Faller

The brothers Faller GmbH is a toy manufacturer from Guetenbach in the Schwarzwald- Baar-Kreis in Baden- Württemberg, which specializes in model railway accessories. The company was founded by Edwin and Hermann Faller.

History

Edwin and Hermann Faller founded in 1946, the company under the name of Hermann Faller. Initially simple wooden construction kits were produced, with which one could for example build model houses. In difficulties, the company came in 1948 at the time of the currency reform, as people no longer had enough money for the kits. The company was able to keep only the production of clothespins on water. Then came the idea to manufacture accessories for model railway in the nominal size H0. Thus, the company has developed into a world leader in model railway accessories with almost 200 employees.

In 1997 the company POLA model has been adopted, whose products were included partly in its own program.

On 28 August 2009 the company applied for imminent insolvency insolvency; provisional administrator of the Stuttgart lawyer Volker Grub was ordered. In April 2010, the insolvency procedure was successfully completed.

Products

Model homes

The first and most important product group of Faller were model homes, together with matching Modelling accessories. The first houses were produced as prefabricated houses in the goodness Bacher factory or by homeworkers / interior made ​​of cardboard and placed in 1954 as well as kits for the nominal size H0 on the market. The first Faller catalog (D50 ) was published in 1950. Catalog 1952 had then already 18 pages. These first models are highly sought after by collectors today. From 1953, were first model parts, then made ​​plastic models and, initially, as a so-called background models with greatly reduced scale approach the nominal size N offered. Some cult objects of the 50s and 60s are the Models 299 sawmill, the station Fluelen 111 Windmill No. 25/233 and then in the following mixed construction and Kunststoffära the Cortina station 113/B-113, the famous Villa in Ticino B-271, the small goods shed B -156 and B- Hozlager 288th Of the electromechanical function models, the water mill, B -225, the Modern fountain B-160/B-231 and the car resting B -215 have cult status. The model range was extended in 1964 officially by the nominal size N ( 1:160 ), and later by the nominal size Z ( 1:220 scale ) and the nominal size II ( 1:22.5 scale ).

Toy train

Faller Hittrain was a model with a gauge of 32 mm designed toy with battery operation for tracks of track 0 These tracks were made of plastic; and the locomotives were controlled via controls that could be integrated into certain pieces of rail. This track was later developed into Playtrain and Etrain.

Faller Playtrain was the first development of Hittrain and took over the railroad tracks and the model track and the drive system. But they had a larger structure, so that the web now about the nominal size 1 corresponded to - ie a narrow-gauge track Ie.

Faller Etrain again had the same model gauge how Hittrain and Playtrain and superstructures in Playtrain size. This railway ran now but on brass tracks with plastic sleepers. The trains could be controlled like other electric model trains on external regulating transformers.

Car models

AMS ( Auto Motor Sport ) is an electrically powered model car system ( slot car ) and was first established in 1963 by means of purchased American licenses. Originally AMS was intended as a road match for model railways of nominal size H0, whereupon the product range offered suggesting (street elements: intersections, traffic lights, road works, level crossings, junctions; vehicles: Train cars and trucks ). This and the unusual scale Faller AMS differs from the other, popular racetracks. Because of the technology at that time the vehicles with a scale of about 1:65 instead of 1:87, however, were a little too big for the nominal size H0.

Intended was also the playful combination with the Model Railways of the nominal size H0 through rail crossings and a functioning car train. Over the years, but more and more Racecourse elements were offered as lap counter, steep turns and loops.

In 1975, the AMS system has been extended to vehicles manufactured by U.S. company Aurora and "AMS racing" renamed. The private vehicles were sold from then on mostly as separate motor chassis and body wraps and should complement the Containerverladespiel offered to 1980 /81 and the car - train - loading. AMS racing was offered until 1985 in the catalog, even with last vehicles of the company TYCO (USA). Some years also from the AMS system derived by vertically integrated motors bus version for the N scale was created. This system had only different buses as vehicles for cost-effective production of electric-powered passenger car models in N- scale was not possible at that time. 1986 AMS was taken from the Faller program.

Although the AMS vehicles no longer meet today's demands on model fidelity, there is a world wide circle of collectors, since AMS is a classic case of a " closed collection area ": All the products are known, and the desire for completeness is financially feasible, albeit products have become like a mint Ambulance extremely expensive.

Faller car system is the evolution of the idea of ​​road transport for model train using modern technology. The power is supplied by batteries in the vehicle, the steering by permanent magnets on steerable front axles with the help of embedded wires in the roadway.

Faller Hit- Car was a non-motor racing track system in which the same principle as with Hot Wheels by Mattel, the cars were launched from catapults. The cars had the same size as the AMS models. Between 1969 and 1979 a number of orbital elements ( loops, switches, etc.) and wagon models were offered. The death of the Faller brothers finished the development of the model series.

1967, the Faller car racetrack system Faller Club Racing internationally in the then very popular nominal sizes 1:24 and 1:32 in the program. In addition to this, some cars also has its own rail system was developed, in particular differed by a continuously bonded conductor strand of the systems of other manufacturers. Back in 1968, the development was stopped and taken off the market the system.

Aircraft models

From the 1950s to the 1970s Faller also offered airplane model kits. Have been created in the scale of 1:100, which was not offered by many manufacturers. Although the model range was never very extensive, but included special models such as the Wright biplane or the German missile V1 and V2. In addition there were models of the German Luftwaffe in the Second World War ( Bf 109, He 111, Ju 88) as well as helicopters, transport aircraft and jets in the postwar period. Even civilian models such as the Caravelle passenger aircraft and sports planes and even gliders were on offer.

The fidelity of the models made ​​for modelers Although often poor, but skillful hobbyists used this base kits for preparing variants. A highlight was the AC electric motor 3-6 volts, which moved an attached propeller. How could, for example, a He 111 equipped with rotating propellers. This engine was also often used by modelers in other scales.

Go- Karts

From autumn 2006, Faller a go- kart track in the nominal size H0 with two parallel, intertwined and twice intersecting roadways ago. The vehicles were powered by a supplied double track metal strand with electricity and corresponded to the AMS system. Since it was a replica of a racing operation, accounted for the elements from road and rail traffic. Production was stopped again.