Large Scale Central

A 2010 report on LGB worthwhile?

General Discussion
#1

Any reliable current picture of our favorite mystery company?

Some input:

At the all-guage Los Angeles Train show last weekend (January 2-3), I saw the expected collective of LGB products on display from three vendors – all “appeared” to be old stock. Hmmmm. One vendor made clear Marklin is manufacturing and the products are here. Another was adamant that anything coming from Germany is old stock:

Consider Marklin did publish a brochure available in 2009 --a simple catalogue? – of products acclaimed to be “new.” Were any of those listed manufactured and did they reach our shores? I got this brochure at the Big Train Show last year at the Marklin/LGB booth.

Meanwhile somebody thinks they have new stock and and advertises it: Check TrainWorld’s ad listings under LGB in Garden Railways and see the bold headings and the moniker “NEW” as a flashpoint in their listing of several locos and rolling stock.

Watts has published their own story of LGB’s status in the same issue of Garden Railways.

Adding to this tea cup consipiracy of confusion was a sales person’s admonition “Don’t buy a ‘new’ starter set that’s made in China or one of the “new” China produced locos – they don’t hold up!”

Buy what doesn’t exist?

Is there anything but fantasy?

Wendell

#2

Walthers shows quite an inventory listed as “in stock”.

http://www.walthers.com/exec/search?category=&scale=G&manu=LGB&item=&keywords=&words=restrict&instock=Y&split=300&Submit=Search

#3

According to press reports the people/parties who expressed interest were either not suitable or lost interest or both. In short: no buyer in sight. This could have as much to do with the conditions set by the trustee, as the general malaise in the industry.

#4

It’s very hard to imagine where all the new items are actually coming from. Our local LGB specialist is full up to the ceiling with new stock of stuff - mostly European it must be said, but there nonetheless - he has just spent almost $1/3M on stock from somewhere…new locos with new MTS systems, RhB till it comes out of your ears.

Guess it must be an American thing.

tac
www.ovgrs.org

#5
John Bouck said:
Walthers shows quite an inventory listed as "in stock".

http://www.walthers.com/exec/search?category=&scale=G&manu=LGB&item=&keywords=&words=restrict&instock=Y&split=300&Submit=Search


Not a lot in the way of locos and rolling stock. Most of their locos/rolling stock is mostley European stuff. Plus at those prices one wonders why they are not doing well. $140 for a two axel box car. What are they thinking. All I need is a flatcat from HLW or Bachmann and I can make anything for a fraction of the cost of an LGB.

#6

HJ: I read that one of the requirements for finding any new owners for Marklin was that were European and would guarentee most production would remain in Europe, guess that has proven to be far more difficult in practice than in theory. I also read that if this wasnt part of the puzzle, Kader would almost certainly become the new owner as they have both the cash and the capability to continue production, with the caviet that it would all shift to China with all that entails.

Shawn: Its not Walthers fault entirely for the loony prices, Marklin has never been affordable, its part of their mindset and they’ve carried that mindset into the new LGB product line. That mindset is also why Marklin has pretty much priced itself out of the market. Also Marklin has never considered US a primary market, Europe and the rest of the world are far higher on their priority list than here.

#7
Shawn said:
John Bouck said:
Walthers shows quite an inventory listed as "in stock".

http://www.walthers.com/exec/search?category=&scale=G&manu=LGB&item=&keywords=&words=restrict&instock=Y&split=300&Submit=Search


Not a lot in the way of locos and rolling stock. Most of their locos/rolling stock is mostley European stuff. Plus at those prices one wonders why they are not doing well. $140 for a two axel box car. What are they thinking. All I need is a flatcat from HLW or Bachmann and I can make anything for a fraction of the cost of an LGB.

That’s full retail.
A Walthers dealer, (like my own LHS) gets a substantial discount off of that price. (Up to 50%).
If you have a relationship and are friends with your local, and if he likes you as well for your years of business with him, he will pass the savings on to you.

#8

Fair summary of postings:
1 - Tac’s LGB dealer is full to the ceiling with LGB products.
2 - Walthers has a large offering.
3 - Shawn reports product is European style product.

Are contributors seeing “old stock” or new product produced either in Germany or China?

Considering the “brand name” value in LGB, and the German product reputation for loco motor block durability, will we be able to purchase future locos with the same durability reputation?
OR
Has the old stock been depleted and are the replacement locos (do they actually exist?) inferior?

Wendell

#9

I have a new car sitting on my desk here, 31090.

For starters, marked as made in Hungary.

It is from Lehmann era tooling (Saxon passenger car) but with Marklin markings on the car and box, and in a road name and markings, Epoche II DRG complete with the “Adler”, an era and road name Lehmann never touched.

And while it came from Walthers, it was not sold at Walthers’ MSRP but came from a Walthers dealer.

Other than the one RhB resturant car, I am thinking that no other “new” items (tooling) that Lehmann were working on have come to light? Two that I remember that were “close” were:

the little Vulcan built FKB loco:

http://gbdb.info/details.php?image_id=998&mode=search&l=english

…and the USRA 0-6-0?

http://www.trains.com/grw/default.aspx?c=a&id=720

#10

Picked up my “Heidi” (20271) today, clearly marked “Made in Hungary”, report to follow.

#11

I’m glad I purchased my LGB trains when I did. Our local dealer was selling off his inventory I made some really good buys.
I purchased 1 040 steamer with PRR road name & extra baggage car. I got some large boxcars a gramps tank car.
But the best buy is the big B&O streamline steam passenger train. Great set has the best sound I have heard.

#12

Guys;
I almost forgot to mention that on ebay last week I saw 2 streamline B&O passenger cars one was a dome and one was a plain car.
The dome car went for $450.00 and the other I think went for $400.99. All I can say is WOW! I wish I had a few cases of those.

CEO of the 101 Line

#13

HJ, I am cosidering one of those I will be very interested in what you have to say.

#14

A representative at Walthers affirmed that there is manufacturing at the LGB/Marklin plant in Hungary. Both locos and cars are being produced.
Wendell

#15

Wendell,

That is really NOT News!

Pluta keeps on saying that they’re in the black - don’t ask ME how he defines that - and he feels unhurried as far as finding a buyer is concerned. Again, don’t ask me how and with what he keeps whichever creditors at bay. OTOH thinking back to the first LGB insolvency and the “business as usual” spiel spouted at the time, this could be the standard MO for German insolvency trustees. Probably took the same subjects at the “university of optimism”. :wink: :slight_smile:

#16
Wendell Hanks said:
A representative at Walthers affirmed that there is manufacturing at the LGB/Marklin plant in Hungary. Both locos and cars are being produced. Wendell
Well, yes. Marklin have been building stuff in Gyor Hungary for 15-20 years. The Maxi items I have seen came from there.
#17

You’ll like this:

According to an insider report out of Germany - a delegation from LIONEL was - some time before Christmas - at Märklin Göppingen and Györ.

Press report quotes Pluta : anticipated € 4-5 million in the black (EBIT) in contrast to the 16 million in the red the previous year.

http://www.swp.de/ulm/nachrichten/wirtschaft/art1157836,293614

#18

Hans,
I think you and I have the same informant .

Mike

#19

Mike,

Quite possible, but not necessarily certain.

@ et al

Little drips and drabs of News out of Märklin for months and then all of a sudden there’s a gush. Go figure! :confused:

#20

Anyhoo… What about the quality on that M/LGB Heidi HJ?