From Klaus' Private Collection LGB 4058 w/Stein

 Limited Edition – Special Series-

LGB 4058 Depressed Center 8-axle Freight Car With Beer Stein  Load, 8 spoked metal wheels and 8 full metal wheels, G Scale

The LGB Kompendium 2012 lists this on page 717:

“4058 LGB: construction period: non cataloged special series 1994

8-axle (4 trucks) heavy load flat car with brakeman’s platform on both car ends. Description see 4058(previous page). Loaded with a ceramic Stein with pewter lid (gift from Lehmann Co for business friends)

Catalog:--

Edition: 100

Offered by Klaus for:

US $ 299.00 (plus sh&h) SOLD

This Christmas gift (notice the ‘Merry Christmas’  template inside the red LGB box next to a graphical winter scene with the front elevation of a golden Stainz) was given to Klaus in December 1994 by Wolfgang Richter and presented to him by Klaus Baumann (VP Sales LGB). Klaus then upgraded this specialty car by equipping the car with spoke and full metal wheels to improve running characteristics as well as enhance the overall impression of carrying this important, heavy load – especially when filled with fresh draft…


This LGB 4058 depressed car with Stein came in a limited series of 100, most of which were given to friends in Germany. Until today none of this limited edition has ever come onto the market  complete as this package- neither in auctions nor for sale. You may find the beer stein offered but you will not find this specialty made LGB 4058 Christmas edition w/Stein.

Length: 680mm

To the consummate LGB collector/fan:

It comes with documentation about the original flat car,

the story behind the Beer Stein and the gift, excerpts from the LGB compendium and the Certificate of Valuation and Authenticity.

Klaus will open his treasure trove of LGB collection again, soon!!

1985 Issue No. 2 -- Part 1

Issue # 2 Page 12 and 13, Spur II 1985

the original magazine cover

YT: Please remember that this blog article is the translation of a magazine published 33 years ago by HJ Neumann. Our blog intends to juxtaposition HJ Neumanns 30-some year old articles about the LGB model train hobby with his newest/newer articles on current blog"LGB Much" IIm Online News".

Collectors News

 In Issue No. 1 of “Spur II” we printed a list of all specialty products manufactured so far, including their manufactured volume. This was very well received since there seem to be more and more collectors who look for Specialty Train Packages to complete their collection. To figure out the so-called ‘collector’s value’ the manufactured volume plays a significant if not the only role.

the original article on page 12

The most sought after and most offered collector-item is still the Anniversary Train of 1981 even though it was manufactured in relatively high volume of 20,000 (trains). Coming into play are ( for one) the aura of the occasion, which is the 100 year anniversary of the Lehmann Company, as well as the truly beautiful execution and coloring (of the product).

Regarding the current asking price of DM 1200.00 or even DM 1800.00 (Y.T.:in 1985 the equivalent of 3 weeks pay for a shoe salesman or office clerk) [as seen in the classifieds of the big Model RR magazine] are completely over-the-top.

Now, there might be a difference in the asking price if you retrieve the anniversary train from a collector or from somebody who bought it  long ago for the then price of DM 200.00 (in 1981 the equivalent of  2 weeks of rent for a 2-br apartment), and might have been speculating already. Well, we do live in a free market [situation] and every seller can ask for as much as he hopes to get. To all those who are still wanting to buy the Anniversary train we suggest that DM 500.00 is a fair price. For the seller this means a return on investment of 35% annually – a “dream come true” for every company!

To comment on the value of other specialty products is pretty hard since there is no market for that. The number of serious LGB collectors is yet too low to create [enough] potential demand. Actually a collector’s train with a [limited] edition of 1000 should be 20 times more valuable than e.g. the Anniversary Train!

Well, the 2^nd edition of the LGB Collectors Catalog from Christmann publishing will be released in early 1986 and will include collectors’ items. (We’ll) Be anxious to see how they solve the difficult task of realistic value determination!

Finally, we ‘d like to point out several Specialty Train Sets that turned up in Southern Germany in Fall. They feature the standard  “Stainz” plus two container cars with different labeling (up to 30 options). Please check our pics at “Current LGB Specialty Items (Issue No.2, 1985, Page 14 – Spur II) Lehmann delivered the –grey- containers and labeling was done locally [in Southern Germany].

LGB Collector’s Page

“Gingerbread Train”

original page 13

At a volume of 1,000 the E. Otto Schmidt Co., Nuremberg, issued a specialty Train in the Fall of 1984; almost everyone knows E.Otto Schmidt as maker of delicious gingerbread.

Dark brown just like fresh gingerbread is the base color of locomotive and cars.

The 150-year anniversary of railroad trains in Germany was the occasion for this felicitous surprise. Each train package displays a big round sticker with “Gingerbread Specialty Train, limited vol,No…”.  Thus each train has its own serial number.

The train was sold out at E.Otto Schmidt,Co by end of 1984. There are currently no plans for a repeat action or anything similar.

(Letter within Gingerbread-train package)

Dear Model Train Friend

You probably know this, the German Railroad celebrates their 150th anniversary in Nuremberg. This is why we are surprising you with this Specialty Train. The E.Otto Schmidt Co has taken advantage of the German Railroad service for years. While the Schmidt gingerbread packages were delivered by boxcars during the Reichsbahn **era, these days we are shipping in modern containers daily throughout the Christmas Season. Containers are shipped directly [from the manufacturing site] into many German cities carrying fresh tasty morsels to be delivered to you doorstep by the Postmaster General. The two cars [of the train set] are witness to that.

The original loco [this trainset was modeled on] is still in use today. She is doing specialty and hobby tours on the Murtal Railway in the Steiermark [in Austria].

This onetime edition is limited and will gain in value.

We hope you will enjoy this Anniversary Train. In case you want to expand your hobby model train layout your local model train dealer will gladly be of service.

“Safe Travels”

E.Otto Schmidt

PS The big expo “ 150 Years German Railway” takes place from May 15 to August 18, 1985 in Nuremberg.

** Yours truly: The name “150 Years/Anniversary German Railway is a bit of a reach historically as is any reference to that event. As is in many countries history is bent as long as it takes to make it fitting for what someone wants out of it. In this case here is what happened in 1835: Under King Ludwig I (the First) of Bavaria a number of business men decided to establish a Railroad Society in 1833 which then build the railway and the first locomotive to run on this railway. It took its first run in 1835 and started passenger service in December 1835 followed by the first “freight service” half a year later when two barrels of beer were transported in a passenger car third class. A many a kings, dukes, and barons later were opting for their own railways, often with their own gauge width. And it wasn’t until 1871 when the so-called German Reichsstaaten were established ( states that were still lead by monarchs or similar aristocrats and had nothing in common with a Germany as you know it today but more with a collection of neighboring fiefdoms that had decided to not fight each other anymore, neither economically nor military wise)-- and all had their own ‘countries’ railways. Operating only regionally and still often with different gauges they were not united until 1924 into the German Reichs-Railroads. After WWII modern railway organization replaced the old system and was re-organized several times until public and private railroads were combined into today’s “Deutsche Bahn AG” or German Train, Inc.”—

To celebrate 150 Year Anniversary of something German is the same as if the USA would have a 400 years anniversary of AMERICAN Plymouth Colony (MA)….then again, let’s see what will happen in 2020….

July 2018 Thoughts

July 2018 --- Thoughts

I can’t recall really how I got the idea to visit the modeltrain store of Dipl.-Ing. Ernst Peyker in Pörtschach am Wörthersee ( Civil engineer Ernst Peyker of Poertschach on Lake Woerth). Maybe it was this combination of LGB and vacation. Bottom line—I did it! During the Passover Holiday I was at the Lake Woerth (Austria)  , booked into the Hotel „Villa Rainer“ and toured the  local attractions, including the  wonderful hotel itself and their cuisine.
Passover Monday I had my GPS show me how to get to „Seeuferstraße 117“ in Pörtschach. I just wanted to have a look, after all it was a Holiday. But Mr. Peyker had already seen me and asked me in. Again, thank you.
What followed was a short meeting ( alas for almost an hour) and agreeing on an appointment a few days later. Imagine a property of about ½ an acre ( which is a lot around Lake Woerth, the average property size is 1/10 of an acre, if at all) with a nice big home on it, with a retail store, workshop and warehouse. And a lot (!) of ‘red boxes’ the type of boxes us “LGB’ers“dream about.... 

 

At the official visit I was granted insight into the huge LGB outdoor layout, looked inside  the house and got to see ‚inside’ this LGB specialist. I can say this: we found a lot of common grounds in our comprehensive talks….. 
Beginning of June the LGB New No 49180 was delivered: two Saxonian DR rolling cars, which surprisingly were announced as “Surprise New Item” at the “IMA” in Goeppingen in Fall of 2017 (IMA is the International Model Railway Convention which is held jointly with the Maerklin-Fair). Why they couldn’t wait until Summer 2018 to deliver this surprise or just incorporated it into the regular New Item program 2018 is beyond me. They have a small extra brochure which you can check out via this link
LGB flyer

I also want to show you some photos to compare this to the similar Magnus rolling car by Christian Hoehne, which was already available years ago.
LGB-rolling car:

 rolling car with narrow gauge tank car: 

  

Two coupled rolling cars with standard gauge box cars: 

 

Rolling cars by LGB and Magnus, size comparison: 
  

It’s quite visible that the LGB rolling cars (in contrast to their huge packaging) are too small. Sad though—because they are actually made quite well.

Newly delivered as well are the gold colored Anniversary Stainz No. 20216, the „Wolfgang Richter“-baggage car No. 32191 and the gondola „Wernesgrüner“ No. 32352.

I’ve put the Stainz next to the also golden colored one by Modell-Land and check this out: LGB became quite frugal: the connecting rods in grey plastic, roof not painted and no shadow lines, no white markings on the front nor rear bumpers. One cheap “frugal-edition’ at a high price and on their Anniversary? I don’t get it....
 

  
The baggage car was labeled in English only, showing„Freight Mail“ and „Railway Post Office“. I do understand that they didn’t want to have 2 different labeled cars in their program, - but they could have labeled both sides differently—as was done in the past on the 4-axle LGB tank car
I do like the gondola quite well -  especially since the lights at the bar can be switched on via the power pickup at the metal wheels. If it would be fitted with some pretty “Preiser” figurines it’ll make quite a statement.

   

 

I’ve told myself not to say anything about the high level of(sales)prices anymore. I think they are way to high , in general, alas nothing will change at Märklin in this regard. It is the literally vicious circle. Prices are increasing regularly which leads to fewer people being able to purchase LGB which leads to decreasing demand for LGB. At the same time the demand for used LGB items increases. That’s the way the cookie crumbles, my dear gentlemen from Goeppingen….

Subject Change:

The  supplemental book to the „LGB-Kompendium“, published by Meliset Kartenhaus-Verlag. A ‚must’ for all LGB-collectors („ 50 Years of LGB“)
  

 

Also interesting is  the special-catalog for  USA „US Models for 2018“, containing some models available only in USA, - even though they are just color and label versions. For instance a „Pink Train Starter Set“ Nr. 72306 (-check my September 2017- Thoughts). 20 years ago collectors might have gone crazy to re-import such a product. But nowadays.....

And then there is one more news: On June 28 , 2018 our web page “LGB Freunde Much” registered the 1 millionth  reader! Crazy! We started out on March 1, 20016 with news to the LGB’er- the year of LGB bankruptcy. We just wanted to to something being frustrated and sad back then. Well, maybe we should have asked for $ 1.00 from each reader 

In this regard – warmest wishes

H.-Jürgen Neumann
 

Collector News (1985)

First published in Sept. 1985 in No.1 “Spur II Nachrichten” by HJ Neumann

 (all text in Italic by Yours truly, interpreting historic circumstances)

Collector News

Preface

To all those LGB Friends who did not yet delve into the subject “Specialties” here are some explanatory notes:

Since 1981 (LGB) manufactured some specialty packages and some specialty cars which are actually deviations in color and labeling but definitely not new models.

To differentiate:

1. Export models matching the demand of the individual export destination
2. Advertisement models referring to certain companies or to a certain event.

During the first few years production volume was 100, meanwhile it increased to 1,000 (per series).

Below please find a list displaying the specialty items issued so far:

1. Specialty items with deviations in color and labeling

LGB No    Item                                                               Volume                       Issued

1981     Lehmann Anniversary Train                                     20,000                      1981

            Anniversary car 100 years Luetgenau                           100                      1981

20502   FHS Specialty Train Kit                                              1,000                      1982

1982     Anniversary car 101 Years Lehmann                            10,000                   1982

4002/69 FHS container car                                                          2,000                   1982

20512   Furka-Oberalp Specialty train pack                                2,000                     1983

20513   FHS Specialty Train Pack                                               1,000                    1983

20514   DHS Specialty Train Pack                                             1,000                      1983

4003D  DHS Container car                                                         1,000                      1983

4031     FHS boxcar                                                                     1,000                      1983

             Anniv. Car 1100 Year City of Duisburg                         100                         1983

20701   US Specialty Train “Little Billy”                                   2,000                        1983

20412PV  Phillipps Specialty Train Pack                                   1,000                       1983

20301 BZ The Blue Train                                                     20,000                            1983

1983   Anniversary Train 102 Years Lehmann                     10,000                            1983

            Brinkmann specialty car boxcar w/sticker                  1,000                             1983

           Florsheim specialty car Caboose w/sticker                  1,000                              1983

20401 RZ  The Red Train                                                      15,000                             1984

20520 MC Specialty Train Prinzgauer Bahn(Rail)                 1,000                             1984

20526 Gingerbread Specialty Train                                          1,000                            1984

20301BP US Specialty Train Buffalo Pass                              2,000                            1984

20301MF US Specialty Train Marshall Field                        1,000                              1984

4071   US Specialty Train Agency express                           2,000                               1984

4072  US Specialty Cra Coca-Cola                                       2,000                              1984

4003SR Container car “Spielzeug Ring”                             1,000                               1984

4033V    Vedes Boxcar                                                        1,000                              1984

1984       Anniversary car 103 Years Lehmann                  10,000                             1984

20528     Schweiger Specialty Train Kit                              1,000                              1985

20150   Anniversary Train 150 Years German Railroad   10,000                              1985

20532  Bundesgartenschau Express                                      600                                1985

1985     Anniversary car 104 Jahre Lehmann                    15,000                               1985

3150   Coat of Arms car                                                     10,000                               1985

2. Specialty Packs with deviating compilation

20501                                 Vedes                                                                              1982

20518 EK                       Einkaufsring                                                                        1984

20522                              FHS                                                                                    1984

20519                             Einkaufsgemeinschaft                                                          1984

3. Specialty Items initiated by private individuals

                      Cluss Brewery D                                             100                                 1984

4040W  Tank car, all white “USA”                                                                             1984

4070NC  US car Tiffany                                                                                              1984

LGB Collector’s Page

Philips Train

Image courtesy of Trainz.com—Image not identical to original article

Philips Company (as of 2018 Royal Philips/Netherlands) received a specialty train pack in the Fall of 1983, which was heading to the video departments of big Radio/TV retail stores. There customers interested in cameras could focus on LGB.

Of the –“ROM Train” – named after a character in the video game ‘ commander Rom’ – a LGB specialty item, 1,000 packages were supplied (to stores).

The package contains a Schoema Diesel loco (Philips loco1) and two 2-axle container cars. Base color is in darker blue while the cars display prints – white on red-purple background- “Viedeospiele von Philips” (video games by Philips) plus an image of ‘commander Rom’ ( see above).

Since the train was not meant to go into retail itself (merely a dealer prop), it poses one of the biggest rarities, in our opinion.

(Yours Truly: as of 2018, the train set is available for anywhere between US$ 345.00 to $525.00, mainly in Europe.)

 Current LGB Specialty Items

“Schweiger” Specialty Train (LGB No 20528)

Honoring the anniversary of 150 years of railroads the Schweiger Co, Nuremberg issued a specialty pack in January with an edition of 1,000. The train package which was sold out at Schweiger by June, contains a Stainz loco and two passenger cars in yellow paint finish and various labeling. The locomotives display an engraved serial number on golden font.

Please also note that the trains No 1 -60 contain a loco where the boiler is NOT painted golden but painted in black.

It is a very pretty train color-wise. One is obliged to think it’s stealing the show from the Lehmann Anniversary Train.

Bundesgartenschau Express—National Garden Show Express

On the occasion of the National Garden Show in Berlin (LGB) issued a specialty train edition of 600. According to Berlin sources a production fault decreased the usually manufactured 1,000 packs. (?) (This question mark was posted by H Neumann)

The train package contains 2 dark blue painted passenger cars labeled ‘Bundesgartenschau Express” and “Berlin, 1985” The as well included Stainz locomotive is unfortunately painted in (its) standard light-green. A dark blue paint would have been definitely fitting better, plus that would have created a true complete specialty train. Literally somebody was ruining a wonderful thing by scrimping on the finishes.

This small edition might in the end become a rarity.

Image courtesy of Trainz.com, image not identical to original magazine-image

 (YT: as of 2018 the train set # 20532 is available for US$ 300.00)

                                                                                                

Gauge II News 1st Issue 1985

First published in Sept. 1985 in No.1 “Spur II Nachrichten” by HJ Neumann

 (all text in Italic by Yours truly, interpreting historic circumstances)

New Items from E.P.Lehmann,"LGB"

To report about new products here and now that were (originally)presented at the Toy Fair 1985  seems ridiculous. (Traditionally, the Nuremberg Toy Fair is being held the first week each February).

You've already read all about that in the leading Model Hobby Train magazines, especially the “LGB Depesche No.49”.

Instead, we are listing the announced new products 1985  in delivered order(to dealers. Remember dear reader- for decades LGB would present locos and cars at the Toy Fair or in their catalog in early Spring and have it at their dealers by Christmas, maybe.)

LGB #                                    Article

1985                                                       End car of the LGB Anniversary Train 1981

4034                                                       Cardinal beer car

4032                                                        Nestle chocolate car

20150                      Anniversary Train “150 years German Railway” **

1056                                                       Decoupling track with new EPL*** drive

5049                                                       Figurines – US passengers

5027                                                        Assortment of wild animals for Circus car

2018D                     Mogul tender steam locomotive

** German Railway is a ‘created fact’ created by LGB. In 1835 there were roughly 34 German speaking dukedoms /kingdoms loosely held together in the German League, all still a monarchy in what is now roughly called Germany. Something similar to today’s Germany was first created under Bismarck in 1876 but was still headed by the German Emperor.

 ***EPL Ernst Paul Lehmann

 ( the 'New Items' articles on page 4+5 continue with news from Chr.Hoehne-Magnus,Wimmer model built,Pola,Regner and Mebanol-- since those brands were often not available in the USA we left them out,here)

 II- Gauge'y'- our columnist

Now we've got it!! The first guaranteed limited model for friends of Gauge II: Pola's US water tower as a ready-to-use model in a certified volume of 2900.

For those of you asking yourself: why exactly 2900 and not 2500 or 4200, your columnist will lift the secret. Well: what was the number that caused a furor from a Goeppingen manufacturer (Maerklin is located in Goeppingen)--??

Yep, 3300 ! Now, if you just want to avoid trouble with those 10%-er speculators- you just manufacture 10% less-- makes 2900! See. that was easy--- or???

LGB in USA

We'd also like to publish specialty news for the LGB fan who's interested in the specialty area of US-trains, in American style layouts or in collecting American model(trains).

Dr. Baltzer, Aachen, is a specialist in this area. He kindly agreed to report about this subject in our  No 2 issue (Spur II Nachrichten” next month, especially about the LGB club of America. (Please click on https://lgbyarner.blogspot.com/2013/05/lgb-in-usa-1985-part-3.html for this article)

America has always been the most important export destination for LGB. The unfavorably high US Dollar exchange rate has furthermore increased the already high American demand for garden trains “Made in Germany”.

Those who study the Classifieds of the ‘Model Railroader” will find divers offers by LGB dealers offering collectors items even rare in Germany. Whether it is a Philips or gingerbread train or even the Anniversary Train 1981 ( 1,250 US$)*** all are on offer.

(*** 1,250 US $ in 1981 for a model train is the equivalent of roughly US$ 4,000 today.)

Even if you are asking yourself sometimes: how 'those people over there' (a common German term for people living on the greener-grass-side) manage to get these items- you have ungrudgingly  to accept the obvious purchase organization.

This was one of the reasons why we – the Mucher Modelttrain Co. – are compiling various divers LGB products and then offer them for purchase.

Including specialty packages/kits and specialty cars made only for the US market by LGB.

In this regard the prettiest model so far is the 4-axle “Coca-Cola car” No 4072.

We are not convinced, however, of the quality offered in the specialty car No 4070NC that LGB had just souped up in their own workshop; with a “Tiffany Summer & Winter” print not even remotely close to their usual quality standard.

The secret around the “Orient-Express’ car # 3097 will be lifted in Issue No 2 of this magazine.
+++++++++++++++++to be continued with the 2nd part of issue #1 1985

All Aboard For News From Klaus

TrainCraft by Klaus is starting a new blog and articles series for friends, fans and enthusiasts of LGB Model Trains. And there’s a good reason for it: Klaus has started rummaging through his vast collection(s), workshop stockpile, spare parts, memorabilia. All of them rare, some odd and a few even downright peculiar.

TrainCraft by Klaus will share and offer Klaus’ picks by blog and/ or email to our combined clientele.

So—get ready and  ALL ABOARD==== First Stop: articles from the heydays of LGB mixed with brand new articles from 2017/2018. The series of articles originated in German in the “Spur II Nachrichten” and “IIm Online Nachrichten” by Hans-Juergen Neumann. Mr. Neumann is a devoted LGB fan, a major collector, a close friend to Wolfgang Richter,  and a journalist reporting predominantly about LGB and G-Scale for more than 40 years-- Hans-Juergen Neumann orchestrated the importance of LGB as much as did Wolfgang Richter, Klaus Baumann, Guenter Ruhland and Klaus Stork.

Wolfgang Richter passed away in 2012, Klaus Baumann (Sales and Marketing VP LGB) and Guenter Ruhland (Technical Director LGB) are long retired and in their 80’s (as of 2018).

Your Famous Klaus, Klaus Stork, is still operating TrainCraft by Klaus in Cumming/Georgia, for a select group of customers. And H-J Neumann is still writing about LGB, in Germany. (TrainCraft by Klaus received copyright from H-J Neumann in 2013)

TrainCraft by Klaus new and third blog “TrainCraft Trove” will feature chosen articles, interpreting for our well-disposed readers the technical as well as the social-economic environment which made LGB the leading G Scale hobby model train of its time.
Throughout the year pieces from Klaus private (LGB) collection and stash will be offered to the distinguished collector. Some by email, some will be announced on the blog, and for some you might want to enlist on the TrainCraft subscriber list to ensure to receive all of Klaus and TrainCraft by Klaus offers and the complete series of articles.

So, watch out for the next blog, tell all your friends and LGB fans about this blog or send them the link or blog if you want. Join as a follower or email us with questions.