Large Scale Central

New rumor , Maerklin for Sale

General Discussion
#1

Here A column of a German Newspaper (Neue Wurtenbergische Zeitung Goeppingen)

Rumor spreads: Maerklin for sale?
here a rough translation: Maerklin In Goepingen Germany might be for sale again. This Weekend several indications came up that Maerklin has to make a few important decisions. Rumor hast that the CEO Axel Dietz will be replaced. Since Maerklin did not produce any gain so far, and this year the business was not as expected, it looks like Kingsbridge is loosing interest on the Goeppinger firm. Since this weekend Insiders of the model train business speculate on a contemplating sale. Rumor has that Modellbahn-holding Salzburg, Rico Fleischmann are a potential buyer. In adition multimillionare Martin Viesmann, uncle of the model train manufacturer Wieland Viessmann seems to be interested.
Within the Insiders of toy train manufacturer, rumor has that there will be changes in the management. For this Friday a meeting with Union and management is planed. The 2009 Anniversary which was planed by Marklin, is already official canceled.

Gerüchteküche brodelt: Märklin vor Verkauf?
Göppingen. Der Göppinger Modellbahnbauer Märklin steht offenbar vor einem erneuten Verkauf: Am Wochenende verdichteten sich Hinweise, dass in den nächsten Tagen in dem Unternehmen wichtige Entscheidungen anstehen. Auch über eine Ablösung von Geschäftsführer Axel Dietz wird spekuliert. Nachdem Märklin entgegen früherer Aussagen nicht aus den roten Zahlen herauskommt und sich der Umsatz in diesem Jahr nicht wie geplant entwickelt, scheint der Finanzinvestor Kingsbridge Capital das Interesse an dem Göppinger Traditionsbetrieb zu verlieren. Seit dem Wochenende wird in Branchenkreisen über einen bevorstehenden Verkauf spekuliert. Neben der Modellbahn-Holding in Salzburg (Rico, Fleischmann) werden von der Internationalen Eisenbahn-Presse Vereinigung (Stuttgart) auch Kaufinteressenten aus Hongkong und Australien ins Gespräch gebracht, ebenso wie der Multimillionär und Heizungsbauer Martin Viessmann, Onkel des Modellbahnzubehör-Herstellers Wieland Viessmann. In der Branche wird auch über personelle Veränderungen an der Firmenspitze gemunkelt. Für Freitag ist ein Gespräch zwischen Geschäftsführung und Gewerkschaft zur aktuellen Geschäftslage geplant. Der für das Märklin-Jubiläumsjahr 2009 vorgesehene Modellbahn-Treff soll bereits dem Rotstift zum Opfer gefallen sein. gra

#2

new? I read about this a week ago over on gscalemad. who cares?

-Brian

#3

Not that surprising, we always expected Kingsbridge might sell off Marklin, that was discussed back when they picked up LGB. Be interesting to see who might nibble the bait though if this happens.

#4

HJ is frantically gathering info as we speak to add to his collection…
:slight_smile: :slight_smile: :slight_smile:

#5
Brian Donovan said:
new? I read about this a week ago over on gscalemad. who cares?

-Brian


Brian,

Actually the rumour has been going around for months. :wink:

Even the newspapers term it rumour

SWP said:
Gerüchteküche brodelt

(rumours on the bubble), OTOH the way things have been going …

JB,

That info has been on file for some time, with regular updates from sources.

Vic,

Bait? Fish that may swallow line, hook and sinker?

Hornby, Kader, Modellbahn-Holding (Roco, Fleischmann), Viessmann, …

#6
Brian Donovan said:
new? I read about this a week ago over on gscalemad. who cares?

-Brian


Hi Brian,
you are right, rumor travel fast, but if a daily on site newspaper writes about it, it is a different ball game. For me it is new that there will be a meeting between the Union and the Maerklin management, such details are important.

think global Pius

#7

Pius,

Is that the same meeting that was scheduled for week before last? Or would that be yet another meeting? :slight_smile: :wink: :smiley:

#8

It’s just a matter of time…

#9
John Bouck said:
HJ is frantically gathering info as we speak to add to his collection............................... :) :) :)
we know we know
#10
John Joseph Sauer said:
It's just a matter of time.......
certainly, we all "...... wait until next week!" :) :O

And when it gets more interesting there will be items to translate, eh! So far nothing unusual other than the MRR slump seems far from over (Please note MRR stands for model railroad, not TOY trains!). There are other “consolidating moves” on the bubble, plenty of talk about it in the industry.

#11
PJ said:
John Bouck said:
HJ is frantically gathering info as we speak to add to his collection............................... :) :) :)
we know we know
That's possible, but in this case what you know counts as much as who you know, if not more, trust me! :P :D :P
#12
Victor Smith said:
Not that surprising, we always expected Kingsbridge might sell off Marklin, that was discussed back when they picked up LGB. Be interesting to see who might nibble the bait though if this happens.
Hey Victor,

Somehow i have a hard time with that picture, Maerklin hanging out a bait and pulls a big fish on land. The Picture i see is more like big fish eats small fish.

“Geruechte Kueche brodelt” translation to English. Definitive no bubbles like described somewhere else. Kueche means Kitchen. Geruecht means Rumor. Brodelt means Boiling.

think global Pius

#13
PJ said:
Victor Smith said:
Not that surprising, we always expected Kingsbridge might sell off Marklin, that was discussed back when they picked up LGB. Be interesting to see who might nibble the bait though if this happens.
Hey Victor,

Somehow i have a hard time with that picture, Maerklin hanging out a bait and pulls a big fish on land. The Picture i see is more like big fish eats small fish.

“Geruechte Kueche brodelt” translation to English. Definitive no bubbles like described somewhere else. Kueche means Kitchen. Geruecht means Rumor. Brodelt means Boiling.

think global Pius


Pius,

It’s not that you misunderstand the German meaning, it’s just that you don’t get the meaning of “on the bubble”. But don’t worry, it took me some time to get the more intricate meanings of the English language, too. As they say “Hope springs eternal …” :slight_smile:

PS our ESL teacher in Switzerland addressed the class one day - must have been one of those “glorious days” - he said “Ladies and Gentlemen, if you keep on translating everything literally you may be understood by some of the englishspeaking populace, however you will also appear a bit of a dolt.” (excuse me, but I’m paraphrasing!)
That little address did me a lot of good, along with a few other “minor matters” in the past years. One of them was doing the editing for the BC/AB pages of the “Swiss Review”, it was quite an eye-opener to read some of the contributions from people who have been here since the 50s and early 60s.

#14
Hans-Joerg Mueller said:
Vic,

Bait? Fish that may swallow line, hook and sinker?

Hornby, Kader, Modellbahn-Holding (Roco, Fleischmann), Viessmann, …


KADER?..holy crap I hope not, I dont want to be the Beta tester for Bachmann AND Lehmann :o:lol:

#15
Victor Smith said:
Hans-Joerg Mueller said:
Vic,

Bait? Fish that may swallow line, hook and sinker?

Hornby, Kader, Modellbahn-Holding (Roco, Fleischmann), Viessmann, …


KADER?..holy crap I hope not, I dont want to be the Beta tester for Bachmann AND Lehmann :o:lol:

There is no such thing as Lehmann anymore.

#16

Oh No.

I was under the impression LGB stood for Lehmann Gross Bahn.

#17
John Joseph Sauer said:
Victor Smith said:
Hans-Joerg Mueller said:
Vic,

Bait? Fish that may swallow line, hook and sinker?

Hornby, Kader, Modellbahn-Holding (Roco, Fleischmann), Viessmann, …


KADER?..holy crap I hope not, I dont want to be the Beta tester for Bachmann AND Lehmann :o:lol:

There is no such thing as Lehmann anymore.

Contrary to what Marvin would have us believe, LGB® is alive, the Lehmann Gross Bahn trademark was part of the package that Märklin was awarded on July 26, 2007.

That day is also known as " … wait until next week!" Day in commemoration of the occasion! :wink: :slight_smile:

BTW the disclaimer/denial as to the “accuracy” of the “Märklin is for sale” rumour can be found here http://www.wallstreet-online.de/nachrichten/nachricht/2488562.html

#18

And as some one already said WHO CARES? Let them duck it out over there, as long as I can get trucks, couplers, and detail parts I can build all I need as far as rolling stock is concerned.

Loco may be an other issue! But maybe I need to look into that as well.

Paul

#19
TonyWalsham said:
Oh No.

I was under the impression LGB stood for Lehmann Gross Bahn.


“Stood” is correct. But LGB® no longer STANDS for Lehmann. Although Märklin owns all of the old marks, I can’t find any evidence that they have used “Lehmann” in any form regarding the product they are selling. Including the removal of “Lehmann” from all tooling. JJ is correct!

#20

As far as I’m concerned the day the Factory closed was the end of Ernst Paul Lehmann Patentwerk.
I hope the sale rumors are true and someone who actually cares about the hobby and the product will buy the name and tooling.