The LGB Collector -- A Lifetime Story Part 2

The following is a translation of "The LGB Collector", an article by H.-Jürgen Neumann from Spring 2006. Mr. Neumann published it in his own IIm-Online News web page. You can read the original article  at http://www.lgb-much.de/20406.pdf and use a Google translation or similar. To avoid mixing-ups in context with Yours Truly you will find "(HJN)", the abbreviation for H.-Jürgen Neumann,  in places were the original author refers to himself since the article is about his lifelong journey being a dyed-in-the-wool LGB fan.

...I (HJN) had won the prize numbering somewhere between # 11 and # 50: a car of my choice! Writing this is the opportunity for me to make a confession to the former jury: I didn't have enough tracks for the branch-lines. And the photo in the hallway was made possible by me taking off track in the living room, rushing to put them down someplace else! There- I said it, 34 years later. But even back then I didn't have any remorse since 4 weeks later I had bought so much more track material that the layout had grown respectively.

Left: the 'roundabout' tracks on the living room floor.
Right: the branch line , the LGB # 2030 little electro loco just coming out of the bedroom

I picked up my prized car in Nuremberg myself after arranging for a meeting with Mr. Wolfgang Richter beforehand. I was amicably welcomed and since I brought my slide projector did a show of my layout. (Dearest Reader, please know that in the early 70's the worst thing you could do at a German party was make people watch slide shows...Yours Truly...) Frankly, I was under the impression that he really liked my slide show because, after all, afterwards he took me on a tour through the whole factory - unhurriedly. And then I was invited for lunch to a restaurant near by. To me it was like pigs did fly!...Those were the beginnings of a friendship that kept until today (in 2006). But I also made sure that whenever afterwards I scheduled a visit to the factory - which became regular visits - I made sure it fit their plans and I was welcomed to show up. The workload for Wolfgang Richter and then later for Rolf and Johannes increased so much that they couldn't afford hour-long breaks just like that.

A close collaboration then ensued due to the founding of the LGB Club Rhein/Sieg, which had its own club magazine, shows and exhibitions sharing quite often a booth with Lehmann (LGB). This allowed  me to experience great support from LGB for me personally and for our club. We exhibited our club at the LGB Summer Fest 1998 and at various fairs and shows, we managed Specialty shows about historic LGB stock, we hand-built pre-production models, consulted regarding new items and novelties and reported about views, trends and opinions directly from the 'front line'.
Of course I visited the subsidiary "LGB of America" in later years in San Diego/CA. There is still a noce photo somewhere where I make myself very comfortable in the Richter-executive-chair at the desk where they worked if they came over from Nuremberg. I remember very well their  warehouse were all those "treasures" were stocked in droves. Treasures that were highly sought after by collectors here at home. They also had a "Inge" (German female first name short for Ingrid) which we called simply "the American Frau Grimm". (Ms Grimm was legendary in her knowledge -by heart!!- of each and every! spare part and LGB item EVER made, its price and the shelve it was stocked in). As far as the German Frau Grimm is concerned, the 'real' Frau Grimm -chief of the repair department in Nuremberg until 1999- we had an amicable relationship which I always nursed and cultivated even  until today. Ms Grimm was always the first to see when I visited LGB/Nuremberg. Usually I went there on Fridays and you knew(!) it was precisely 7.00 a.m. since I was entering their parking place exactly at that time..( and the bosses' cars were already there...)++++++++++++++++to be continued++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The LGB Collector - A Lifetime Story

The following is a translation of "The LGB Collector", an article by H.-Jürgen Neumann from Spring 2006. Mr. Neumann published it in his own IIm-Online News web page. You can read the original article  at http://www.lgb-much.de/20406.pdf and use a Google translation or similar. To avoid mixing-ups in context with Yours Truly you will find "(HJN)", the abbreviation for H.-Jürgen Neumann,  in places were the original author refers to himself since the article is about his lifelong journey being a dyed-in-the-wool LGB fan.

The LGB Collector - German American Friendship

- I dedicated this report to Mr. Wolfgang Richter! - Thank you! - (HJN)

Anniversary set commemorating the 10th anniversary of the American BTO-LGB Clubs in 1988. It contains a 2010D loco and three coaches in white with commemorative labeling.  On the rear side the loco has a brass plate displaying engraved initials (of the owner) and his/her club member number - in this case H-J N 1087-. Limited edition of 500. It came in a white box, made in USA, printed labeling, and individual (clubmember) names handwritten by Alfred Lenz, back then (in 1988) the president of the BTO clubs. I (HJN) received this trainset in person while attending the anniversary convention in Pittsburgh. That's not the only reason why it means so much to me but also because of the many friendships with American LGB Friends.

The LGB Collector - a very personal story
When in 1972 I (HJN) saw LGB for the very first time I was 23 years old, was moved to Siegen (about 60 miles east of Cologne/West Germany) by my employer and found myself one day in the toy department "Mehr am Markt" in Siegen. If you took the stairs to the 2nd floor and turned right there was a corner reserved for the Lehmann Big Train. There you would get everything that was manufactured back then; and they still offered rail road vehicles from the very first years with locomotives carrying Heuler motors. All items were subject to price maintenance. I remember very well that when I asked for a price discount for a pretty dusty green U-series loco the salesman had to go and call the LGB factory first to get permission to do so. That's how it used to be! If you come to think  about some of the price wars fought in later years - that early systems wasn't that bad--- in any case there were enough dealers carrying LGB. Even the "Globus" department store (compare to a SuperTarget) offered LGB. And while doing the weekly grocery shopping we regularly bought one car. Everything was so much less expensive then. Even the "Handelshof" (think Cosco concept) as a cash&carry market offered the Lehmann Big Train. I remember exactly the incident where the small, completely blue E-loco(s) LGB# 2031 were piled up high in that store because that color compared to her 'prettier' sister (engines) wasn't favored enough (by buyers). Today (2006) this loco is one of the most wanted and most valuable of her time! That's how it is sometimes...

Back then one was not an LGB collector. One just went and bought all trains, locos and cars that came out as far as your financial means let you. Most probably almost always every started (the hobby) with a starter set. Me too! Then came the various cars and track material. I remember very well the February deadline for the contest by Lehmann for the prettiest indoor layout. Another contest for outdoor layouts had already been done two years ago. This time - of course - I wanted to participate and set up my layout on the floor of my rented apartment, round-about in the living room with a pass-track to the kitchen and into the bedroom. See layout blueprint below.....

+++++++++++++++++to be continued++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

A little treat - the download for the 2nd LGB catalog 1969/70

Here is a link to the 2nd ever published LGB catalog from the year 1969/70

http://www.lgb-much.de/Prospekt_1969_70.pdf


The catalog was completely in German but with our previous blogs you should be fine in understanding the descriptions provided. Please note that printing in color was extremely expensive back then. Therefore you will find that part of the catalog was printed in black and white. LGB never listed prices in their catalogs.

From the start LGB drove a twin path; advertise for children and family play time and price for adults. The initial sales price for a starter set was DEM 198.00. That was pretty steep compared to the average weekly wages of roughly DEM 90.00 to 120.00 in 1969 for workers and clerks in Western Germany.

Take a look at page 2  and 4 of the old catalog and see the ad-focus on the child playing with the LGB train and on page 4 the focus on family as well as on the outdoors capability of the LGB trains. Note that is was in full color. This was very expensive to print! And check out the background use of a swimmingpool - the ordinary German had not even easy access to a public swimming-pool in 1969 and had to walk for at least 30 minutes to get to one! Let alone of having one in your own back yard ...that was something for millionaires and entrepreneurs...The LGB 'double standard' was established early on.

Also note the photo scene where the father pours a beverage. See the yellow 'stuff' in the glasses? That shall make the viewer think lemonade, but EVERYONE knew back then that lemonade came in clear bottles and beer was poured from green or brown 1/2 liter bottles (equivalent to 2 1/2 cups). It was a very common activity to have something mechanical serving your beer at parties and this is what this scene is trying to purvey. Remember : beer in Germany was by law considered a food in many states (like Bavaria, and Nuremberg is in Bavaria) and not an alcoholic beverage.

Page 3 -  in black and white, the serious color- we are talking rationing and technical information here - emphasizes the gauge, the indoor and outdoor capability ("operates all season long") and is "small enough to find a place in even the smallest apartment" . Remember: the year is 1969, Western Germany is still in recovery from being completely destroyed by the Allies in WW II. Apartments and living space was slowly rebuilt.To have housing for everyone many apartments were limited in space to roughly 700 sqft for a family of 4. Many regions and cities had housing laws that did not allow for living rooms to be bigger than 250sqft to not waste build-able space for others with lesser means. To advertise that you could already operate an LGB set on less than 1.3 square yards was essential - and LGB did.

Wording and photography also emphasized on the combination of technology (precision manufacturing on precision machinery with high quality material (like brass loco wheels and chrome coated parts) and tradition (LGB dates back to 1881 and was famous for their mechanical tin toys).

With that in mind enjoy the 16 pages and if you like to add an old set to your collection, please contact us- we are able to help.

LGB 1968-1971 -- Tracks, Switches, Transformers, Accessories

The following is a translation of an article/internet posting by IIm-online Nachrichten(News).  H.-Jürgen Neumann, the publisher of these News, gave Yours Truly permission for translation of these series of postings. In case you like to check the original German version please go to http://www.lgb-much.de/20306.pdf. This article concludes the account about the early LGB product offerings.

We have compiled all things LGB that were published in the very first years (1968-1971) regarding track, electrical equipment, and accessories. We did not follow a rigid timeline but have added things published/offered in 1971 or a bit later. Nonetheless we think it very interesting to provide a broad summary.

From the start LGB focused on a high 'game-value': the un-coupler-track LGB # 1050W for manual operation, manufactured 1968. Still in the very first grey packaging.

Right image: the 3rd and 5th track from left are made aluminum tracks (recognize the slight silver coloring?), curved track on right # LGB 1500, starting in 1970. Middle: track bumper LGB # 1030 and LGB # 1008W adjustable track. Below: contact breaker track LGB # 1000UW and LGB # 1000TW isolation track.

Left image: clockwise from below left the first manual switches LGB# 1210W and 1200W. Electric un-coupler track LGB# 1055 starting in 1975. Next to it the 'permanent un-coupler' LGB# 1052 starting 1971. Middle: electric signal LGB# 5029. then a 'slim electric switch. Electric switch R1 LGB# 1205W and crossing 30 Deg LGB# 1300W.

Left: Rail Road Bridge LGB# 5060. Middle: various figurines and on right the Station lamps with plug base

Clockwise from left: "Super transformer" LGB# 5008 and LGB # 5000 transformer, below that switch board and control panel. To the right connecting parts and catenary mast LGB# 6000. Analog throttle LGB# 5010 and analog 'super throttle' LGB# 5012 with distribution boxes below. Then catenary wires in different lenghts. 
(Dear Reader: please note that the LGB# are the German numbers, US numbering system might have added 0 or 1 to turn them into 5-digit numbers)

LGB Catalog 1969 - Part II

The following is a translation of an article/internet posting by IIm-online Nachrichten(News).  H.-Jürgen Neumann, the publisher of these News, gave Yours Truly permission for translation of these series of postings. In case you like to check the original German version please go to http://www.lgb-much.de/20306.pdf. This article (series) continues the account about the early LGB catalogs.

Three new passenger cars and one new freight car entered the program. The two old-timer passenger cars (LGB# 3011 and # 3012) were color variations of passenger car # 3010 of the Salzkammergut local line; passenger car # 3040 "Mixnitz-St Erhard-Bahn) was a complete new model. Car # 3011 was colored in red and was referred to as  passenger car of the Northern German Isle Line. The # 3012 was white/blue (not blue/white- note!) (this is in reference to the Bavarian State colors of "blue & white) and depicted a "Bavarian" type. Both cars and a Stainz loco also made up the LGB Starter Set ( # 20301) which sold umpteen thousand times. Colorful- something for children...
(We are pretty sure that) with the Austrian passenger car CD 2 of the narrow gauge Mixnitz-St Erhard line LGb was already planning ahead for presenting the little matching electric loco of the same train line, which then was released in 1970.

Back then nobody shed any thoughts about the fact that a "Northern German Isle Line" was operating in conjunction with the Austrian "Salzkammergut Local Line", possibly the  (Austrian) "Pinzgauer Local Line" all behind a (South-Western German) "Upper Rhine Rail Road". What was liked was favored - by children as well as by the huge numbers of the grown-up LGB fans!

Top: passenger car LGB # 3011 red/beige
 w/ chromed steel axles, 1969
Middle: passenger car LGB # 3012 blue/beige
 type"Bavaria"
 w/ chromed steel axles, 1969
Bottom: passenger car CD 2 LGB# 3040, 1969

Top: tank car LGB# 4040 in grey
 imbued plastic, 1969
Middle: Hopper car 1200 LGB# 4041
red imbued plastic, 1969
Bottom: Hopper car 1200 LGB# 4041G
grey imbued plastic, 1969

Also very beautiful was the first 2-axle tank car R 360 of the Zillertalbahn (LGB# 4040), grey and labeled "Petroleum". It was followed by "ARAL", "SHELL", "ESSO", and "BP" one year later. It was a fluent transition from "Petroleum" to "ARAL: the grey petroleum tank car was released with additional "ARAL" stickers, then the "Petroleum" sticker was left out, then the car got a white tank first and then a blue tank. It got the labeling "ARAL" with the LGB# 4040A. Compared with its colorful 'brothers' the green BP tank car always got a bit neglected, was less popular with the customer base and was taken off the program first. Which then later on led to it becoming a highly sought after collector's item.
Another new item in 1969 was the hopper car # 4041 in red and in grey (LGB# 4041G). The December 1969 LGB Depesche issue # 4  reported:
Just in time for Christmas the LGB fleet added an especially attractive model; the 2-axle hopper car # 4041 with opening side hatches went into serial production.A really splendid model built just as strong and  solid as all LGB models, made of weather resistant plastic and highly detailed up to the  louver chains. Carriage and frame w/ planked platform are black while the (container) structure is red. Both platform and container are labeled in white according to the archetype. 
The big container body can easily carry one liter ( a quart) of bulk cargo (sand,gravel etc) Empty the container on both sides via slant chutes manually operated by rotary slides.
We're locating the Original archetype of this LGB hopper car at the OEG (Upper Rhine Railroad) car # 1200. The Original car was built by RailWay Car Maker H Fuchs, Heidelberg, Germany in 1925 and carries 7 cubic meter load at 10,500 kg capacity. The rolled out accessory was an uncoupling track # 1050W. Even though still manually operated it already served as a big help in uncoupling the LGB cars. By pushing the side button the uncoupling piece lifts inbetween the tracks and thus separates the  couplers of the rolling cars above.
Also very practical was a small bridge of 45 cm(18 inches) in length built like an iron truss(LGB# 5060). This is still offered by LGB as of today (2006) and probably  utilized many a thousand times. A small distributor plate (LGB # 5070) could be used to connect station lamps electrically or be utilized as a coupler between two extension cables. Some-when  sometime later it fell victim to advancing LGB technology.....++++++++++++++++++to be continued............

LGB Catalog 1969

The following is a translation of an article/internet posting by IIm-online Nachrichten(News).  H.-Jürgen Neumann, the publisher of these News, gave Yours Truly permission for translation of these series of postings. In case you like to check the original German version please go to http://www.lgb-much.de/20306.pdf. This article (series) continues the account about the early LGB catalogs.

LGB News of 1969 - 2 new locos and 6 cars expand the program

It was a pretty "Oldtimer", the steam streetcar # 102 from 1891 operated by the 'OEG' , Oberrheinische Eisenbahn-Gesellschaft (Upper Rhine Train Corporation); coined the 'Feuriger Elias'  (Fiery Eli) in vernacular term.
The back then "modern times" entered LGB by way of the narrow gauge  Diesel loco "Schöma - CFL 150" - The Original was operated in manufacturing sites and for passenger trains in South America. At LGB she can operate  passenger trains and freight trains, easily, since Diesel locos operate on narrow gauge as well.
Worth mentioning is also that (LGB) included the steam engine "2010D" into their program - "D" for 'Dampf' (German for steam). A small metal tube in the smoke stack filled half way with Seuthe smoke fluid was the secret to this loco steaming like the Original and many a loco- generations afterwards. LGB-Depesche magazine #2 from July 1969 presents the Fiery Eli as follows:
"Countless train fans and the people in the Mannheim-Heidelberg-Weinheim triangle (a southwestern German stronghold of industry) are familiar with the FieryEli. The big archetype operated on the OED trainlines for five decades and is well known for his unusual appearance as a Diesel loco.

Left: Tramway loco 'Fiery Eli' "OEG" (LGB # 2050) this is the 1st version with black chassis and Heuler-motor.
Right: Diesel loco 'Schöma CFL 150' (LGB # 2060H); chassis red, housing in yellow imbued plastic, w/horn triggered by trigger pin. Battery. Model Year 1971

Left: Diesel loco 'Schöma CFL 150' (LGB # 2060), chassis gray, housing red imbued plastic, Model Year 1970.

Right:Diesel loco 'Schöma CFL 150' (LGB # 2060G), chassis red, housing green imbued plastic,

Model Year 1969

"The immediate archetype is the OEG-loco # 102. It is a street car steam loco with wheel arrangement B, built in Kassel by Henschel & Son in 1891. The OEG # 102 had 6 siblings with this type of construction; they were scrapped already in the early 1950's. Until that time they operated faithfully on the OEG lines.
The OEG-tramway loco No 102, vernacular term 'Fiery Eli', has Meter-gauge, a perfect match for LGB gauge 45mm (= one meter in 1:22,5 scale). Her net weight is 11.0 tons and her gross weight is up to 16.4 tons. She can take 1.2  cubic meter water and 0.6 cubic meter coal, top speed is 30 km/h (or 19 mph). The otherwise typical appearance of a Diesel loco completely vanished under the wrap-around cover panel and the end-to-end roof; only the smoke stag peaks out of the roof. The boiler sits in the middle of the loco and furnace is operated from the left side. Coal is stored behind the boiler and the water tanks are behind the coal storage and on both sides up front. The LGB loco (2050) model displays this very well. Note that the 'Fiery Eli' is still operating today (1970) in the Edingen depot of OEG , sometimes for special excursions with oldtimer cars. OEG donated her to the German Society for Railroad History.++++++++++++++++++++++to be continued.......... 

LGB History -1968 and 1969 -- Part III

The following is a translation of an article/internet posting by IIm-online Nachrichten(News).  H.-Jürgen Neumann, the publisher of these News, gave Yours Truly permission for translation of these series of postings. In case you like to check the original German version please go to http://www.lgb-much.de/20306.pdf. This article (series) is about the first ever LGB catalog published in 1968 and the LGB activities until 1969.

Regarding starter sets there was one passenger train starter set and one freight train starter set . The passenger train set (LGB # 20301) consisted of a Stainz loco # 2020, one passenger car # 3000, one passenger car # 3010, 12 curved aluminum tracks, 1 connector cable # 5016, 4 figurines and track clamps # 1150. (Original sales price was DEM 198.00 in 1968 or roughly US$ 340.00 in today's money)
The slightly lower prices freight train package (LGB # 20401) consisted of a LGB loco # 4 (LGB 2040) one   boxcar  in brown (LGB #4030) and one 'gondola' in green (LGB# 4020), 12 curved aluminum tracks, 1 connector cable # 5016, 4 figurines and track clamps  (Original price was DEM 176.00 in 1968 or roughly US$ 300.00 in today's money).

LGB 20401 Starter set,
 first edition from 1968.
In 1970 LGB already switched
 to a more colorful packaging

Now, of course, you'd need power to operate the trains. Since LGB (trains) were always meant to be operated outside as well the transformer and the control unit had to be separated by (German) law. So, while the transformer (LGB # 5000) was operated 'under the roof' the controller displaying max 14 Volts could be operated outdoors. It came in the shape of (small) switch tower first in brown, later in green. And the connecting cable between transformer and controller came as a 5-yard-long cable (# 5015). There also  was a 1-yard long connector cable (# 5016), connecting controller and track and a lighting (set) for the two coaches (LGB# 3030). The first brochure, by the way, was still marketing that the controller could be hooked up to the car battery. Though we couldn't find this hint in later publishings. Maybe too many cars broke down......somewhere outside the cities where the clubs met.........with dead batteries galore.....

The figurines were sold as a set as well (LGB# 5040). Spare parts offered were a loco motor (LGB# 2100) and 4 spare carbon brushes (LGB 2110).

At last the second most important thing: the Tracks! To keep costs low in the beginning LGB also offered aluminum tracks. The LGB brochure elaborates: "LGB track # 1000, 1060 and 1100 are made of specialty-hardened-aluminum-alloy and come chrome plated. The track connectors are made out of stainless chrome-nickel steel (V2a) and track beds are made out of VESTOLEN (a patented plastic with very high thermal qualities, very high UV resistance, and extremely durable), They (the aluminum tracks) are meant for indoor layouts and should not be operated outdoors on a regular base. Outdoor use should be limited to temps above 41 degree F. For permanent outdoor operation use track material 1000W-1210W brass solid profile tracks.
Outdoor Layouts: track material 1000W-1210W in brass solid profile is completely weather proof (also in freezing conditions) and best suited for all outdoor and indoor layouts."
By the way, the 60cm (=2 ft long) track piece # 1060 was not available in aluminum. There are some 1500'er tracks which came nickel-plated and were made later on as a test series but never went into full production; therefore they were never sold through stores or dealers. But they made it into the 2006 catalog as a new item.

The very first LGB boxes: left is the first ever  box type, greyish with handwritten item no. Then the yellow boxes were used for some years until they were replaced by the red boxes (around 1978/79)

So, for a short time they offered both track types for # 1000 straight 30cm (1 ft) and # 1100 curved 30 degree. A manually operated switch for right (#1200W) and for left (1210W) turn was announced but not delivered until 1969. The same goes for the uncoupling track (# 1050W) W always means 'weather proof'. And lastly, there was a buffer stop (LGB # 1030) and the track clamps (1150).