. Besides the fact that Lionel has already set the precedent for customer's longevity expectations, he mentioned a couple of other valid reasons himself during the interview, perhaps without even realizing it. He referred to model trains as "art" several times, and also stated how model trains can be "heirlooms" passed down from generation to generation. Neither of these descriptions would apply to the other electro-mechanical things he cited in his comparison, such as TV's, microwave ovens, and cellphones. Let's face it, model trains represent an emotional connection that just isn't there with most of the other things he mentioned, so it's reasonable that we would want them to last forever rather than just being "throwaways".

 

That is one of the natures of a work of art...

 

Great interview Derek!

 

Bill in FtL

Does the MTH parts department know about this?

My reaction to that was to look over at my working washing machine purchased in 1984, the antique cabinet radio circa 1924 I just put new tubes in...hmmm.. My 1997 Jeep Wrangler? Then I thought wait a minute! I'm 64 years old..fifty more years?!

Maybe I am becoming a heirloom myself.