Large Scale Central

The LGB Story -- new chapter?

General Discussion
#1

For the historians in our group, any new data on the continuing saga of LGB?
In particular, our own German-speaking HJ may have authorship of what’s current and proffer some predictions.

Ron Gibson, of Walthers has a lengthy history with the company of old and may have insights.

Me? My continued fascination is with THE brand name that once singularly defined the entire large scale industry – and sadly through a conspiracy of confusion it became a continual corporate sidebar to the large scale family. Mr. Gibson is sharp. IF he is a lead, LGB may become a brand name for those who don’t remember that it once was. Harley Davidson at one time, under AMF, had only cops and outlaws as customers. Now, not even the Honda brothers can touch it.

Any information?
Wendell

#2

Hi Wendell:

A clerk at one of the larger train mail order houses told me that when LGB went down so did their overall largescale train sales.

That is how important LGB was.

In retrospect, as the then industry leader, it would have been extremely fortunate if LGB had produced a 1:22.5 or 1:24 properly gauged track exclusively for the North American market place for their then new line of American 3 foot locomotives. But it was not to be.

Had this occurred, the present day three foot gauge marketplace would have used the scale and track gauge as pre-determined by LGB rather than the later 1:20.3 scale which has fractured the marketplace.

The 1:20.3 scale product is exquisite and wonderfully detailed but the physical size of the models is simply too large for many of us. 1:22.5 or 1;24 scale models are of the physical size useable for all of the largescale marketplace.

Now that 1:20.3 is the new standard for American three foot narrow gauge modeling, who would want to invest funds to resurrect the 1:22.5 LGB American 39 inch narrow gauge models? Is there a sufficient market for models from those old LGB molds in present day North America?

My view of LGB is that their nicest model of all was the Ward Kimball Chloe locomotive.

Norman

#3

It’s the gauge that unites us with functional convenience, not the scale.

Going by the above logic there would be different model gauges for standard gauge and American 3ft narrow gauge models which would be a greater fracturing of the hobby’s market place.

In a prototypical sense in Australia there was originally no standardization for mainline gauges across the county so they ended up with broad gauge, standard gauge and cape gauge depending on what state you were in. Not a good plan if you want to be functionally compatible with others.

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/12/Triple_Gauge_Australia.jpg/600px-Triple_Gauge_Australia.jpg)

I do agree however that larger 3ft gauge models in 1:20.3 get beyond most peoples space requirements especially indoors. Those AC Jackson & Sharp coaches are humongous.

Andrew

#4

Wendell,
as I stated a few days ago, when a children’s toy company purchases an adult toy company, the end result is children’s toys for adults. I really do not see the new parent company (Simon-Dicke?) bringing back the North American prototype once very prevalent in the LGB range. I feel a concentration on their core market - narrow gauge European railway lines. The Europeans have long shown that they are prepared to pay the high prices. I feel that the States has the ‘stigma’ that everything must be discounted and will not catch the new company’s attention.

Forget about the ‘old guard’ heading up a new company to bring back the ‘old LGB’ as that is just wishful thinking.

#5

Wendell,

The Siebers have only been in charge for a short time. As far as I understand Märklin and its parts are run as a separate “project” named Sieber & Sohn GmbH & Co. KG i.e. it isn’t part of the Simba-Dickie Group.

Since the proof of the pudding is in the eating I am very interested how the “Allegra” project will score. One of my buddies has one on order and, time permitting, there should/could be a detailed critique once it arrives.

I don’t “need” one, I’m an old fart stuck in the '69 to '75 era; saving bundles by not “needing” to buy all this “stuff”. (http://www.rhb-grischun.ca/phpBB2/images/smiles/HaHa_laughing.gif)(http://www.rhb-grischun.ca/phpBB2/images/smiles/HaHa_laughing.gif)

#6

HJ -

Thanks for the input. I personally have an insatiable interest in the saga of LGB – particularly after I got a full measure for writing an editorial on how LGB imposed price controls on dealers. Garden Railways didn’t deny the practice, just noted to print my article would be more than just disruptive to a growing relationship in advertising. Granted, that was at least 15+ years ago. Perhaps not long enough to forget Al Kramer’s response to LGB by withdrawing LGB products from the shelves at his San Val trains and airplane parts.

So we wait and see if the new management’s toe-in-the-water product affirms a new image of reliability.

Thanks and please continue reporting.

Wendell