Production Samples

It's what it sounds like.

When a new product is designed, lots of time a "first one" is sent to the customer (MTH in this case) for inspection before mass production starts for the full run.  This allows inspection of details, finish, etc.

So if you buy one that just so happened to be "perfect", any differences may be nearly imperceptible.  But it could also have issues, like "this graphic is too far in this direction" or other small issues.  (that's an over generalization, but hopefully enough to get the gist)

Personally, a few years ago I bought 2 production samples MTH had previously sold (2nd hand, not directly from MTH). To me, the quality of those particular pieces was not necessarily any lower than a production unit would have been.

As to value, value for anything is what someone is willing to pay at the instant someone tries to sell it.  It may not be directly comparable to a stock item in a general sense.  With the current closure status of MTH and the auctions that are happening, some people may care enough to pay a premium, assuming something is in good condition.  Or not.  For the cars I bought a few years ago, I didn't pay anything more for them that I would consider significant.  (In fact, the reason I bought them at all was because I have NEVER (over several years at least of looking) seen a standard issue product for the one item come up for sale on eBay!)

Also, if you look over some of the listings, they will be marked as samples in some way.  This could be a "toe tag" hanging from a coupler (my cars were like this - the toe tag can of course be removed easily and kept) or it could be a marking on the underside of the unit (pretty sure I saw some of these in the auction from 1 1/2 weeks ago - a few of the subway cars may have had markings underneath, I think).  If the item has a box, it quite possibly is not the standard box (may be from an older product that has the same form factor) and there is probably hand written labeling on that box as well.

-Dave

I got a "production sample" of a Premier PS3 ATSF 2900 class Northern earlier this year before any of the MTH closing/auction announcements. I got it from someone who knows someone at MTH. Anyway you may be looking at something that has no motor, motor mount, flywheel, worm shaft, or any boards at all. On the other hand it could be a fully functional model. 

Mine was the former. You can see what I did with it here: https://ogrforum.com/...locomotive-from-junk

I've got a Marx Factory Sample from way back when of the CP Selkirk style locomotive. It's all mis-matched colours, strange decals and a motor that doesn't hardly move but it's got the toe-tag.

Things may have been different for tooling and what's in a locomotive now vs. then, but the idea is the same. A mostly complete but probably not sample of what the factory thinks will be built. Like a prototype. 

Simply put a production sample is a product at a certain level of development and in the case of trains can be at different levels of completion eg with or without electronics. So study carefully.. Eg I own tooling of the Lionel LLC Mohawk and its tender as well as the tooling of the first L3 Mohawks minus electronics.

The value is in only what you plan to do with it....I don’t see these MTH production/engineering samples being of any real significant value at this present time....it’s just not the same as was back in the glory days of Postwar & Prewar Lionel collecting.....at that time, production samples were coveted items because collecting was such a big part of the hobby....now, we’re still in a saturated market, so I’m not sure these MTH items will be big collectible items anytime soon......if you’re looking to make say, a running locomotive, be careful, ask questions, and know what you’re buying.....you can get stung really quick like once you start factoring in all the parts that’ll have to be sourced to get the thing running again....but if the lure of pre-production models is your thing, then enjoy it....

Pat

MTH Production Samples will either have a thick paper tag with a string tie hanging off the item with a date, # and other info.  If there is no tag there will be a number and date normally in black Sharpie or the like on the inside or under the item.  Occasionally it is a white marking pen.  Some of the engines are operable and others have various parts missing.  On the freight cars in addition to date, etc there will be a notation that the item was accepted or rejected.