LGB in the USA -- 1985 -- Part 3

The following is a translation from "Spur II Nachrichten" ( 'Gauge 2 News) magazine No 2 December 1985. The magazine was published in Germany - in German only- from 1985 to 2005 by H-Jürgen Neumann .You have met Mr. Neumann through our previous articles. H.-Jürgen Neumann was the founder of one of the biggest and later the most influential LGB Club in Germany ;" Club der LGB Freunde Rhein/Sieg" ( LGB Club LGB Friends Rhein-Sieg). Mr. Neumann was contacted by Yours Truly in February 2013. He is doing very well and was truly happy to be contacted about LGB matters, again. Mr. H-Jürgen Neumann gave us permission to translate all previous articles from his magazines as well as those from his web site LGB Much. So come and join us through a ride through history, the LGB history from 1968 to 2005.Part 3 concludes this article by Dr. Baltzer about the very beginnings of LGB in the USA, quite some time before LGBoA was established.

In 1984 the US Dollar climbed to DEM 3.40 (it wobbles around Euro 1,30 for the last 2 years with comparable buying power ) which brought a solid price-reduction to the market situation for LGB products sold in USA; inspired seemingly by a positive economic background of the Reagan administration the US LGB fans got increasingly into shopping mood. LGB Scale was gaining so much ground that even the publisher of the Model Rail Roader believed he had to jump on that LGB train: Russ Larson condescended an editorial in the February 1984 issue of the MRR - " At The Throttle" -- all the while making it quite clear that while he would love to see articles coming in about G-Scale but regarding the minority role of it he wouldn't be able to publish that many articles.
The Big Train Operator Newsletter mirrored the increasing variety of G-Scale material. The published photos displayed increasingly Kalamazoo and real live-steam locos adjacent to LGB cars.
In 1983 The LGB Club due to changing into a non-profit chapter had to review and change their club by-laws. Triggered by the new members they wanted to change the club name to better represent other model train groups  (like 1-Gauge) . Behind the scenes Kalamazoo seemed to have engaged heavily into such a name change to do away with the ad-strong name of LGB - a German based company at that! That shipwrecked due to the club's 'Old-Timers'  leaving the official name at LGB Model Railroad Club.
The majority decision at the annual Club-Member Convention in Strassburg, PA left the Denver LGB-Club dissatisfied; 15 Denver club members then established the "Garden Railway Society of Denver", a new club. They didn't want to be confined to LGB alone but wanted to take on other big train fans. One of the main actors in this split-off was Marc Horowitz the current publisher of the "Garden Railways Magazine" and the "Sidestreet Banner". The (Denver) Garden Railway Society does a lot of public awareness work and is especially active in the design of transportable modules in G-Scale, corner modules (4 x 4 feet), made in team work and remain club property while straight modules ( 2 x 5 feet) by single members can be integrated in any order. The outer dimensions of the modules have been chosen so that they will fit into any regular car.
Other US magazines that might be of interest for LGB fans or Gauge1 friends:
The Gauge One Journal , The Sidestreet Banner, The Narrow Gauge Digest, Narrow Gauge and Shortline Gazette.
The biggest challenge for these small magazines - issued quarterly and coming into existence due to the growing G-Scale market- is the small number of articles they receive. Mr. Daniel Henon, the publisher of the Gauge One Journal told me that especially Russ Larson, the publisher of the Model Rail Roader is pursuing a ruthless policy in competing for articles and ads. Articles offered to MRR are bought and paid for immediately and then 'frozen'. This way many very interesting articles 'simmer' in immense editorial stocks, many only for few groups like the LGB'ers, are never published and thus elude the MRR-competition in their fight for more ad sales. As a model train fan one can only regret those 'rambunctious' business methods. It is just the small magazine like BTO-Newsletter or the Gauge One Journal which publish very interesting articles  and design tips for do-it-yourself'ers. They deserve our support.
And as the new LGB catalog with its many new US items shows the 'ready-to-play' products by Lehmann are going to enjoy us and our American LGB friends for a long time to come. We as citizens of the "LGB World" thank you, "Lehmänner" !(politely poking fun at the plural of the name Lehmann in German)
Addresses:

H-J.Neumann: 3rd from left, Dr. Baltzer: 3rd from right, visiting the LGB factory in  October 1985

LGB-Model Railroad Club
Secretary-Treasurer
PO BOX 7282
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302
USA
President: Ralph Wilcox ( succeding Al Lentz who retired following heart surgery)
Annual membership fee: US$ 12.00
Friedrich Balzer / LGB (USA) Member No 489
(Dear blog Reader: please remember that this article dates from 1985!! The above listed address is NOT for current use but was part of the translated article )