Large Scale Central

The 2nd Issue of the LGB Depesche for 2008 Editorial

General Discussion
#21
Tim Brien said:
A point I find amusing is that, apart from a few well-known respondents, most of the comments are from people who do not actually purchase the product or actually have an interest in the subject. There is nothing devisive in the comments in the editorial. The editor is merely commenting that European production is ramping up, hard to get items are finally making it to market and to date, no distribution arrangement has been made for the American market. He was simply stating facts. Why would anyone actually feel the need to criticise his statements?
Tim, belated Happy Birthday!

The editor of the Depesche relates what info he’s asked to relate. But reading the “doubting Thomas” routine is nothing new. It’s zzzzzzzzzz time.
BTW I’m quite convinced that LGBoA could have had the distributorship if only they had the “sense” to accept the conditions that Märklin stipulated. Must have been about the money as I wrote in another thread “It’s hard to p…s with the big dogs if you can’t lift your leg far enough”

Perhaps they should have a chat with their NA competitors to get a feel for the conditions the Chinese mfgs stipulate. The days of Nürnberg supporting the “potentially money losing LGBoA” are gone and they won’t be back. Who called them “potentially money losing”? EPL Patentwerk oHG in the Insolvency Announcement on their own website. :wink: Straight from the horse’s mouth?!? Sure sounds like it.

#22
Jack Barton said:
LES DITTRICH said:
"He knows what he is told". That sounds more like the LGB buying public and LGBoA/Silvergate to me. I suspect that "He knows more than he and his boss have decided to tell us" is far more accurate and certainlt less inflamatory. i am of course assuming that the American expression "hired" means "employee". Les
I guess it is pretty easy to "Inflame" you. Employee = not management. If it helps you understand, the negotiations on distribution have been with the Märklin management team not with the LGB management team.

Jack


Hey Jack, that has been clear for some time. There are no “old EPL flunkies” on the Märklin management team, are there? Nobody who could be sweet talked like in the good old days to do another wink-wink nudge-nudge deal, wouldn’t that be a bitch? Just a straight forward "These are our customary conditions. If you would like different terms we are open to discussions on certain items, however we have a strict list for those discussions, they include

  1. …

  2. …

  3. …

Please let us know"

Wouldn’t that be a different approach, sheeeeeeeeeeeet you could almost call it an arm’s length proposition! A completely new feel to things, eh? :wink: :smiley: :wink:

#23

JUMBO DUMBO echos again! zzzzzzzzzzzz

#24

The article explaining that Amtrak was going to celebrate National Train Day on May 10 came it quite handy. Well not really. Too bad the magazine didn’t get here until Mid-June. I hae been critical of some parts of the Depesche since it came out. Most having to do with the translations from German to Eglish. I always felt they could read better if they allowed someone who is a natural born English speaker to review. They already have a person who writes the US articles who could do this. They should take advantage of him.
LAO

#25

Hey Jack, you weren’t asleep after all?!

Still a sore spot with you that the Depesche and the Telegram were folded … into one? :slight_smile: It’s that duplication which must have cost “the Boys” the major grieve, eh? Better save some money somewhere, rationalise and uncomplicate things, eh?
Imagine that, a new guy being appointed to do the “In-House rag” and the Kollektor’s kollektive wisdom now being shuffled into a different slot, that would take some getting used to, wouldn’t it?

And all that in advance of the major upheaval, followed by some “nimble” steps to “disown” the LGBMRRC on account of them not being a viable operation but possibly a liability, or wasn’t that the phrasing? And since we all know that hindsight is 20/20, wasn’t that a cheeky move when one considers who was already in hot financial waters? :slight_smile: :slight_smile: I guess that $100 gift certificate for the monthly draw of the LGBMRRC along with the other support was a “real waste of money” and an awful waste of resources, or was it? :slight_smile:
Actually I thought it was just a harbinger of things to come since there were certain indicators in the “Fatherland” which didn’t paint such a rosy picture.

Soooooo as I like to say: I’m old and gray like an elephant and my memory hardly ever fails me. But come to think of it you’re even older, so it must be the difference in your memory function. A little bit on the selective side, is it? Kollektor’s syndrome that prevents you from retaining some of the more niggly detail?
That’s OK Jack, in your specific circles that’s not a handicap, quite a few would like to forget quite a few things. :smiley: :wink: :smiley: :lol:

#26
Larry Otis said:
The article explaining that Amtrak was going to celebrate National Train Day on May 10 came it quite handy. Well not really. Too bad the magazine didn't get here until Mid-June. LAO
Larry,

You’re only as well informed as the material you read. :confused: :wink: :slight_smile: Depending on the Depesche for timely News? Not a good plan. :smiley:

OTOH I can highly recommend the Summer edition of “Classic Trains”, Pullman 'til your eyes glaze over and more info about passenger trains than one can absorb in one sitting.

#27

Jack,
on a positive note, are you involved in the ‘Rolling Stock Archive’? I did enjoy reading the production variations in models and believe that resurrecting the archive will benefit those with a genuine interest in the marque.

#28

Tim,
No, I haven’t been involved with the latest rendition of Depesche. After many years with Telegram and the newer English Depesche, I was reaching a natural end point. I had actually tried to beg off during the last couple of years before the end. I was simply running out of good stories that interested me.
I was never “allowed” to contribute modeling stories and that is what I’m up to now. I’m working on my indoor shelf layout. I do remain active with the battery set collection and will someday compile all the data that I have. Should I live long enough :smiley:

Jack

#29
Hans-Joerg Mueller said:
Still a sore spot with you that the Depesche and the Telegram were folded .... into one? Imagine that, a new guy being appointed to do the "In-House rag" and the Kollektor's kollektive wisdom now being shuffled into a different slot, that would take some getting used to, wouldn't it?

followed by some “nimble” steps to “disown” the LGBMRRC on account of them not being a viable operation but possibly a liability,
Actually I thought it was just a harbinger

Soooooo as I like to say: I’m old and gray like an elephant and my memory hardly ever fails me. But come to think of it you’re even older, so it must be the difference in your memory function.


Heer J.D.

I’ll let you know that I forget an item or two on occasion, but at least I don’t suffer the delusions of someone so remote from reality. You and Kurt do have a lot in common. Socialist works of fiction for the unwashed masses.

I was thrilled with the new Depesche. I now had an audience in two languages and thoroughly enjoyed working with Thomas. He’s a really great, enthusiastic and funny guy. Especially considering he was an East German border guard in a former life. But then I have had some similar jobs in my past. I really hated to turn him down when things started back up.

Instead of being on the outside looking in, I was privy to the LGBMRRC books and they made me uncomfortable! I also knew the fellows that organized the conventions and was aware of the personal “benefits” that could “accrue”. I was asked to join “that” part of the club and declined. I have a lot of great friends in the club and do miss those conventions. But I had been recommending an international club to Lehmann for many years prior and stuck by my opinion. I’m sure you would like to know the real figures of Lehmann’s contribution to the old club, but you’ll have to continue smoking your weed till you “hit” on another cute conjure.

You see, most people here don’t realize what a hard on you have for old line German families. Someday we’ll all find out together.

So it goes!

#30
Hans-Joerg Mueller said:
Larry Otis said:
The article explaining that Amtrak was going to celebrate National Train Day on May 10 came it quite handy. Well not really. Too bad the magazine didn't get here until Mid-June. LAO
Larry,

You’re only as well informed as the material you read. :confused: :wink: :slight_smile: Depending on the Depesche for timely News? Not a good plan. :smiley:

OTOH I can highly recommend the Summer edition of “Classic Trains”, Pullman 'til your eyes glaze over and more info about passenger trains than one can absorb in one sitting.


Don’t depend on them at all HJ. Actually just glance through them now. The Amtrak article just stood out in my mind when I went through it. I do enjoy “Classic Trains”. Railpace Magazine which covers the Northeast is one of my favorites as well. In regards to the LGB News in Depesche they will print whal shows Marklin/LGB in the best of light as much as they can. You can’t fault them for that as it is that manufacturer’s magazine.
LAO

#31

Just realized that I spoke harshly to Les on his Birthday.

My humble apologies my good man. Nobody deserves a short remark on their anniversary. I wish you many more!

Jack

#32
Jack Barton said:
Heer J.D.

I’ll let you know that I forget an item or two on occasion, but at least I don’t suffer the delusions of someone so remote from reality. You and Kurt do have a lot in common. Socialist works of fiction for the unwashed masses.

I was thrilled with the new Depesche. I now had an audience in two languages and thoroughly enjoyed working with Thomas. He’s a really great, enthusiastic and funny guy. Especially considering he was an East German border guard in a former life. But then I have had some similar jobs in my past. I really hated to turn him down when things started back up.

Instead of being on the outside looking in, I was privy to the LGBMRRC books and they made me uncomfortable! I also knew the fellows that organized the conventions and was aware of the personal “benefits” that could “accrue”. I was asked to join “that” part of the club and declined. I have a lot of great friends in the club and do miss those conventions. But I had been recommending an international club to Lehmann for many years prior and stuck by my opinion. I’m sure you would like to know the real figures of Lehmann’s contribution to the old club, but you’ll have to continue smoking your weed till you “hit” on another cute conjure.

You see, most people here don’t realize what a hard on you have for old line German families. Someday we’ll all find out together.

So it goes!


Jack,

I always marvel when you show a bit of emotion. :lol: Aside from your Kollektor existence, do you enjoy music? Are you familiar with the song called “Tennessee Stud”? No, no that’s not you, not likely, not likely. I just wondered if you would be interested in a slight variation about a Jack-Ass in Tennessee, since you so firmly established that there’s at least one.? I’m pretty good at coming up with new lyrics to popular songs, usually a big hit at some roasting send-off.

But getting back to the real topic i.e. Depesche, tell me did you write the ultimate treatise on LGB plastic wheels? That is such an utterly fascinating subject, I hope you didn’t overlook it. :wink: :slight_smile:

PS On those German families, sheesh must be your memory again. I mentioned that my maternal grand parents immigrated from Germany to Switzerland, didn’t I? Always got a kick out of the tales about the “not so good old days”, especially the fine distinctions between the Badenser and the Schwaben. I’m sure your wife can fill you in on those! :lol: :lol:

#33

Dear Jack,

Yes, I am 46 years young today.
As i sit here in London at my desk, typing and gazing south acros the Thames to the Greenwich Royal Observatory and the National Maritime Museum, the sun is shining and all is well. I’ve just had a steaming mug of tea plus bacon and eggs delivered by SWMBO.

And I accept your apology.

But don’t feel (too) guilty on my part - I can take it just as well as the rest of them.

Rgds

Les

#34

As someone who is decidedly outside of any inner loops in regards to the manufacturers, I can only try to parse what I read online for tidbits of the real story. I can only confirm that items listed for sale online are often “backordered”, but I have started seeing more items listed as “not available”.

Unfortunately the internet and mail order are the only real options I have for acquiring anything beyond the basics. I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s local hobby/train shops carry little, if any large scale. I can find plenty of HO, and even more products from Lionel O scale. But even in the best of time only a few LGB items were kept in stock. From that perspective, I have actually seen more LGB locally in recent months, thanks to distributor closeouts. If more products end up getting to the U.S., its not likely they will ever make it to my local stores. (If I see something I really want, I can always order it from Europe.) :wink: