Märklin
Märklin (or Maerklin) is a German toy company, founded in 1859. Although it originally specialized in doll house accessories, today it is known for model railways and technical toys. In some parts of Germany, the company's name is almost synonymous with model railroads.Märklin released its first wind-up train with cars that ran on expandable track in 1891, noting that railroad toys had the potential to follow the common practice of doll houses, in which the initial purchase would be enhanced and expanded with more accessories for years after the initial purchase. To this end, Märklin offered additional rolling stock and track with which to expand its boxed sets.
Märklin is responsible for the creation of virtually every popular model railroad gauge or scale, with only noteworthy exceptions being N scale and Wide gauge. In 1891, Märklin defined gauges 1-5 as standards for toy trains and presented them at the Leipzig Toy Fair. They soon became international standards. Märklin followed with O gauge in 1900 or 1901, HO scale in 1935, and Z scale in 1972.
Today, Märklin manufactures and markets trains and accessories in Gauge 1, HO, and Z scale. Its older trains are considered highly collectible today, and its current offerings enjoy premium status among hobbyists.
The so-called Märklin system is Märklin's technique of using a third rail concealed in the roadbed with only small studs protruding through the ties of the track. The two outer rails are connected electrically. This provides the simplified wiring enjoyed by larger gauges—such as reverse loops—without seriously detracting from the realism of the track because only two of the rails are visible. Because the two outer rails are not electrically isolated from each other, however, some do not consider Märklin's system to be a true three-rail system.
The Märklin system causes some incompatibility with other manufacturers' HO trains. Because the wheels on Märklin's cars are not insulated, it causes shorts if its cars are used on other manufacturers' HO track without modification. Additionally, Märklin is the only brand that uses AC for its HO scale trains. Some people convert Märklin locomotives to DC for use on DC layouts, and Märklin has begun offering a line of DC locomotives as well.The Märklin System