It does make sense. The current Lionel owners have brought that brand back to prominence. We will have to wait and see.

That might be a good thing! The two biggest names in toy trains together. The possibilities are mind boggling.

Bill

Germans see this not so positive. Reason because then everything goes to China.

A thread in Stummis has been talking about this issue.

http://stummi.foren-city...,-marklin-zu-lionel.html

Anyone has any idea of the financial muscle behind Lionel?

Any opinion on their ability to be able to be able to pull off this deal??

I know that Lionel is part owned by Neil Young, the rock singer.

Lets hope for that David.

I agree. I would really hate to see the americans "take over".

Rob,

altough I comprehend your concern, for every defective product out of China there are thousand that are of good to exellent quality.

Marklin manufatcuring is synonimus of good quality (altough with certain exceptions). However, I feel that it has to do with their philosophy (metal bodies, solid details etc.) more than where the particular model is made.

Case in point, I own several made in china models by different makers (Rivarossi, Bachmann, Liliput) and they are quite different. In particular, I am quite satisfied with the Rivarossi locomotives. Of course, plastic body etc. but price/quality comparable to Marklin.

I would not be to worried if M would make the trains in China, provided they continue with their phiosophy. As part of a multinational company with also shops in China, I can say that quality is good as long as you have a good QC system in place.

We could all get into another heated debate about Chinese made products however we just run in circles. Keep in mind that not all Chinese manufacturers are evil. There are just a few bad apples in every bunch.

Cheers...
Darren

If the chinese can build Märklin trains like they can build diecast cars, I'll be very satisfied... http://www.flickr.com/ph...n/set-72157623073236466/ or http://www.flickr.com/ph...n/set-72157623073236466/ ...

You Tube Lionel Pennsylvania CC2 gives a good idea of their high end product They seem to make either real nice expensive scale items, sn 027 traditional line which is a bit of a compromise or more toy like cheaper products

e

I just received this from my hobby shop....

MARKLIN UPDATE
Marklin profitable, says administrator; Lionel interested in purchase?

A reorganized Marklin is making money and has apparently drawn interest from the biggest name in American model railroading, while Faller creditors have approved the company's reorganization plan.

Märklin administrator Michael Pluta has been quoted recently in the German press as saying the company generated 7 million Euro ($10.2 million) in earnings from April-December 2009.

An article in the Südwest Presse newspaper in Ulm said the earnings figures come on 110 million Euro ($160.2 million) in sales during FY 2009. The earnings figure is before interest and taxes.

Additionally, the publication says a delegation from U.S. toy train manufacturer Lionel has visited Märklin's production facilities in Göppingen in Germany and Györ in Hungary, presumably with interest in purchasing the company.

Pluta, getting ready for Nuremberg's Spielwarenmesse Toy Fair in February, says he's under no pressure to get the company sold. In late 2009, he said a sale might be possible in 2010. He added Märklin is slated to release 400 new products this year.

(c) Model Retailer 2010

FALLER UPDATE
Good news from Faller

Faller administrator Dr. Volker Grub issued a statement January 13 that creditors have unanimously approved the company's reorganization plan as presented.

Under the plan, manufacturing, administration, and sales will be concentrated in the headquarters town of Guetenbach. Creditors will receive a payment of 10% of their claim within one month; Faller will take responsibility for the pensions of its current employees; and the firm will make a payment to the pension insurance association. In addition, the ownership will invest a minimum of 500,000 Euro ($725,000) in the firm.

Dr. Grub stated that he believes the firm can operate successfully under this plan.

(c) Model Retailer 2010

There is a fellow on the "West Coast" that goes by the name of Rod Stewart
that has a certain affinity for model trains. Matter of fact his 5th floor condo is filled with a layout according to MRR mag.

Gene

I think it would be a good move to get it in the hands of a company that is not only in the MRR business, but not going under either. I believe lionel would do a good job of it all, the only angle I couldn't comment on is how globally minded they (or Marklin at the moment) are. Lionel is VERY american in terms of product and consumers, however there are many similarites between what they represent in the US, and Marklin in Germany. I don't think they would sabbatoge the brand or the product as it doesn't compete with what they are doing in O gauge. I also feel the product would benefit.

Chinese or German made, I just haven't been impressed with the last few Marklin purchases I've made. I haven't been discouraged either, but I can easily say the detail and functionality on Lionel's high end Chinese product are far superior to Marklin's german items I've bought as of late. Like it or not (I don't and strongly prefer German made) its a fact and I'd rather have the nice model. I just don't want to pay German prices for Chinese items.

It will be interesting to see what happens.

It's kind of like looking at airline statistics. They say it is the safest way to travel because there are thousands of flights going on daily without incident. All it takes is someone asleep at the swith to miss a maintenance procedure or miss a dmagaed part and you have an accident. It makes everyone nervous to fly. If we look at the sheer volume of goods coming out of China and see how many are involved in recalls it might be similar.

But how many planes are flying with cracks in the frame and how many tainted products are getting through the testers?

I could be talking out my butt here since I don't have and real statistical numbers to quote so don't hang me for any of my ramblings please.

Cheers...
Darren

INteresting article.

NN

Big L were perfectly OK for the job

I would be shocked

Yes,
I think Lionel can pull this deal off. Its just like the game monoply and lionel can be the big boy on the block utilizing their investors... to dig deeper... to make this happen. As of 1st of May 2008 they are now out of Bankruptcy and have strong investors. I'm just curious if the German Gov't is going to allow such a event.

Once M gets taken over will there be a new logo?

I am sure the logo will not change. That Marklin logo is an icon in the hobby world

Kev

I have quite a few China produced Marklin which I've obtained over the last several years. I have no complaints at all since the quality is equal or above that which was made in Germany in the 90's. Of course the 90's models are tinplate and the more recent copies are plastic. But they go well together so no problems.

If Lionel takes over it should be a good omen for the American market since it's the largest in the world for model trains, especially now with the recent revival of interest in model trains over here. I don't really care where the models are manufactured, just that the quality is excellent. A Challenger or some other US locos would be very well accepted.

This is the best news I've heard about Marklin in a long time. Hope it comes true. I might actually start to buy new models again if they start to produce US MRR. I might even have to enlarge my train room to get them in there. Heavens forbid.

Cheers, Bob

I don't know the Reproductions Tinplate Scale 1 MTH train Sets now say Lionel on the Side

Hello All;

I have been watching this thread with earnest, in hopes that this "rumor" had some meat to it, but after speaking with my local dealer about the possibility of such a buy out, I'm afraid that my current view is that the possibility of this happening is remote.

First of all, I don't believe that Lionel (even with it's recent successes in restructuring itself) has the money needed to initiate the deal. The money needed would be immense and would require Lionel, at the very least, to go to the bank and ask for help, something I don't believe the banks are willing to do in this economic climate.

Secondly, Mr. Pluta doesn't appear to be in any hurry to give up his stewardship of Marklin to just any company that comes down the pipeline and expresses an interest in purchasing mother M. This is a good thing, as I believe it will only serve to see Marklin remain strong in these tough times, and, given that the company could remain insolvent indefinitely, as long as the workers are paid, the product keeps on coming out, is this such a bad thing.

So, to my mind, although these speculations are fun, Marklin seeing any buyer in the near future is highly unlikely, but then again, what do I know?