Pocher
Pocher Micromeccanica snc was an Italian manufacturer of railway and car models. Pocher was known primarily for his car model kits in large scale 1:8.
- 2.1 Pocher Prestige Model List
- 2.2 Pocher Classic model list
- 2.3 Truck Pocher Model List
- 2.4 Pocher Engine Model List
History
The beginnings
The company was founded in 1952 by Arnaldo Pocher and Corrado Muratore under the name Pocher Micromeccanica snc in Turin and was one of the first Italian company ( railway ) established models.
Arnaldo Pocher, who had considerable experience of the goldsmith school, had already made various model railway accessories: signals, tracks, etc. The first models were made of brass freight cars in H0, which are manufactured from 1954 in small quantities (10-15 pieces) were.
1956 began construction of the first coaches models. The completely handmade in H0 scale cars had interiors - for that time and the available technologies beachteswertes feature. It is worth mentioning in particular the model of the car of Compiègne.
Appeared in 1958, the first color catalog, in addition to freight and passenger cars models also contained catenary masts and accessories. Was also presented the first of Pocher produced locomotive model, the French Mistral CC 7107, then- owner of the world speed record on rails.
This model was already technically designed very advanced, it had among other things a vented mid-engine. The production, however, until the early 1960s took place. There were 300 made 500 locomotives for the DC system and for the Märklin AC system. The purchase price beat but with 28,000 lire to beech, which at that time corresponded to about two-thirds of the average monthly income of an ordinary worker contractor.
The second H0 model of a locomotive that produced Pocher, the reproduction of Bayard produced in limited and numbered edition was. The model was constructed entirely of metal parts and put into service in 1839, the locomotive of the first railway in Italy (Naples - Portici) dar.
The chapter Rivarossi
1963 Corrado Muratore left the company, its shares were acquired by Rivarossi and sells products from now on about the Rivarossi sales network.
The company initially maintained its autonomy in production and management. 1964, the model of locomotive 4-4-0 Genoa, a typical unveiled its " Wild West locomotive". She was probably the most successful model of the Turin company. In 1967, the last finally actually developed in Turin H0 model of the Italian EMUs ALe 803 came on the market,
The production of railway models were rationalized and harmonized the production processes by Rivarossi. In the late 1960s the production of railway models was moved to Como and further rationalized. The models of Genoa 4-4-0 and ALe 803 have been revised to production to further simplify and align them on the Rivarossi standard.
The car model by Pocher
1961 FIAT Pocher commissioned the construction of a model of the new Fiat 1300 in scale 1:13. Pocher thus assumed the post of the company Rivarossi, which had made in the 1950's models of the Fiat 600 and the Fiat Nuova 500 for the Turin car manufacturers. This was the beginning of a long collaboration that led to the Pocher models should for all new cars introduced at the Turin Motor Show, FIAT produce.
In the second half of the 1960s Pocher highly detailed models of classic cars began to produce. 1966 model of the Fiat 130 HP was presented in 1:8 scale as already pre-assembled kit on the Italian Toy Fair ( Salone del Giocattolo ). The model consists of 823 parts of various materials such as plastic, brass, leather, steel, rubber, canvas and aluminum. Ready built the model measures nearly 50 cm. It was a success for Pocher in Italy and abroad.
Corrado Muratore returned to operation and his former position back in operation and acquired shares in the company, while Arnaldo Pocher 1968, the company that bore his name left.
The success of the Fiat 130 HP led to the development of a second, similar model. In 1968, the by Gian Paolo Altini, a student of Arnaldo Pocher, developed model of the Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza 1961-32.
In 1970 Rolls- Royce Phantom II came out in version Drophead Coupe Sedanca. The model consisted of 2199 parts of different materials. The piston of the engine were movable and the gear was functional as well as of the utmost precision. The Spirit of Ecstasy, the mascot was made in the first models of silver. The coolers were individually welded by hand.
In addition to the models in 1:8 scale, the production of 1:13 Fiat models was continued. Also electric cars with cable remote steering and other toy cars made of plastic were produced by most Italian and French models.
Other products
In order to expand the market and in order to utilize the creative talent of Arnaldo Pocher, the company tried to diversify the product range after the first years. From the mid- 1960s were produced in addition to the railway and car models, models of historic cannons and ashtrays, pencils, carnival masks for characters of Walt Disney, and other minor articles mentioned above. The production of these additives products were eventually abandoned after the fire of 1972.
The fire and the restructuring of the company
In 1972 a fire destroyed the factory in Turin, in Via Ambrosini. It was made just the new model of the Fiat 132 and a variant of the Alfa Romeo in 1:8 scale. The forms survived the fire. The management took the opportunity to drastically reduce the staff by outsourcing many of the processes and the decision to devote himself exclusively to the model now. The activities of the company were then resumed in Via Adamello, the number of employees was now shrunk from 120 to 30.
It has now been working on a new model in 1:8 scale, the Mercedes- Benz 500 K / AK Cabriolet. As the project was nearing completion in 1974, Gian Paolo Altini ill with leukemia and died a few months later at age 39. He was known as the " creative soul " of the company. After a transition phase was Altinis posts by Gian Franco Fabris, a modeller, who had learned at the Mosaic School of Spilimbergo and since 1970 a disciple of Altini was occupied. The model of the Mercedes was released in 1975.
Rivarossi was meanwhile become the 100% owner of Pocher. The company had the proportions of Corrado Muratore taken, working now as CEO of Pocher and National Sales Manager for Rivarossi.
In 1980, the last historical model was presented. It was the Bugatti 50T of 1933, which was designed by Gian Franco Fabris. All subsequent models were replicas of modern cars or variants of existing classic car models.
Moving to Como
Meanwhile, the factory was moved to a warehouse in Brandizzo, also in the province of Turin. But in 1981, the difficulties of Rivarossi reflected now also reflected in Pocher. The company was relocated to Como in the halls of the factory in Sagnino. Pocher kept in Como under Gian Franco Fabris, who carried on his work with some colleagues, first of its autonomy. Produced have now been variants of classic cars, but the number of the parts from which the models were assembled, has now been reduced to facilitate assembly.
During this time (1985 ) a completely new product, a Volvo truck was introduced, but was not a great success: The model market changed and Pocher, yet always working in a protected niche, now came to notice these changes. Despite the proximity of the last years the production of Pocher was still autonomous and until then remained independent from Rivarossi.
In the late 1980s sought Alessandro Rossi Junior, the new CEO of Rivarossi, we find new ways of production and began manufacturing the Ferrari Testa Rossa ( 1990) at a scale of 1:8 with metal body. While the Pocher brand was retained, the model was developed entirely by Rivarossi, production has now been completely outsourced. Compared to Pocher standard the number of parts (470 parts) was then dramatically reduced, which models made cheaper to manufacture and easier in assembling. Soon thereafter, with the construction of the new Ferrari F40 (1991) ( 507 parts ) was started, also with a body made of die-cast zinc.
The last actual Pocher model, which was also developed directly from Rivarossi, the Porsche 911 was The body was now, however, no longer made of metal but made of ABS plastic like the old Pocher classic cars. However, the model was not too successful. Together with the high investment costs for these types of projects discouraged this Rivarossi to take further 1:8 models in attack.
In 1998, the last time being Pocher catalog was published. 2001 modified Rivarossi group for tax reasons its name to Lima SpA.
New beginnings under Hornby
Through the company broke the Lima group Pocher 2004 Brand finally came into the possession of Hornby. The production, however, was not initially continued. In December 2012, however, Hornby announced their intention to revive the Pocher brand again. For the Nuremberg Toy Fair 2013 official presentation was announced. There Pocher then presented on 30 January 2013, the model of the Lamborghini Aventador 1:8 scale model kit as before. The model again has a housing made of cast metal and consists of approximately 600 items.