Large Scale Central

What did he say... interview with Hermann Schöntag, owner of EP

General Discussion
#1

Hi all,

Here is my translation of the interview published by “Spielzeug Messe Extra 2007”. This is the daily Online newsfeed provided by the Nürnberg Toy Fair.

spielzeug messe extra said:
[i]Translation of interview with Hermann Schöntag in "das spielzeug messe extra 2007"[/i]

[b]New turnouts (directions) at LGB

Hermann Schöntag (58) is since Jan 1 2007 the new owner of modelrailroad manufacturer Ernst Paul Lehmann, who last year declared insolvency. We spoke with the Upper-Swabian enterpreneur about LGB, rumours and the future.[/b]

sme: Mr. Schöntag, how did the first weeks for you as the new owner develop?

Schöntag: During the first four weeks I had to get a good, thorough feel for the company. I reflected on this extensively during the leadtime prior to the acquisition. Now I had to get to the detail of the problem together with the employees. To put it casually: I’m faced with a considerable construction site.

sme: At least you as a private investor prevailed against Märklin.

Schöntag: Looking at the two business models, I would say that mine is the one with the long term perspective. People who need to report to outside investors, need to show a profit sooner or later. I’m aiming for that, too, but I don’t necessarily have to. I see that as my strength. I would like to show with savvy and my own initiative: I have a few years to get the company back to being profitable.

sme: From Swabia or Franken?

Schöntag: Naturally from Franken. As has been announced to the employees of EPL, I will move to Nürnberg.

sme: To what extent is the Richter family still involved in the company?

Schöntag: Wolfgang Richter represents this make and this company. I would really like to have some kind of continuity. The big, clear breaks are not really my style. Talks with Rolf and Johannes Richter regarding the future are being held. The negotiations are ongoing.

sme: Amongst other things you are also in charge of the “Rügen Railway”. How is that project progressing?

Schöntag: That contract will expire at the end of this year i.e. the contract is up for bid submissions. If all the prerequisites are favourable I will bid.
One could say that I’m active in both the prototype and model sector. For me that has a certain fascination.

sme: LGB presents this year 60 New Items, do you have a personal favourite among them?

Schöntag: Creating New Items requires naturally a certain market knowledge. That is ground on which I feel relatively confident. The highlight for me would be the “99 4632-8”, one of the Rügen engines. The connection is very pleasant, since the prototype runs on Rügen. By the way this New Item was planned prior to the takeover.

sme: Personal insolvency, 18 million Euro for LGB, suspicions of malfeasance - what are your comments regarding the rumours which circulate in the newspapers in relation to your persona?

Schöntag: The buying price is confidential. The 18 million Euro are certainly not correct. The buying price must allow for a continuance. On the other hand are certain charges which imply that I, as an enterpreneur enriched myself on a specific object, which is objectively incorrect. The assertion was made, without even the slightest attempt at factuality in the matter - and I will now attempt to get that corrected.

sme: What are your goals?

Schöntag: Naturally for the early part of the year consolidation of the company. We would like to very quickly reach a high production level, in order to preserve as many jobs as possible. Of great importance to me is retaining the “soul” of the product, that means continuing to produce high quality products in Nürnberg at a price that is competitive in the market place. I also wish to strengthen the contact to the dealers, since they are the intermediaries and promoters for our product.


Interesting!

#2

Hans,
Next up the naysayers will be blaming your translation as their latest way of denying the truth.

#3
TonyWalsham said:
Hans, Next up the naysayers will be blaming your translation as their latest way of denying the truth.
Tony,

Some of those clowns tried that already with no luck. I just ask them which part is not correct; have yet to receive an answer.

BTW there was a very interesting segment on CBC’s “Ideas” recently. All about how to translate things and just how wooden and clunky things read if you do it in the verbatim, word by word fashion.
Hmmmmmmmm, I thought to myself, perhaps the “wooden and clunky” way is not bad for those who don’t know wooden and clunky from anything else.

In addition there are those who say they are not lawyers, but fail to mention that they have a problem with reading things carefully.

But all in all nothing to get too excited about, usually it’s “consider the source, file accordingly!” :wink: :slight_smile:

#4

It’s amazing how obsessed some of you are with a company who you claim doesn’t suite your needs.
If you don’t care for LGB’s products why are you constantly posting about LGB?

#5
John Joseph Sauer said:
It's amazing how obsessed some of you are with a company who you claim doesn't suite your needs. If you don't care for LGB's products why are you constantly posting about LGB?
Sheesh JJ,

I’m just an observant follower of the LS scene! Since EPL were the only declaring insolvency in the last 6 months I’m interested how things work out with the new owner and where the “New Track” leads. You know hope springs eternal and perhaps there will be RhB items (stuff always close to my heart) that are closer to being “models” than what I’ve seen most other times from EPL.

OTOH I’m as amazed as you, on how obsessed some people are when they see more news regarding EPL that confirms what has only been “suspected” up to now.

#6

How about Marklin- another German manufacturer that produces LS?
Do you follow thier progress with the same apparent hope of failure?

#7
John Joseph Sauer said:
How about Marklin- another German manufacturer that produces LS? Do you follow thier progress with the same apparent hope of failure?
Funny that you should mention Märklin, I'm in the process of translating some of the News concerning them.

On that “hope of failure” comment, I’m more interested in how Hermann Schöntag tackles his “large construction site” problem. As I posted already, I wish him much good luck and very deep pockets. He’ll need both! :wink: :slight_smile:

BTW there are also BRAWA, KISS and PIKO in LS, being followed with equal interest.

#8

“BTW there are also BRAWA, KISS and PIKO in LS, being followed with equal interest.”

None of which garner the same glee at the prospect of failure that you accord LGB.

#9

Might want to watch Aristo, also…Rumours currently abound!

But don’t have any “reliable sources” over there, unfortunately.

#10

Ya know, JJ, your elitist attitude is becoming apparent to even the most heavily blinder-equipped shills!

Fritz, right?

Sometimes you read the shill-o-ganda and it’s hard to know who is doing it without going back and reading a name.
The new club send out “menus” for how to respond to facts with spin?

If you think you or Fritz or Larry or whoever can do a more factual job of translation that will hold up to scrutiny (something that was not considered early in the process by some), please do so.

And post it.
Do something creative and positive…maybe you’ll LIKE having shills poking at YOU all the time!

Funny how some folks you only hear from when they have their quota of shill responses to get out…

#11

John Joseph Sauer said:
“BTW there are also BRAWA, KISS and PIKO in LS, being followed with equal interest.” None of which garner the same glee at the prospect of failure that you accord LGB.

None of which screwed up as royally as the former EPL or am I missing something? Sooooooooo lets see how things shake out, as I mentioned something similar before, but don’t mind to repeat it: Caution this is with tongue firmly in cheek The EPL insolvency can be squarely blamed on two segments of the Large Scale market a) The collectors who didn’t buy sufficient quantities of every item EPL produced - including Steiff, Peanuts, Coke etc. etc. b) The very dyed in the wool LGB-only Fans, who just couldn’t believe that the “Mothership” was in dire straits and also didn’t buy sufficient quantities to keep things going. In no way can one blame the model railroaders who very selectively bought what fit a) their needs and desires - as in “hmmm that would be nice if only it wouldn’t be such a mix of … (fill in what fits!)”. b) looked very carefully of whatelse was on the market - no super brand loyalty. c) were patient enough to wait for the invariable sales to roll around - those sales usually prove what a more realistic selling point could/should be.

End of TiC BTW it gives great pause for thought when some of the “really big LGB Fans” in Germany find that “EPL is advice restistant”. Of course it could be just a skewed perception on their part, rather than on the part of certain people who desparately wish this wouldn’t have happened. It did, it’s wakey wakey time!

#12

some of the “really big LGB Fans” in Germany find that “EPL is advice restistant”.

Ya think?
Geez, maybe this will become part of the Manifesto, to be recited in Rabid Fan Club catechisms until you can say it forwards, backwards, in pig latin…and in German!

Some know of the Heidelberg Catechism.
Maybe this one will heav the first word changed?

Once it filters down, we’ll hear it from this continent!

But, remember, reading is not always comprehending!

I still think I know who the “reliable source” was…and it was a set-up that worked.

#13

Shill. That’s funny!
I make no bones about it. I like LGB. I think they were a pioneer in the industry and I have a ton of thier equipment (and Aristo, USA trains and various other manufacturers).

As far as shills are concerned maybe there are shills out there who aren’t shilling for companies but rather for individuals who have thier own agendas.

What IS irritating is the elitist attitude of some who believe thier way of thinking is absolute. Maybe some folks out here don’t really give a tinker’s cuss if a locomotive doesn’t scale out precisely to the prototype.
I buy my garden railway equipment to run reliably in the garden- not to sit on a shelf and measure with a pair of micrometers. LGB trains have always served me well in that respect (better than most of the others) and I find it very offensive to read post after post of inuendo about the company.

As far as LGB going out of business is concerned it’s no skin off my nose. The molds will go somewhere else and the name will go on. The name is worth much more than the factory in Germany.

#14
John Joseph Sauer said:
...........................................

LGB trains have always served me well in that respect (better than most of the others) and I find it very offensive to read post after post of inuendo about the company.

As far as LGB going out of business is concerned it’s no skin off my nose. The molds will go somewhere else and the name will go on. The name is worth much more than the factory in Germany.


JJ

There is no requirement on any of the fora to read posts you don’t want to read, is there??

Which innuendo would that be? The one about the track?

Hmmmm no innuendo, but certainly the first indication that things are “back to normal”. From now to spring is when people usually buy their track, it’s only “strange people” like me who order in November and December.

So we shall see if the “track of choice” will be available, won’t we?

#15

Uh, no, shills tend to view their world with blinders on.

It’s the folks who look outside that little envelope, ask questions, find answers, that are the danger to the shills!

Like a half-dozen I can think of off the top of my head, you probably wouldn’t recognize the truth even if it hit you in the face, unless it has the stamp of approval.

On the track issue, you think your push to get someone to say something wasn’t noticed?

You think folks here are speculating?

You want speculation, run over to the Soap and see how many responses to the “reliable source” there were.

If HJ posts something, and you are afraid to read it because it goes against your “beliefs”, then don’t freaking read it!

#16

Man! Talk about blind obedience!
Maybe someday he’ll let you off the leash!

#17
John Joseph Sauer said:
Man! Talk about blind obedience! Maybe someday he'll let you off the leash!
Someone put the Curmudgeon on a leash? HJ must truly be a master of dark arts.
#18
John Joseph Sauer said:
Man! Talk about blind obedience! Maybe someday he'll let you off the leash!
JJ

Would you happen to know how any of this relates to the translated interview??

Wouldn’t be a case of Tony W being right on with this comment:

TW said:
Next up the naysayers will be blaming your translation as their latest way of denying the truth.
I have never worried what you or the next guy buy from any of the LS suppliers. But I find it very interesting that there's no comment on Schöntag's statement regarding Wolfgang Richter. Hmmm looks like Wolfgang didn't get fired, looks like someone's source was not all that reliable!! Could it be that the "poor Wolfgang" campaign was supposed to trigger a compassionate buying spree? Who knows, who cares!
#19

JJS .
You are wasting your breath .
It’s like a religion , these three always jump straight on someone who professes any liking for LGB.
They have had plenty of practise , and if you are very patient , they may even come up with something new .
In the meantime , ponder on the mentality of those who would enjoy seeing a major Large Scale Manufactrurer go to the wall . With their help .

Mike

#20

Hey, I have LGB.
I run LGB.
I don’t have any issue with it other than:

332 rails, 1100 curves, cast-on grab-irons, mandatory sound systems in certain units not real-time triggerable, hook-and-loops, selective compression…

But, where it works, I use it.

I’ve been real happy with the disconnect log cars.
Especially the way I have to keep link ppockets on hand when they decide to snap.
And, once I make the roosters with brass "U"s in the ends, they don’t decide to give out upgrade in the middle of a 20 car train at 22° F.
But, alas, I didn’t plan on the journal boxes popping out on the right-of-way somewhere.

The boxcars, gondolas, tanks, heck you can kick them across the yard if so inclined, and not much detail to break.

The reefers, no, don’t want to be doing that.
Flatcars work very well (have oh, 6-8 of them in service) once you trim off the Euro Container corners on the deck.
Real nice touch, especially the double ones in the center.

I’ve go a UINTAH on-shed, 2 Moguls stored, serviceable, and a 2015D stored, serviceable.
Several of the guys run them, Moguls, 2085D’s, Forneys, #50 dismals, the occasional QM repaint.

"JJS .
You are wasting your breath .
It’s like a religion , these three always jump straight on someone who professes any liking for LGB.
They have had plenty of practise , and if you are very patient , they may even come up with something new .
In the meantime , ponder on the mentality of those who would enjoy seeing a major Large Scale Manufactrurer go to the wall . With their help .

Mike"

Who wants anybody to go to the wall?
And who is jumping on anybody “who professes any liking for LGB”?

Mike, it’s almost like religion.

“Professing” is one thing.
Rattling someone’s cage and professing YOUR particular view is the only way to gain access to the heavenlies, well, that’s where we are.

So, HJ posts a translation.
What do we get?
“It’s amazing how obsessed some of you are with a company who you claim doesn’t suite your needs.
If you don’t care for LGB’s products why are you constantly posting about LGB?”

Exactly where did that come from?
Someone with a pre-conceived idea of “truth”.
You have data to help you understand something, and you can’t find fault with the message, so you go after the messenger.

Seen that one before.
There is another outfit famous for their “tag-team”.

Now we get someone almost doing a Chamberlain.

To hell with facts, right?
“Peace in our time”.