Currently both MTH and BLI advertise a PRR K-4 as their newest product release. Features mentioned by each sound alike however Mike's is to be metal instead of plastic. More interesting is a wireless tether from loco to tender by MTH? How do they do it?
Wireless tether?
Dec 09, 2004
4 Replies
That's interesting because Lionel has a patent on the technology. Lionel introduced the wireless tether several years ago on their higher end steam engines. It uses infrared technology to send signals to the sound and control boards.
Doesn't MTH own Lionel now? :C :)
Rob
Lionel can patent their *specific* method of a wireless tether from the loco to the tender, but they can't patent the general idea. If MTH uses their own method, they are not violating Lionel's patent.
I understand the way MTH did it was to attach the wire connector underneath the draw bar and when you connect the draw bar from the tender to the engine the connection is made.
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