Too much spiked egg nog? Nope. I thought I talk about subject that has a railroad connection when it comes to the Christmas holidays – model trains. Specifically one toy company that I grew up on: TYCO.
So, what's this connection that I'm trying to make regarding model trains & Phillips Canning? Follow along & you will see where I'm headed.
Back on January 21, 2017, I spoke of the history of Phillips Canning. I won't bore you with the topic again, but you can go read it at your leisure. I quoted the excellent August 2006 article by Harold W. Hurst's entitled “The Canning Industry in Delmarva”:
When Phillips finally exited the canning business, they sold the company to Consolidated Foods in 1957.
The key point to pick up here: Phillips sold their company to Consolidated Foods in 1957.
So what about Consolidated Foods?
I'll quote the excellent article by Tony Cook on his website Tony Cook's HO-Scale Train Resource, specifically the section about TYCO. Here's the website:
Tony says:
“Consolidated Foods purchased TYCO's model trains and HO-scale slot racing cars around 1970. Consolidated Foods would later change its name to Sara Lee. This early '70s period ushers in "The Consolidated Foods Era" or "brown-box" period for collectors. Prior to 1970, TYCO offered models that reflected fairly accurate prototypes. After 1970, under Consolidated Foods leadership, TYCO's offerings wander into a fantasy world of unprototypical models. It is this interesting period that provides modelers and collectors with such items as a Popsicle and StarKist Tuna box cars and various Bicentennial locomotives. Looked down upon by serious hobbyists, these items none the less have found favor among those who enjoyed them as kids and now enjoy collecting them as adults.”
“The Consolidated Foods purchase of TYCO did not enjoy much of a honeymoon period. The book, "Toyland" by Sydney Ladensohn Stern and Ted Schoenhaus, reports TYCO's returns were unprofitable by 1972, and Consolidated Foods/Sara Lee was put in the position of folding up the TYCO line or making major changes in operations. Consolidated Foods management remained positive on TYCO and placed Dick Grey as president and Harry Pearce as chief financial officer in 1973.”
So, there's connection between Phillips & model trains: Consolidated Foods (or Sara Lee). Thirteen years after Consolidated Foods bought the remains of Phillips, they purchased TYCO to diversify the company.
TYCO corporate symbol Phillips Delicious tomato label
Even though my Grandmother (on my Dad's side) worked for Bachmann Trains in Philadelphia, PA (you could see the factory almost from her front door step, so she would walk to work everyday), & I did have Bachmann model trains & train sets, I had much more TYCO equipment. Bachmann is still around & producing model trains. TYCO, unfortunately (or fortunately for those die-hard model railroaders out there) disappeared 1993 (yes, there were later “versions” of TYCO equipment, but it just wasn't the same).
No, TYCO equipment doesn't run well & isn't highly collectible, but their product brings back good memories for me. I pretty much destroyed my equipment over the years (I think I got my first set at 10 years old & when my teenage years kicked-in, my interests went elsewhere & so did my care of my collection). Luckily through both eBay & swap meets, I've been able to piece back most of my collection. It still runs like crap, but it still makes me smile just the same & reminds me of Christmases of my childhood.
PRR's advertisement "Holiday Homecoming" from 1948.
That being said, I want to wish you & yours a Merry Christmas & a Happy Chanukah & make memories with your friends & family!
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