Tyco, the leading model railroad brand, has been making die cast metal reproductions HO scale model trains since 1930s. The company was founded by John Tyler and family (from the name Tyler Company) within his Mantua Metal Products.
Between 1942 and 1945 during the Second World War, Mantua suspended manufacture of their model railroads to produce precision measuring and mapping equipment for the war effort. After the war, in the 1950s Mantua pioneered ready to run HO-scale model railroad kits under the TYCO brand and in the 1960s they added HO-scale slot car electric racing sets to their range. From the 1970s they aimed their products at the consumer-oriented, world mass market.
The Company was sold to Consolidated Foods in 1970 and Tyco continued to market and expand their model train and electric car sets within a division of what became Sara Lee Foods. Tyco continued to diversify until the company was purchased by Mattel in 1997 and the brand survives as the Mattel Tyco Radio Control Division.
However, in 1977 the Tyco model railroad business was repurchased by the Tyler family and distributed them under the Mantua Industries Brand. In 1994 when Consolidated Foods-Tyco stopped producing model railroads Mantua brought back many of the products with the International Hobby Corporation buying the remainder.
Mantua ceased production of its model railway lines in 2001 and sold the business to Model Power Company which still produces some of the original lines such as steam engines under its Mantua Classics Brand.
Lee Porter collects vintage model trains and railroads. He publishes a wide range of articles about model trains, remote control cars, boats and airplanes, Transformers, collectibles and toys. Visit our website http://modeltrains.kiddywinktoys.com
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