O Gauge production was critical to Marklin’s expansion and, as such, the O Gauge product line in conjunction with 00 Scale trains ushered Marklin into a toy-production “Golden Age.” This series, “A History of Marklin O Gauge,” will take a look at the beginning (1893), middle (Golden Age), and end (1954) of the O Gauge product line.
The first O-Gauge Marklin locomotive (clockwork) was produced in 1893. These O-Gauge sets were first displayed at the Leipzig Easter Fair.
Early O Gauge Locomotive and Car Set #1020
The Rise to the “Golden Age”
•1921: First customer-catalog for Germany (D1)
•1926: 20 Volt System introduced
•1931: “Fernschaltung” 66 introduced
•1933: Spur 00 program starts with “Liliputbahn”
•1935: “Fernschaltung” 70 introduced
•1938: Gauge 1 production greatly reduced
Coupler Design Patent (1909)
Coupler Patent 1909 (From Marklin Archives)
The above patent from the 6th of October 1909 detail the ingenious coupling design Marklin devised in the early 1900s. This design was crucial to the easy and reliable coupling and uncoupling of locomotives and cars. The design featured a “tongue and slot” mechanism with a small cross-pin which securely attaches the couplers together. This design replaced the earlier “loop” couplers and maintained in existence until the end of O Gauge production.
Electronic Switch Patent (1934)
Electric Switch Patent 1934 (From Marklin Archives)
The patent shown above was an early electronic switch design which allowed for remote track switching by way of a push of a button. An incredible lever mechanism utilizing leverage over a fulcrum point allows a small electromagnet to switch the heavy metal tracks.
The American Market
As always, I like to focus a little on the humble beginnings of the American market for Marklin. Early in O Gauge production (1900-1920s), Marklin affixed cowcatchers and bells to German outline locomotives and called them “American.” With rise to the “Golden Age” in the 1930s, Marklin realized the potential of the American market and – perhaps competing with its rival, Lionel – produced a series of what I like to call “uniquely” American locomotives that were not just cannibalized versions of German outline locomotives, but rather American version locomotives in their own right. Such locomotives include the “Commodore Vanderbilt” AK 70/12920 of the “NEW YORK CENTRAL LINES” railway. Other locomotives include the mighty Hudson AHR 66/12920, ME 66/12920 ETAT, and various rolling stock and larger passenger cars including the unmistakable PULLMAN 2924 and 2925 cars. Important dealers for the American market in the 1930s include Richard Marklin, Bruce Hastie, and many others.
1934/1935 American "SONDERBLATT"
The important, but vastly unknown dealer of NY.
Marklin 1937 Toy Fair (00 Scale and O Gauge)
The impressive 1937 toy fair display for Marklin featured both 00 Scale and O Gauge. The display featured a complex elevated 00 Scale track section. From the photo below, a double-header RS 700 train can be seen pulling a stock of 340-series cars. An SLR 700 locomotive approaches the grand 2039 G/00 Stuttgarter Station and two 424 B platforms. Two 406 Fahne (Flags) flank either side of the station and are typical of the time period. Several “Miniatur-Autos” are also scattered around the station to create a realistic scene. It is clear, however, that since the introduction of 00 Scale in 1935, O Gauge has been put on the back-burner (or the lower shelf in this case!). Despite its rather low positioning on the layout, a careful observer will notice that many different countries are represented in the product line: (from Left to Right) a German outline HR 66 12920, an American outline AK 70/12920, a SWISS crocodile CCS 66/12920, an English L 70/12920, and a French ME 70/12920 (as far as I can discern). Running around the ovals are a “Flying-Hamburger” treibwagen and a gray livery ETAT ME 70/12920 pulling a string of 40cm 1940 series cars.
- 1937 Toy Fair Display
•Richard Marklin brought back to Germany
•O Gauge production continued, but at a slower pace
•Newer innovations never realized in O Gauge production line (many prototypes)
•Materials were more scarce
E 70 12920 Locomotives in Factory (1945) Locomotives finished in “dull black”
The end of O Gauge Marklin
•1954: Last year of Marklin O Gauge
•1947-1954 –Marklin heavily phased out O Gauge line
–No new models or special variants
–O Gauge always in the back of the catalogs
–Last few years only clockwork locomotives
–O Gauge pushed out by newer 00 technologies