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John Tyler began offering model trains from the birth of the HO-scale format,
1/87 the size of actual trains, under the Mantua name. In the 1950s, Tyler Manufacturing Company or TYCO arrived on the scene.
This '50s product line is often known to collectors as "the blue-box era." TYCO offered kit versions and later ready-to-run(RTR)
versions of various steam and early diesel era model trains in a light-blue packaging.
During the 1960s, the TYCO
line added HO-scale slot racing cars. The HO-scale train line saw growth and expansion during the time too. The '60s product
line is generally dubbed "the red-box era." Items from this time period are found in red TYCO boxes.
Consolidated
Foods purchased TYCO's model trains and HO-scale slot racing cars around 1970. This 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.
By the mid 1980s, TYCO products no longer carried the Consolidated Foods
ownership markings and TYCO INDUSTRIES emerges. TYCO's train line was becoming even more outlandish with items like "The A-Team"
and "Rambo" train sets. The line in general also was shrinking in total variety. The company added the "US-1 Trucking" slot
trucks to its line in 1981. The '80s also saw TYCO diversify into such things as "Super Blocks," which were similar and compatible
with LEGO blocks. The company also began offering telephones; remote-control vehicles; and other items beyond the model train
line.
The early '90s saw the demise of TYCO's train line, its last catalog appearance is in the 1993 TYCO catalog.
Production during these final years is quite different from what had been previously. Mehano, a foreign manufacturer, begins
supplying product about this time. This leads to some interesting odd pieces. For example, I have a "Rock Island Express"(No.7403)
train set from the early 1990s. The front of the box shows the Shark Nose pulling the train. The sides of the box show an
F-9A, and not TYCO's original F-9 either, in command of the train. Finally, once the box is open you have an Alco FA as power
for the train. Confusing to say the least! This adds another dimension to collecting TYCO offerings and cataloging their product
line.
IHC-International Hobby Corporation ended up with ownership of some remnants of this famous line of toy trains.
An example of the IHC involvement in the remnants of the TYCO line may be found in the IHC ad in the September 1995 MODEL
RAILROADER magazine. On page 51 of that issue of MR, you'll find IHC advertising a "CLOSEOUT on TYCO." Examples of the TYCO
items being offered then includes the GP-20 in BN listed with a retail of $44.98 -closeout priced by IHC for $7.98. Additionally,
IHC lists the Alco 430 in USA Express and the Super 630 in Santa Fe. Also found are a number of odd TYCO items including Operating
Accessories and various track pieces.
In the years since TYCO exited the HO-scale train market, IHC has offered various
former TYCO locos, kits and cars in new packaging and new roadnames. A recent example is IHC re-tooling and re-issue of the
old TYCO SD-24 in the fall of 2004.
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