Standard Gauge Section - Classic Toy Trains Magazine
Daniel Johnston
Updated on April 07, 2026
- Member since
April 2003 - 305,205 posts
QUOTE: MTH Standard Gauge models are beautifully made reproductions of the originals.
QUOTE: The fit and finish is (I hesitate to say this as it comes close to sacrelidge) far better than original Lionel, Ives or Flyer.
QUOTE: The paint jobs are fantastic. The finish on the 1134 from the National Limited locomotive looks like it is made out of glass as opposed to painted pot metal.
QUOTE: There is no question about the quality of these items.
QUOTE: The fit and finish on the newer items is, by the way, even better.
RAK 402, you prove my point exactly. In every one of the quotes above you talk about "Fit, Finish, Quality", and use adjectives such as "Beautiful, Fantastic, and Looks Like Glass". Todays manufacturing methods should produce no less. The charm of old original Standard and O gauge trains is the very fact that they are so old, still survive, and run well. Further charm is that they were essentially hand made, and each one therefore has its own personality, its own uniquness. They have paint runs, trim is sometimes crooked, seems are sometimes uneven, and they are loud and make a lot of racket when they run. They (MTH etc) cannot reproduce that "charm", they cannot reproduce that "Nostalgia", those are attributes that are earned by time, and the period in which the piece was made. I'm not saying that the newer knock offs are not nice items, they are, but there is no comparision other than the outlines are the same. One cannot compare the rumble of an 80 - 90 year old "Pot Metal" or stamped steel locomotive rumbling down the track making a racket as it creaks, clanks, and its open frame Super Motor or Build A Loco motor grinds away, sometimes slowing under the strain. None of the new knock off's can touch that, and never will. You can admire the gorgeous fit and finish, and how smooth and quiet they are when the run, but thats not really what its all about. You can take advantage of the lower prices, but you get what you pay for. It makes no difference where, when or how these reproductions came about. Be they with original Lionel dies and machinery or newly manufactured, wheither they were originaly sanctioned by Lionel or not, its all irrelevant, the 1920's, 1930's, 1940's are gone, their manufacturing methods are gone, and the materials in some cases are gone. Its just not the same. The facts demand that I stand by my original statement.
QUOTE: MTH stuff is just another pretty face. If all you want to do is have that look and run them without having to worry about their value, then they are for you. If you want nostalgia, guts, reliability, repairability, and something that will hold its value a little better, stick with vintage equipment. Prices are generally lower that vinatge equipment, but after all they are reproductions.
One needs to look beyond a books cover to see whats really there.
As far as repairs goes. I've been doing repairs and restorations for 35 years. 1/16 inch is plenty of play without having to worry about gear mesh. One can tweek the gauge if they have worn gears, the general idea was to get the wheels as close to the motor frame as possible thus alieving the "wheels too wide" problem that was being esperienced. Also,if one has quality wheels, there is no need to jump through hoops to mount them trying avoiding contact with the rim. I've mounted hundres of sets in my day and have never heard of a wheel deforming from being pressed on in this manner. If you are lucky enough to have an original Lionel press, their cups use the wheel rim more than any other wheel surface to absorb the force. Also, I noted that several pieces of electrical tape are placed on the jaw faces before pressing on the wheels will preserve the wheels from being marred during the process. Not sure what part of that was not clear.
Above all.... ENJOY!!
