The papers have been drawn up and signed. Marklin and LGBofA are officially divorced!
-Brian
Brian Donovan said:
The papers have been drawn up and signed. Marklin and LGBofA are officially divorced!-Brian
Hmmm…, that was hanging in the air for a long time now… Zubi
PS what does it mean in practical terms?
They will only be selling what’s left in the warehouse including parts for repairs. All tech and customer support will be handled by marklin.
-Brian
Brian, thanks. Well, that makes me wonder what is the point of sticking with the LGBoA name… Or maybe they will drop it? Best, Zubi
Sad day again…and I’ve got as much in Marklin Gauge 1 as LGB. But any lost resource for our great pastime is a loss …
Brian, how about a source?
Would that have been announced at the convention in Phoenix?
Jack Barton said:I'll just say it was on official LGBofA letterhead released by another large scale site. I'm sure all will become clear tomorrow.
Brian, how about a source?
-Brian
A move from Nancy Ridge and a name change has also been in the air for some time. 
Jack Barton said:
While we're waiting.http://www.piko.de/d/NEWS_2008/GrandOpeningChina/GrandOpeningChina.php
That is a very interesting read! Thanks! Tried to get that a few hours ago, but the PIKO server had a few snags.
How about a link to that “other” site, cause I sure cant find anything.
I got a copy of it last night from the folks at LSOL. They considered it proprietary info so I respected their wishes to a certain point. A little tease can’t hurt.
-Brian
Thanks Jack for the link
This also was on Largescalemad
http://www.gscalemad.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=13217&st=0&#entry306734
Now according to the release Jack posted, this release only covers 2008, no mention of 2009 or long term distribution, but what was very telling to me was the admittance that LGBoA will no longer be able to recieve repair parts, and that all new repairs and warrenty issues, techincal questions, and even more surprisingly Club issues, would now have to be referred to Maerklin, that part makes it read like its a pretty final division. I would personally infer that IMHO, yeap, it looks is a definitive split to me.
Now lets see how long Maerklin takes to repost the LGB website, if ever, the LGB club, if ever, and begins to import actual product to the US, if ever.
Sorry if I continue to sound pessemistic about Maerklins approach to the US market, but its not like they had a high profile over here to begin with.
Ok so the first shoe dropped … now we wait for the other one!
Wise choice! Looks like a public filing for divorce rather than a divorce decree, to me at least. But I’m not waiting, not even for next week! Canceled my order for the new LGB items from Europe.
Vic,
before anyone starts taking sides in this fiasco, it pays to remember an old saying - “It takes two to tango.” LGBoA had the opportunity to obtain this company, at tender and on repeated occasions always fell short of the mark by a few Euros. If they were really serious then the dollars would have flowed and the administrator would have been criticised for giving the deal to Marklin, if the consortium had offered more money. The thing is that LGBoA were after a bargain (or was it a sure thing?) and a handshake with previous owners was not going to seal the deal. It was going to take money and lots of it. One cannot expect everything to be simply handed over, considering the dire financial circumstances of the parent company. There had to be something left to actually sell or the banks might have gotten a little suspicious.
My take is that LGBoA were still trying to call the shots, as they were during the administration period. Marklin were having none of it and flexed their muscle. Is it possible LGBoA wanted sole distribution rights for the LGB (Marklin) product line in America, even though Walthers had been given distribution rights on Marklin products? Was it possible LGBoA wanted licencing rights to manufacture the American prototype in China? Before taking sides we need the facts, not the emotional hype that was blasted in our faces, by vested interests, over the last two years.
LGBoA provided an excellent service for those who were able to take advantage of their excellent servicing record on LGB products. They were instrumental in many excellent American prototype products reaching the marketplace. However, now all water under the bridge, as Marklin own the product line and it is Marklin, not a distributor who is going to call the shots. I do not feel that Marklin hold much support for American prototype. Their caricature gauge 1 American releases were not particularly attractive and apparently did not sell well. Marklin know that European prototype will definately sell, as Europe is their dominant market and they need to re-establish the marque in their dominant marketplace.HJ,
I think that I can hear the fat lady rehearsing in the wings for the big finale.
Hi Tim, I’m not picking any sides. I was just venting that like you say, Marklin has always been a minor player over here (a beautique brand as I refer to the type, expensive and hard to find) and from the look of things, doesnt plan to try. There’s another post on MLS regarding Marklin consolidating all US distribution, repairs and generally everything else, to one smally staffed central location, doesnt bode well for any planned US presence.
OP was Cougar Rock Trail, scroll about halfway down on the right and see what this particular company has to say about this plan 