The LGB Collector -- A Life Time Story Part 5

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.

In 1975 I moved back into my parent's house in Wuppertal, the city of my original upbringing. A garden shed was part of that property which I annexed instantly for my LGB purposes. There I established my first real layout on a plywood board. The LGB Depesche published photos in issue 31/32. Accessories at hand at that time are clearly recognizable. A train station and a freight shed by "Lindberg", loco shed, small freight shed and platforms by "Preiser" (who unfortunately did not continue with their product program). The ramps are by "Kibri" , they are displayed on the upper photo on the right. An oldtimer car by "Schuco" (which is now owned by the same people who now own LGB) is waiting at the railway crossing gate.

Top: View onto the first 'real' LGB layout. behind the turntable is the loco shed by Preiser
Middle: Lindberg- train station already w/ several  upgrade accessories. In front the platform by Preiser
Bottom: Small freight shed by Preiser on left. The train station lamps deliver a romantic light.

I won runner-up with this layout at a LGB at a LGB photo-competition! Again, the LGB Depesche reported about this see magazine # 35 from 1978, pages 18 to 21. By then the "Lindberg" trainstation was replaced by the 'Kleinbach' by "POLA", also a lineman shed by POLA, a coal silo and a small crane by HMB as well as many added LGB locomotives and cars.

clockwise from top left: the green "Waldenburg" steam loco waits at the platform. View of the train station area with BW-in the back a 2080 w passenger cars is approaching. Layout plan of the new LGB layout in the garden shed. The new OBB Diesel loco 2095 at work- in the front a little platform shed deriving from as loco shed addition by Preiser. The "Kleinbach' train station by POLA, the  wonderful old timer structure was something special back then;look closely and you can see a lot of additional accessories! Mr. Speedy hurries to the (POLA) train station to take the Fiery Eli into the city nearby.

In 1979 I moved from Wuppertal to Much. I worked in Cologne at that time and wanted to built a home-house. Via the "Koelner Stadtanzeiger" (Cologne newspaper) I found a piece of land in Much -until that time unbeknownst to me - about 30 (car) minutes from Cologne. The property measures 1,200 square-meter (roughly 1/4 acre) and would have been non-affordable within Cologne city limits. Right-away I told my architect that I needed a train-basement. So he planned a basement room covering the complete length and width of the house : 11 yards by 5 yards. But it took another 5 years until I could start building my layout. First, this room got used as storage room right after moving in and then I had other things to do, landscaping my backyard and other chores.

clockwise from top: atmospheric shot in the depot.- On the right the drive-up ramp by Kibri, dense housing with several buildings and a small crane - Coal silo (on right side in photo) by HMB made out of wood.- Drive-up ramp by Kibri (in front) behind that the gatekeeper shed by POLA.

The LGB Collector -- A Life Time Story -- Part 4

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.

....Many a contacts developed through my LGB Hobby and my activities. Speaking with LGB friends at fairs and conventions, entertained  a friendship with the Swiss LGB Club and their President Erwin Neuweiler; as well as with the American LGB Club of which I am a member for many years. I phoned  Mr. Zeunert- who managed the LGB Depesche or met with him at fairs. I met and befriended a lot of dealers among them Jürgen Baumann, Jacob Groen, Marion Hötzel, Sven Linden, Hans-Peter Naber, Hans-Herrmann Nahrgang, Erwin Neuweiler, Frank Michael Pohl and others. In addition there were the manufacturers of other Big Train items and accessories. There were and are still today a great many friendships into all of the LGB world.
But back to the year 1972: Thank the Lord - I have to admit nowadays- I wasn't a good tinkerer. What others did to their LGB engines: super them up, paint them, construct one long one out of two short ones- I had no clue. I operated them the way they came out of the box. Maybe I added freight or transported my guinea pigs (which I kept as pets) with them. There are really just a very few engines which I tinkered with. For instance the American caboose # 4065 which I photographed for my 'Historic Pages' the other day. It was furnished with metal axles and power pickup plus two rear lights. While I removed the metal axles and the power pickup after the photo shoot and replaced them with the still existing Original axles the holes in the boxcar remained being needed for the cables to the rear lights -- what a pity considering today's (collector's) value.
I also have to admit to another 'failing' since I replaced the originally plastic trailing wheels for the U-Series with metal axles. It looked nicer. But I still have the originals so I can 're-work' the locos in the near future.
What I really bemoan is that I burned the LGB boxes in the field adjacent (to my home) because I didn't have enough space. But I grew wise fast and stopped that altogether.
My next stop was the attic in the same house where I first put my layout on the kitchen floor. This attic had been used by the landlord to store some junk and he agreed to let me use it to put up my first LGB (layout) - and the best was I could leave it there permanently. Yes I took pictures, look into LGB depesche # 23/24, page 46. Picture 2 shows the opening (flip door) to the attic, my access to my LGB world. The caption to the photos read that the layout had 80 yards of track and operated 15 engines and 65 cars. As you can see I was already really hooked on LGB.....

Top:Lindberg Station and various trains. The completely green steam loco of the U-Series is still very much sought after even today. You can easily see that the layout is in the attic.
Bottom: View from the station. A "Fiery Eli" switching on the rail junction, followed by Lindberg buildings. There also was a stretch of catenary line for the electric loco. (the white 'square' on the floor in the back is the attic access...)

Looking for this Depesche magazine I (HJN) found issue # 25/26 and on page 41 discovered one of my tinkering 'excesses'. The little Gustav handcar was a new item in 1971 (LGB# 2001) (see LGB Depesche # 9, page 14) but production showed way less sophisticated bodywork (than the hand model). So I took a sharp knife and cut out the parts in-between the planks. That way the wheels became better visible. My work was published and described in the LGB Depesche but the LGB factory never changed their mold.

Top: my first conversion: taking a sharp knife to cut out the material between the planks achieving a filigree look.
Bottom: Hand model to compare to top.The wheels had to be bigger than on the  hand model so they would  pass over an uncoupling track

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

The LGB Collector -- A Lifetime Story Part 3

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 always had some repairs with me alongside a number of wishes and requests from our club members especially those looking for spare parts. Those wishes were promptly worked on upon my arrival. And it went without saying that I joined their breakfast break at 9.00 a.m. Of course I made sure that coffee and doughnuts were on me. Only then I went to see the 'bosses' and other departments.
Mrs. Grimm headed and managed her "Grimm's spare parts department" for many years at the Annual LGB Club Conventions; which she organized for years in co-operation with her husband who also worked for LGB as head of assembling. Club members took their LGB worries and pains mostly in form of their engines and cars to her 'booth' were most of them found help right away. Tougher cases were taken back to the factory after the convention and returned  to their owners by mail. Every year when I attend the International Toy Fair in Nuremberg I stay at the "Pensione Grimm" and every evening then we go for dinner to the "Golden Hirsch" to reminisce about old times and exchange news.

LGB Factory and all of their employees in 1997 (image added by Yours Truly)

There were a whole slew of great men and women at LGB with whom I struck up great friendships over the years. In addition to Messrs. Wolfgang, Johannes and Rolf Richter I most often contacted Messrs Schnidtmann and Jagiella; Mr. Schnidtmann was heading the "DesignTuning" department while Mr. Jagiella heading the printing department was my go-to guy for all things printing/labeling on club cars. When Mrs. Grimm entered  her - well-deserved - retirement Mr. Thier followed her as head of repairs. He learned the ropes quickly and he supported me and the LGB Club very well and just the way I was used to. Mr. Biedenbacher is head of customer service and we always shared a wonderful co-operation and collaboration. I remember very well that for what reason ever he needed two really old manual switches. He got them instantly for free out of my personal 'stock'....
Then there was the time when Mr (Klaus) Baumann was still VP of Sales. Looking back it is a fact that he was responsible for quite a big chunk of Lehmann's success. He was always on the front lines, attending each and every fair and convention and took care of each and every LGB fan. TV appearances and spontaneous interviews were his daily bread - he just was a celebrated character. We always got along really well and had great collaborations. If the club had to assemble a layout within an (LGB) convention booth I just sat down with him briefly, talked it over and never heard from or saw him again until the convention opened. He just new I would do it right. I fondly remember my Friday-Appointments (with Klaus Baumann) at the LGB factory where we went for lunch to the Italian restaurant, company credit card in hand. On those occasions we exchanged ideas, general LGB- world news, and scheduled new appointments.
I also always liked to work with Mr. Bauer. Years ago we met by pure coincidence  and jointly celebrated New Years Eve at Hotel Badersee in Grainau (Bavaria). It's a small world after all-sometimes...
I also received a lot of help from Mr. Michel (head of purchasing) and Mr. Gall (Technical Director). Mrs. Gerl, the former Ms. Krueger, always welcomed me with a cup of coffee. Mrs. Aumer, Wolfgang Richter's personal secretary, secured my appointments with the bosses. In earlier years when Mr. Ottinger was still head of shipping&dispatch he helped me a great deal with brochures, pamphlets, and catalogs.+++++++++++++++++++to be continued+++++++++++++++++++++++

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)