O Scale 1970-86 Model Trains
The years 1970 to 1986 were years of adjustments for most model scale manufacturers. During the 50s and 60s, model scale train manufacturers big and small were closing down due to bankruptcy or being acquired by other model train manufacturers who are also changing management to adapt to the model scale industry demand. Notable manufacturers such as American Flyer and Lionel are being handled by different owners because of the instability of the demand of model scale. Some were able to survive by focusing in smaller scale products with limited releases.
The O scale model trains during these years were virtually non-existent. The biggest manufacturers in the US for O scale models such as MTH are still trying to establish their names while Atlas O and Lionel, LLC were yet to be established. The O scale model train manufacturers were still manufacturing O scale models but only to limited level because of the limited demand. But hobbyists are growing and the surge and demand for the O scale model is starting to increase. The demand for O scale in UK and Europe is also limited since the demand is only between hobbyists who know how to spend considerable resources because of the quality of the O scale model trains.