The LGB brand and concept was the brainchild of two brothers, Eberhard and Wolfgang Richter back in 1968. They literally started a revolution in garden and outdoor railroading with their robust and weather resistant products. Quality materials such as BASF Luran-S, Vestilene and Mercedes-quality paint made these plastic trains super durable. Unfortunately, Eberhard would have an untimely passing in 1984. Rolf, Wolfgang's son, who was trained as an attorney, had stepped into the family business and along with his cousin, Johannes Richter, became the third member of the family business located on Saganer Strasse in Nurnberg. Through the guidance of this family triumverate, LGB products continued to evolve both in quality and variety over several decades. In 2009, Rolf Richter unfortunately died in an auto accident at age 54, leaving a wife and four children behind! Just three years later in 2012, Wolfgang would pass, leaving Johannes as the sole family member at the helm. By that time, economic forces in Germany were not as favorable for a high-end toy company like LGB, which had been a very successful family business for several decades and there would be several important economic changes that would eventually lead to Marklin's stewardship and principle production moved to Hungary. Still high quality, but no longer a beloved family business with German-made products. Sad.
Original Post
