I have just learnt that Gaugemaster have been re-appointed as the UK distributor for Marklin and Trix in the UK with effect from June 2015. I do not yet know if the deal includes LGB as well, but it may well do.

Gaugemaster lost the distribution rights to the Hobby Company a few years ago now, as the then management at Marklin wanted a single UK distributor, and The Hobby Company already handled LGB.

Although us Marklin old timers were not always happy with Gaugemaster, I think it is a generally positive move that they will be the distributor once again. Marklin and, to a lesser extent, Trix have now virtually disappeared from UK shops.

I also hope that we may see a return of Insider Club training sessions at Gaugemaster open weekends. Where in the past I have met up with many of you. Who knows, perhaps now would be a good time to get in touch with Gaugemaster with suggestions for a re-launch of the brands? I know Marklin is never going to be big here, but it is effectively starting from zero, so 'every little helps'

Best Regards
Ashley

Edited by user 19 March 2015 13:54:00(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

That sounds like good news. I would suspect they would have their seminars in September again, which IIRC is when they used to do them. Trouble is that they may then fall foul of the date for the open days at Marklin ...

One of the problems was the Hobby Company would not have stock on the shelf, they would not publish a price list, and retailers generally found them a pain to deal with. I know the retailer that used to be local to me got to a point that he gave up dealing with them.

Even when they had stock their advertisements never carried any pricing. If you go through the Continental Modeller magazines where they have taken out an advert there is no prices shown, and it is not clear to me if the items shown in the advert is stock just arrived and passing through, stuff about to arrive and pass on through, or quite what.