Silvergate Distributors to take over LGBoA distribution

[Rene Schweitzer]

This just in:

http://www.trains.com/grw/default.aspx?c=a&id=1082

 

If it's not live, give it a few minutes to show up. 

[Great Western]

I wish them well and a good journey along their new road.  As I see it they have some worth-while names to offer their customers.

It is said "that as one door closes another opens".   

[Anonymous]

Hope Ole Buckso is ok.........?

Toad

Guess I never get my LGB Track Cleaner

[Great Western]

Mechanical track cleaners!  That's the lazy way Toad. 

I use a pole with a Scotchbright pad, that gives me all the excercise I need before a relaxing sit down to watch the trans running. 

[Anonymous]

Pops, don't want it for track cleaning! Want it for molding new engines or you can say designs.

You must have about 20 ft of track.......

Toadie

[vsmith]

Well i guess that kinda answers one of the questions that was floating out there.

[Anonymous]

Well i guess that kinda answers one of the questions that was floating out there.

Yeah, think I hear a flush to!?

Makes me wounder who is doing Epcot now?

And Buckso sometimes post.....Hope he doing OK!

If you look on ePay the count went up over night!!! 1007 (last check the # of items) to 1043 Items.

Toad

[EMPIRE II LINE]

Vic,

Are you sure this is the answer......wasn't it LGB of Europe, that we didn't know about, as to who would purchase it, I didn't even know LGBoA was on the block ???

So every one what's really up????

Byron C. 

[DennisB]

     From what I understand is that LGBoA could not keep the LGB in their name. Soooo, they gave themselves a new name and a new location. Contrary to popular belief, this hobby is not dead. There are many of us, present company included, that promote and love this hobby. It has a life of its own and the products that are out there will need to be serviced. Silvergate will continue to do this with their new name and I wish them the best. Time to circle the wagons and stay positive. Here we have a garden train hobby and international drama all in one package. It doesn't get any better than this. Regards, Dennis.

[udo]

     From what I understand is that LGBoA could not keep the LGB in their name.

I read that this Silvergate is a new company and that LGBoA is still in existence not replaced.

[Bucksco]

Okay, let me set it straight.

LGB of America still exists. LGB of America still retains distribution rights for product labeled and packaged with the "LGB" name . There is however no agreement for purchase of said product at this time with the manufacturer of LGB (Maerklin). There is always hope that distribution of LGB can resume but we do not expect it to happen in 2008.

 Silvergate Distributors, inc. is a new company that has been formed to take over distribution of the other product lines that were previously distributed by LGB of America. It is also actively adding new products to it's catalog in order to have a broader appeal in the overall hobby market.

 

[Anonymous]

[vsmith]

Vic,

Are you sure this is the answer......wasn't it LGB of Europe, that we didn't know about, as to who would purchase it, I didn't even know LGBoA was on the block ???

So every one what's really up????

Byron C. 

The name has essentially been mothballed and put into storage for future use. Kinda like owning the rights to distribute the name Studebaker, but with no product how usefull is it?

Alot depends on whats not happening right now, namely no importing to the US, with no real plans that anyone can decifer to do so. Even if they did, who would it distributed thru? Silvergate or Walthers?

Theres currently no agreement with Silvergate, and MArklin already has an agreement with Walthers for the smaller scales.

Speaking personally, if it goes to Walthers, I feel it will be bad for us large scalers as thru experience, Walthers has always been very expensive and sometimes very slow or none exisitant on delivery dates in smaller scales. Repairs? Oy Vey!

[LGBtrains1963]

The key question is how will the 2008 LGB club car get to it's members? some orders have already been taken, like my car through Watt's Train Shop.... Will it be made now? Will it come from Marklin to the members by mail? Who knows..... 

[gtrainman1]

The key question is how will the 2008 LGB club car get to it's members? some orders have already been taken, like my car through Watt's Train Shop.... Will it be made now? Will it come from Marklin to the members by mail? Who knows..... 

[gtrainman1]

The key question is how will the 2008 LGB club car get to it's members? some orders have already been taken, like my car through Watt's Train Shop.... Will it be made now? Will it come from Marklin to the members by mail? Who knows..... 

 

Since Maerklin took responsibility of the LGB club it probably would be best to send Maerklin your questions. Personally, I would think it is now Maerklin full responsibility to get club cars to their club members.

[Arizona-1]

Hey Udo,

LGBoa still exists, and i would bet that the name ist still for sale. i guess Maerklin does not like the asking price, therefore no deal so far. as long LGBoa is still existing, Marklin can't sell any LGB products here in the USA. Interesting to know is that in Europ it is possible to buy new LGB items, and sparepart service is current, up to date. well that is what i here from my friends in central Europ.

  i guess the new name Silvergate has to do a lot with politics. it could be that LGBoa got to many request's for LGB spare parts, and as mentioned in one of the last letters, the LGBoa stock is getting low. like they mentioned, no new spare parts coming in, and it wil be hard for LGBoa to keep up with demand. Hm, just remembered that any firm, by law has to deliver spare parts for a certain time, if i rememer this obligation goes oin for several years.

think global, regards PJ 

 

[Anonymous]

LGBoa still exists, and i would bet that the name ist still for sale. i guess Maerklin does not like the asking price, therefore no deal so far. as long LGBoa is still existing, Marklin can't sell any LGB products here in the USA. Interesting to know is that in Europ it is possible to buy new LGB items, and sparepart service is current, up to date.

Thought Vic and Marty was going to buy both LGBoA and LGB?

Toad

[Arizona-1]

Hey Toad,

As of now Maerklin owns the name and distributions rights in Europ, and the owner of LGBofAmerica owns the distributions rights for USA. That means noone can import or sel any LGB products within the USA.

  translated in to the real world, it means that i still have to pay $130 for a medium LGB turnout, instead of  $58 like a year ago. i know the raw material got more expensive, but that is not why the same item costs today 2,5x the price.

count on it, it means also that for Maerklin 50% of the world market is missing. If you would be on their place, would you invest big time in such a reduced market?  

i belief this rather unpleasent high prices will remain for a long while, maybe even increase more. As long LGBoa is not sold, we will sit on a dry well.

if you would take a wild guess, why LGBoa and the distributions rights are not sold as of today, you surly will come up with the right answer. for my self i have not to think long to get the awareness if i should see LGBoa as a friend or not. 

i wish all the large scale friends goog luck, think global and regards PJ 

  
 

 

[Arizona-1]

hey LGBTrains1963,

since LGBoa changed names, things getting sometimes quite confusing. How ever, i belief that Maerklin is not responsible for the delay of the Club car. By the way, where did you read that Maerklin is now responible for the LGB Club, i never hered any oficial statement from Maerklin that they take over the LGB Club in USA. If you refere to the public letter of LGBoa where they state that they have to refere all inquiries for the club and service to marklin, i guess that is how they would like to handle the problems, but it does not mean that Marklin is in agreement.

  however, the good news is that LGBoa still exists, and most probably if you send any mail to silvergate, your mail will reach the owner of LGBoa.

 

t hink global regards PJ

 

 

 

i guess the right way would be to ask Watts trainshop where they ordered your club car, and whom they paid.

l

[udo]

Hey Udo,

Hm, just remembered that any firm, by law has to deliver spare parts for a certain time, if i rememer this obligation goes oin for several years.

think global, regards PJ 

 

Hello Pius Job,

Since Märklin "the new maker" purchased Lehmann "the previous maker" I think they do have a problem to supply parts and repairs. What will they do? Hm?

Udo

[udo]

ask Watts trainshop where they ordered your club car, and whom they paid.

l

Hello Pius,

The last time there were Club cars no one pays till they came.

The head Märklin bookkeeper who sees the books everyday runs away to Fleischmann. Hm? Maybe the Kingsbridge has many of the Sub-prime packages? I hear they are collectors items now or is it that the collectors are coming?

Udo