Large Scale Central

Hot off the presses! Marklin signs distribution deal with Walthe

General Discussion
#21
Wendell Hanks said:
Further, my best guess is LGB is a trademark owned by the purchaser of LGB, Germany. If it is not, what in the world of common reason is going on? It is beyond me, and you have read this assertion from me before, how a company can segment itself just prior to announcing bankruptcy, relocate merchandise and production away from the parent company, and sell itself to self, and then after bankruptcy, the new owners own only half a company? Common sense tells me there are legal suits abounding in Germany.

Second guess is LGB of Germany is not going to contest who owns LGB of America – just let it go its way. The LGB name will be of little use if there is no western product for it to “distribute”.

Wendell


Wendell, Just to clerify, LGB of America is the only company with the rights to the LGB name. The company that was sold to Marklin was EPL (Ernst Paul Lehman) Patenwork company. This company has been around since 1881. LGBoA was sold to the G45 group to avoid bankruptcy and became a seperate entity in 2006. It should also be made clear that the LGB name was never part of the name of the company EPL Patenwork; it was simply a division that started out of the compnay in 1968. If/ when Marklin decides to produce the beloved g scale trains once again, it is my understanding that they will not be able to retain the LGB name unless given permission by or exclusively ditribuyed by LGBoA.

As Hans said, the agreement between Marklin and Walthers pertains to products other than “LGB” stuff. LGBoA is currently working on a contract to become a distrubtor of EPL product for 2008.

-David

#22

David,
the intitial agreement was that LGBoA had worldwide marketting rights to the LGB name, outside of Germany. Lehmann retained those rights inside of Germany. Sounds ominously like you may be in the employ of LGBoA (not a criticism, simply an observation). Historically, many would like to see LGBoA continue as the American distributor of Lehmann products. However, the new Lehmann management (Marklin) have no such historical allegiances. Marklin may possibly be starving the world, outside of Germany, of LGB products by producing just enough product to satisfy the local German market. Marklin have rights to the LGB name in Germany.

The legaility of the ‘transfer’ of assets, just prior to declaring insolvency has yet to be tested in court, so I feel that Marklin is simply ignoring the American market hoping to starve LGBoA out of existence. When LGBoA had the brothers Grimm on their side, it was easy to do deals. Now LGBoA have a capital venture company to contend with (no buddy/buddy deals). This I believe will impact on the future security of the company - Marklin do not want LGBoA as their American distributor.

ps - LGB is and was a trademark of EPL. One cannot separate the two. If Marklin purchased EPL, then they purchased all trademarks held by that company - lock, stock and barrel.

#23

We can only see what will happen in the future1
-David

#24

Well if they are trying to “starve LGBoA out of existence” they better buy Piko !
I think Piko will be the ace up thier sleeve. Who knows maybe they’ll become Piko USA and knock Märklin out of the US market.
I’ve seen Piko’s track- very impressive!

#25

Track is only one aspect, Piko is going to have to start produced a tub of engines and cars to ever knock LGB/Marklin off that pedastal.

Of course if Marklin sells off them Chinese molds…that would be a foot up if Piko could get them

#26
Tim Brien said:
............................................

ps - LGB is and was a trademark of EPL. One cannot separate the two. If Marklin purchased EPL, then they purchased all trademarks held by that company - lock, stock and barrel.


Tim,

It’s the above that a lot of people have problems absorbing and comprehending. :wink: :wink:
But that’s OK, it took me about two years until I really understood how a transistor works - must be my mechanical background :wink: :D. So there’s hope that eventually some of those people will grasp the concept of “acquiring the assets of EPL Patentwerk oHG”.

#27
Victor Smith said:
Track is only one aspect, Piko is going to have to start produced a tub of engines and cars to ever knock LGB/Marklin off that pedastal.

Of course if Marklin sells off them Chinese molds…that would be a foot up if Piko could get them


Vic,

Track is one aspect and since PIKO track comes at a “slightly elevated” price, has a completely different geometry - as in how does what fall into which grid - from the LGB track and is a bit more toy like - strictly my opinion after drawing a PIKO library and doing some test track plans - it remains to be seen how much market segment it will get.

Second sentence is a big “if”. :wink: :slight_smile: :wink:
“If” they do that, those moulds will fetch top dollar. :wink: :slight_smile: And since PIKO and Märklin had one or two differences of opinion, that price could be really, really high. :wink: :slight_smile:

#28
Victor Smith said:
Track is only one aspect, Piko is going to have to start produced a tub of engines and cars to ever knock LGB/Marklin off that pedastal.

Of course if Marklin sells off them Chinese molds…that would be a foot up if Piko could get them


Well Piko certainly has the advantage of being able to bring new products to market as oppossed to reissuing a lot of old models that have been “done to death”!
I think you underestimate the threat they pose to the big investment group.

#29
Hans-Joerg Mueller said:
Victor Smith said:
Track is only one aspect, Piko is going to have to start produced a tub of engines and cars to ever knock LGB/Marklin off that pedastal.

Of course if Marklin sells off them Chinese molds…that would be a foot up if Piko could get them


Vic,

Track is one aspect and since PIKO track comes at a “slightly elevated” price, has a completely different geometry - as in how does what fall into which grid - from the LGB track and is a bit more toy like - strictly my opinion after drawing a PIKO library and doing some test track plans - it remains to be seen how much market segment it will get.

Second sentence is a big “if”. :wink: :slight_smile: :wink:
“If” they do that, those moulds will fetch top dollar. :wink: :slight_smile: And since PIKO and Märklin had one or two differences of opinion, that price could be really, really high. :wink: :slight_smile:


Piko track is more “toylike”?
If this is what you are saying you obviously haven’t physically had a piece of Piko track in your hands.

#30
John Joseph Sauer said:
Hans-Joerg Mueller said:
Victor Smith said:
Track is only one aspect, Piko is going to have to start produced a tub of engines and cars to ever knock LGB/Marklin off that pedastal.

Of course if Marklin sells off them Chinese molds…that would be a foot up if Piko could get them


Vic,

Track is one aspect and since PIKO track comes at a “slightly elevated” price, has a completely different geometry - as in how does what fall into which grid - from the LGB track and is a bit more toy like - strictly my opinion after drawing a PIKO library and doing some test track plans - it remains to be seen how much market segment it will get.

Second sentence is a big “if”. :wink: :slight_smile: :wink:
“If” they do that, those moulds will fetch top dollar. :wink: :slight_smile: And since PIKO and Märklin had one or two differences of opinion, that price could be really, really high. :wink: :slight_smile:


Piko track is more “toylike”?
If this is what you are saying you obviously haven’t physically had a piece of Piko track in your hands.

JJ,

Looks to me like you still haven’t learned how to read properly. :frowning:

HJ said:
...... has a completely different geometry - as in how does what fall into which grid - from the LGB track and is a bit more toy like - strictly my opinion after drawing a PIKO library and doing some test track plans - .........
I know it's a problem if the sentence includes more than just a comma. I'll take the "Return of the Ventilators" into consideration and revert back to simple sentence structure with double spacing for more clarity. ;) :) ;)
#31

Marvin has to have two (or more) identities so he can think he understands what is said and then reply under another name just to prove he doesn’t.

#32

Funny part is, his “distinctive writing style” gives him away and others reason to smile. :wink: :slight_smile:

#33

The NTF is but a hop skip and jump away and I am sure that the marklin staff are going to be deluged with questions and provide interviews which will appear on the internet. Let’s just wait awhile…
My own “first impression” view of the Piko track geometry was that it bore more resemblence to lego duplo train track geometry than anything else on the market
Les.

#34
LES DITTRICH said:
The NTF is but a hop skip and jump away and I am sure that the marklin staff are going to be deluged with questions and provide interviews which will appear on the internet. Let's just wait awhile... My own "first impression" view of the Piko track geometry was that it bore more resemblence to lego duplo train track geometry than anything else on the market Les.
I just had to go and have a look at the LEGO DUPLO track, I see what you mean. ;) :)
#35
LES DITTRICH said:
The NTF is but a hop skip and jump away and I am sure that the marklin staff are going to be deluged with questions and provide interviews which will appear on the internet. Let's just wait awhile... My own "first impression" view of the Piko track geometry was that it bore more resemblence to lego duplo train track geometry than anything else on the market Les.
Have you actually had a piece of Piko's track in your hands? It amazes me how people can make judgments about a product that thet may or may not have even seen! Piko has done thier homework and designed a complete track system before producing a stick of track. I don't really understand the comparison to Lego track. Is this supposed to be funny?
#36

You’re right HJ. He can’t read.

Track geometry can be studied and compared on spec alone. One doesn’t need a sample.

Jon

#37
Jon Radder said:
You're right HJ. He can't read.

Track geometry can be studied and compared on spec alone. One doesn’t need a sample.

Jon


Jon,

Some people like to argue without considering

a) the facts (as in “It’s about the geometry, Stupid!”)

b) whatever someone else has written.

:wink: :slight_smile: :wink:

PS perhaps JJ should download the PDF file, print it out, then photocopy it, cut out the different track components and assemble some track configurations. Wouldn’t want him to bother with a CAD program! :wink: :confused:

#38

To me it’s a “wait and see” time but the complaints I’ve read about Walters not delivering what they advertise concerns me.

#39
John Joseph Sauer said:
LES DITTRICH said:
The NTF is but a hop skip and jump away and I am sure that the marklin staff are going to be deluged with questions and provide interviews which will appear on the internet. Let's just wait awhile... My own "first impression" view of the Piko track geometry was that it bore more resemblence to lego duplo train track geometry than anything else on the market Les.
Have you actually had a piece of Piko's track in your hands? It amazes me how people can make judgments about a product that thet may or may not have even seen! Piko has done thier homework and designed a complete track system before producing a stick of track. I don't really understand the comparison to Lego track. Is this supposed to be funny?
I have no comment on the manufacturing quality of the track as I have never held a piece in my hands. My comments were about the geometry which has been wonderfully summarised by the examples on the piko website. Well I have a great deal of experience building lego duplo layouts with my son and it occurred to me that the rather angular and sharp curve nature of the piko geometry examples could be replicated using lego duplo track. I guess it says something about the quality of the lego duplo track rather than any perceived "deficiency" of the piko track. It's a pity there isn't an adaptor track as the duplo track is way way cheaper...

Yes, my comment was a little below the belt, but not entirely unjustifed. Keep smiling.

Les

#40

I still don’t understand the negative comments about the Piko track system since none of you apparently own any of the track.