From the newly revamp Garden Railways/Trains website;
Marklin annoucing to import and distribute LGB in the US beginning next year
http://www.trains.com/grw/default.aspx?c=a&id=1190
Well aint this a surprise! …now that the dispute with LGBoA has been resolved … 
That’s interesting. I have to admit, there is still a lot I don’t understand about this whole thing. Everytime the subject comes up. It tuns into some incomprehensibly hostile back and forth and I cant tell why.
Question: Does this mean that Marklin will be making/selling LGB’s American styled products again? Or will it just be European prototypes?
Now ducking for cover and hoping an answer emerges
Mike,
The first question: It has a lot to do with certain people having a very hard time digesting that the Richters and their Ernst Paul Lehmann Patentwerk oHG went down the tubes. That wasn’t gonna happen since there was always “next week”.
What product will Märklin/LGB sell in NA? I haven’t seen the new catalogue, but going by the reports there was no US/NA product in the catalogue. So it’s wait and see.
ahhhh, ve Germans know best…crazy Americans will buy German trains if they have LGB marked on it… don’t need no Hamerican stuff… !!!..or something like that in the probable words of one of The Vogel Family…!!!
HJ; I do belive you meant to say: “What product will Marklin/LGB “TRY” to sell in North America”…!!!
Another “Starter set” is not what is needed. I see Lionel still peddaling those crappy looking sets in all sorts of places. They seem to get picked up by lonely housewives who are trying to keep their husbands home with them, and a hobby, rather than chasing young skirts after work…!!!
I know from first hand experience, after meeting some of these housewives trying to get rid of the sets after their husbands rejected the idea point blank.Then of course there are people that buy starter sets, only to find out that they are not what they want after they see the “Real looking stuff” that is actually out there. They then ask, "What should I do with this stuff…I’ve been known to tell them to give it to their wife’s pet cat/dog…or better still her boy friend !!!
The latest Starter set that I’ve seen is yet another bloody tank engine, with crappy looking rolling stock. Even the worst B’mann Big Hauler set sets the stage for some type of an introduction to the hobby, in a way that might promote the hobby properly.
Now there; instead of HJ bearing the brunt of his constant “Stirring”; I’m ready…throw it at me…go ahead you disleveled LGB LOVERS, and Circle Runners of where-ever. BATTERY POWER LIVES…down with track power, and DCC…Go breath some smoke fluid…and deafen yourselves with NOISE boxes…!!!
NOW…if you can’t laugh at that, and have a quick and cheerful come-back…GET A LIFE. It’s only a hobby, and I like it one way, others like it another, and I’ll defend their right to enjoy it their way, as long as they defend my right to say what I’ve said…in jest, BTW…!!! Or did some of you take offence already…!!!
Fred, Here’s a great starter set. Only five figures.
As their current catalog is hard-core German stuff, I would expect that to be in the first containers.
I agree when Fred says “try” to sell trains here. 2 big questions still stick in my mind.
Who will be the distributor?
What will the new prices be?
If Walthers get the sole distribution, forget about ever seeing Trainworld or RidgeRoad prices ever again. But if not Walthers who? Silvergate? Someone else?
I can just imagine what given the current Peso…err I mean Dollar to Euro exchange rate, what the asking prices will be like… ouch!
The USD has moved back a little against the euro and sterling. But stuff will still be expensive. At least now the silvergate/piko people can concentrate on their stuff and leave the lgb to marklin. All that sh!t can now be finally put to rest.
Les
LES DITTRICH said:[b] AMEN [/b]
The USD has moved back a little against the euro and sterling. But stuff will still be expensive. At least now the silvergate/piko people can concentrate on their stuff and leave the lgb to marklin. All that sh!t can now be finally put to rest. Les
At least until the spin doctors try to convert some more fairy tales into fact!
Vic,
When the melt-down gets done over in euro land we may get there stuff a lot cheaper here…
Bob,
:lol: :lol:
You must get out a bit more often and read a newspaper or two.
:lol: :lol:
Egads, I just remembered that I have a pile of Aluminium rail in 10 foot lengths in my side yard for 1" scale railroading. I know that there are about 200 lengths…I wonder if lit will go bad after 10 years !!!
Sheesh Fred, you’re sitting on a mint! :lol:
If the Reverend is sitting on a mint, I’m sitting on, well I dunno! 
I have well over a thousand feet of 4" aluminum irrigation pipe hidden out in the weeds in the south forty! I haven’t used it in 20 years.
Cripes, Now Tony or Steve will heist it when I ain’t home!
The prollem is, I have to cut it up in haul-able lengths. (No prollem with a sawzall, I guess).
And then I’d be accused of stealin it when I get to the recyclers!
There’s still a market for irrigation pipe (just like rail). Advertise it, sell it and you won’t have to cut it up.
Very annoying Avatar there Fred
Del Tapparo said:Appreciation of Fred's Avatar increases after a visit to The Abbey (aka Pub Italia, Ottawa). ;) :)
Very annoying Avatar there Fred
Per the news data, Walthers is the distributor.
Yipes! Here’s hopes that their catalogue is NOT the sole source for “distribution.” The prices are not competitive – just high. If anything, view the Walthers mailer as a photo link to future museum pieces.
Wendell