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Märklin declares bankruptcy
I grew up with Marklins in the 50s and 60s. A stellar product then, but unfortunately beyond the budget of the common enthusiast now.
I took German for 6 years but for the life of me I can’t remember the word for “bailout”!!!
With a 150 year history, Marklin has surely seen economic and business conditions far worse than those the world’s economies and Marklin are currently facing. I for one hope that this fine manufacturer is able to restructure it’s business and operations to conform to the realities of the masrketplace and find other business opportunities that it’s infrastructure can adapt itself to.
I think Marklin has been limiting their own market by stubbornly sticking to their proprietary electrical system. I model US HO, British 00 and German HO. But I buy Fleischmann, Brawa, Trix, Roco, Liliput – everything except Marklin because I want commonality.
Very sad indeed. I wonder how this will effect LGB now that Marklin owns them.
I began playing with a Maerklin trainset at age of 4 (1940). The locomotive was the windup type and the track a simple oval. Fully wound, the engine would go around the small oval 3 or 3and a half times. But what way to dream as a young boy, laying on the floor and watch that fascinating train. I don’t think this company needs a bailout, just a credit line to keep operating until measures to correct the situation take effect.
I grew up in Germany and lived there for 25 years, three of those in the Maerklin city Goeppingen but I don’t think the word bailout was coined then and would use the term “finanzielle Beihilfe” (financial aid)
Given that most American companies do not see their 40th birthday, its a shame to see this German firm in trouble. But I don’t think governments can bail out everyone.
It’s happening in the prototypes and now in the hobby.
I saw my first Marklin Z scale while visiting Switzerland in the early 90’s and was blown away. I really wanted the diminutive locos and rolling stock but, like almost everyone else posting a comment here, the price was out of my range.
Although I now model in HO, the little catalogue that I picked up in that Swiss hobby store in Interlaken still sits in the top drawer of my desk.
Here’s hoping that I may be able to afford some of the little gems in the future and that it will still be made by Marklin.
Ted, Lester and Bob are correct in what they say and I agree! With a 150 year history in this hobby and the market being the way its been in that 150 year time period, one would think that the powers that be at the helm of Marklin could see the trend of ups and downs, and adjust accordingly. To be unable to pay ones employees is no excuse. And bailouts, lets not get started on that can of worms. Here in the United States it doesn’t seem to have been that benifitial to our economy!! We could debate this to the end of time and no one would be the smarter. Here’s hoping that Marklin can restructure and get a handle on their future. Good Luck Marklin.
Though sold as a top-notch product line, I have never purchased Marklin’s products myself due to the outlandish prices. $649.99 US for a locomotive? They may be worth it to some, but most unattainable for the rest of us. That said, it certainly is a shame to see a 150 year old cornerstone company to our hobby having such problems. An unfortunate sign of the times to be sure.
It’s unfortunate, but with the current economy I expect to see more manufacturers fall by the wayside. I think survival will come down to the ones who can adapt to a drastically changing market. I realize there are people with so little time, RTR is a viable option but I will never want to pay some one to assemble an Athearn or Roundhouse car for me. The entire hobby is getting too expensive for the average person. I have Photography as a hobby also and haven’t spent a fraction of what I spend on Model Railroading over the years.
Marklin, and old, and solid competitor in the model rail market, will reorganize and survive to fight yet another day.
I’m unfamiliar with German bankruptcy law, but we know of numerous American firms that have lived through several bankruptcies… It just means that they will be required to modify the way they think, and how they do things…
and we wish them much success in doing so.
Is there anybody out there that still does not believe that this is a worldwide credit disaster. We ALL need a healthy Marklin Company, from G to Z.
I am sorry to see any mfg. go into bankruptcy, and worse yet go out of business. While most of Marklin products are out of my reach at the moment, I have always wanted one of their passenger cars in HO that I saw in one of the hobby shops here in Atlanta. It was a diner with lights on the table and a waiter going up and down the aisles with a tray of drinks. this was when they first came out with DCC.
I agree with Irwin Nathanson of NY. I model in HO and have American Locos along with Fleischmann Locos. They run fine. I also have Brawa and Roco. I do have a Marklin catenary system and roundhouse. Marklin center stud rail system is fine except that you are limited to Marklin, it is like Lionel AC system. I knew someone who had a Marklin system and it was a great railway layout.
Having been born in Germany and receiving my first two Marklin trains at the tender age of 2. When we left Germany 40 years ago we kept one of them and it still runs today. I have collected more than 40 loco’s and 220 pieces of rolling stock by now and lots of accessories like turntables, cranes, signals and bridges.
I think that I can say that Marklin has become a part of my life.
To see that company in trouble hurts me, but I will also say that I have seen a steady decline in quality that I have not bought a single new item for the last 5 years!!!
I hope that the company can be saved, simply as it has become a part of German culture and I also think of all the employee’s and their families.
Lionel also went through bankruptcy. Trains will still be made.
It is sad to see another great company fall victim to this recession,where will it end?
I am a model railroader in G,O,HO,and N. My only G scale source is LGB. I hope Marklin survives.
It is a shame to see that Maerklin, like so many companies, has been affected by these economic hard times. The Maerklin product is top notch, however, very expensive having modeled a modest Z scale layout myself. Due to the high prices I have switched to modeling HO using American products from Bachmann, Atlas, and Athearn just to name a few.
To Maerklin I wish “alles gute und viel glueck” (all the best, and good luck).