Fleischmann HO Scale Model Railroads & Trains

Fleischmann was originally a tin toy company, founded in 1887 in Nuremburg, Germany. Jean Fleischmann, its founder, produced tin toys over the next few decades, including ships, airplanes, and magnetic maritime toys. These toys were high quality and won the gold medal at the World Exhibition in Brussels in 1910.

Fleischmann worked to continually expand the variety of toys the company offered. In 1938, it acquired models from Doll & Co. and offered its first model railway in O gauge. The company also produced steam engines. From that point, Fleischmann began developing and producing its own line of O gauge model railroad products. Fleischmann worked to make its models as true to real-life trains as possible.

Fleischmann introduced its HO scale model train products in 1952 and its N scale line in 1968. It has continued to expand upon the quality and technology incorporated into its model railroad products. Fleischmann was purchased by Modelleisenbahn Holding GmbH in 2008. Its headquarters are located in Heilsbronn, Germany and it continues to operate as Fleischmann under this parent company.

Quick Facts

• Fleischmann was the first model railroad company to offer O gauge trains on two-rail track. They were also the first company to offer electric model railroads on direct-current track. They continued this trend by offering the first two-rail direct-current track in HO scale
• In 1981, Fleischmann set a world record when one of its locomotives ran continuously in a window display for 2,299 kilometers
• During World War II, Fleischmann made cartridge belts, visors, and gas-mask cans for the German war effort