Manufacturer's most proud of...

MTH: Unquestionably, the iconic Z-4000. 

Lionel: The Vision Line 700E Hudson.

I've never tried one, Art; just it's smaller cousin...my Z1000. The Z1000 is a fine piece of equipment; the 4000 must be a real powerhouse.

Rick

My guess would be:

For the Manufacturer, the fanciest, highest priced locomotive they make.

For the Stockholders, what ever the company sells the most of.

When people sit back and reflect on their careers, many often have special feelings for something they've done/accomplished; besides, being financially successful - a  pet project; success, after completing a difficult project...

Rick

A good profit margin works for most of them.  RTR sets, whistle steam, ZW-Ls and new technology, etc. -- ultimately, all will be viewed through the filter of net margin.

If you asked owners of a professional sports franchise or performers the same question, I'm sure they would be proud of their sales figures; but, I tend to think they would have something more intimate in mind: a league title, a magic performance(where the performer(s) and the audience, just clicked)... Something, extraordinary! Possibly, something they will be remembered by...

Rick

Mike Wolf closely supervised his engineering staff in the development and subsequent production of the Z-4000 way back in 1998. Not only did he succeed in creating a 400 watt transformer completely self-contained, but also managed to achieve the UL listing, a feat, to the best of my knowledge, still unmatched by any other manufacturer of high-power hobby transformers.

I should think he is very proud of this accomplishment! 

That's a good example, Art. I imagine Mike Wolf has taken personal/special interest, in a number of his company's products.

I remember hearing about MTH bringing out their own Dash 8...  years, ago. I wonder if that was a special build, for Mike W?

Rick

Lionel has a splendid history of many great achievements in the production of both toy and model trains for over a century.

The recent Vision Line 700E Hudson, with its fabulous Legacy sound and control system, plus the moving bell and simulated whistle steam are also landmark achievements in a reasonably detailed scale model locomotive. 

When it's your own company, and you're personally into the hobby, i.e. MTH(Mike's), I'd expect the instances of personal fulfillment, would be greater.

I get the feeling the 3rd Rail outfit, takes pride in their achievements.

Did Joshua like model trains?

Rick

For MTH, I bet it was finally winning the lawsuit against Lionel and getting the rights to use the Lionel name on their tinplate as part of the settlement.

Lionel for driving the stake through K-Lines heart.

K-Line for still having some of the most sought after steam locomotives ever made.

As I recall, K-Lines wounds were self-inflicted.

Rusty

Why would a company find joy in killing another company. That would be like getting a co worker fired just to get his spot. 

For Mike Wolf it has to be the satisfaction of starting his own business in his parent's garage and growing it into what it has become today.  The old "American Dream".

.....

Dennis

Thats ok, these "sought after" locos are now slowly being reissued....with legacy! I.E. k4's, mikados, berks and shays. BTW the VL hudson has k line drivers on it, case you didn't know.

Oh yea the original topic, swinging bell and a working service and parts dept.

Weaver Models.....

I think they are all shocked that they are still in business considering the economy and the mfg. problems overseas.

The Louis Marx Company for making 0 gauge trains for the masses.

A popular saying is that the rarest Marx engine is the one that does not run.

Worth noting is that Marx made more than just simple 0-4-0 plastic steam engines, their S-3, & F series diesels and their 333, 666, and 1829 steam engines are good models and fine runners. Their smoke units can fog a room.

Runner up to Maury Klein for starting up K-Line, and producing starter sets of good  quality, and ample play value.  K-Line offered these starter sets at a time when Lionel was turning out starter sets that they should have been ashamed of.

Ken

For some reason, I missed out on K-Line products; but, I've seen pictures of nicely detailed K-Line models. Missed that boat. I remember reading that decent prices were part of K-line's appeal.

Rick

I would suggest that Lionel may be most proud of the Legacy control system. I have used many different systems over the years, and Legacy is by far the best as far as I am concerned. It is simplicity itself to connect, and after a very short learning curve it is an absolute dream to operate. The CAB-2 remote is most comfortable to use, and although it may look daunting at first glance, the controls are in practice extremely intuitive to use. My only regret is that at present there is no standard interface in the 3-rail O-gauge world that would allow for it to be easily retrofitted into older, or other make, locomotives. In that respect N, HO/OO, G and two-rail O modellers have the advantage with the DCC interface.

mth all the way-z4000-diecast challenger-rail;king line-he gave o gauge model railroading a shot in the arm that this hobby needed.

The Dash-8 was conceived by Mike for Lionel during a time when he was a liaison between Lionel and Samhongsa, whom Lionel had contracted to manufacture their large steamers, like the scale Pennsy turbine. Lionel turned down the idea (at the time Lionel's modern-ish diesels had been "fatties", whose carbodies had been much wider than scale, owing to the open-frame AC motors contained within).

In an effort to keep Samhongsa in a steady supply of work, Mike subsequently had the Dash-8 produced under his own banner. When Lionel' president discovered this (at York, of all places), he promptly blew a gasket and severed Lionel's relationship with Mike's retail store, setting the stage for MTH's transitioning from retailer to manufacturer.

---PCJ

Well, I could be wrong...often am, according to many...BUT....

I would have to believe Mike Wolf, MTH, is most proud of their entry into the European O3R market, its reception, it's growth, it's potential, its success.  Talk about a neglected, hungry O3R market!!!! We are aware, are we not, that their largest selling steam locomotive EVER is one of those products???  And, much as it causes us Yanks distress to find so much of this continental product line in the last several MTH catalogues, because we now, by cultural, media, and federal decree find ourselves just another player on the world stage, we should be proud that it is one of our own.

Kudos, Michael Wolf and staff.  Let attaboys and attagirls abound.  And, thanks for the entrepreneurial leadership in a world of stodginess.

KD

KD:

Well stated and true! 

That really wasn't that big of an achievement, the reason that MTH was able to get a UL certification, is because while the Z-4000 may have a TOTAL output of 400 watts, it is limited to 180 maximum through any single channel.

 The new Lionel ZW-L is refered to as a 720 watt transformer, and will deliver up to 180 watts to each of the four channels, per Lionels on-line manual, it will not deliver more than 180 watts to any single channel, AND will not exceed a cumulative output across the four channels exceding 620 watts total. whichever channel would exceed the 620 limit will be restricted in output to the 620 watt total maximum, until another channels output is reduced, and can be applied to the restricted channel, again up to a 620 watt maximum total output.

So for SELF-CONTAINED output (IE, no external bricks) the ZW-L is the far away winner, as to having a UL listing, I don't know if it has one or not, I could not find that information.

For Mike Wolf it has to be the satisfaction of starting his own business in his parent's garage and growing it into what it has become today.  The old "American Dream".

.....

Dennis

 To ME, I think Dennis is right, what Mike has achieved with his company probably way over shadows, the success

 of a single item such as the Z-4000, which many people are very Happy with, and I am not saying, is not a Good product.

Doug

When I first got into O gauge, in 2004, Lionel was the only manufacturer that I was aware of. It didn't take me long to discover that not much new was happening, re: locomotives... lots of changing paint, but not a lot of variety in products available.

That all changed when my, then, dealer(primarily, a Lionel dealer), lent me a video featuring MTH products; that blew me away, that's what I wanted!

Mike brought a variety of cool, nicely detailed, scale models...

Rick

Mike also brought affordable prices.

Rick

I'm not an American, so where MTH's products were built, doesn't matter to me. I like the idea of products being manufactured in North America, but I'll take well-made affordable equipment, from any corner of the planet.

Rick

I agree 100% with Nicole's comment, above.

I started in O-Gauge in 2008 with MTH, DCS (and Jimmy S.), have enjoyed and continue to enjoy all of it, but the Legacy controls are at the top of my list of notable achievements.

Alex

Ah, .....this answers a lot of it.

Don't forget, Lionel once tried to pack up the whole kit and kaboodle off to Mexico.  The short-lived Mexican production products were no less expensive than the stuff still being made in Michigan.

Rusty