Merker and Fischer
Merker und Fischer GmbH (brand: "M + F") was a model railway manufacturer from Fürstenfeldbruck near Munich, which was particularly specialized in small series kits and accessories for large series models (" supern "). The company was founded in August 1968 (registration of the GmbH) by the textile merchant and model self-construction enthusiast Herrmann Merker and the entrepreneur Detlef Fischer, who had taken over the model construction supplies Redlin in Munich, after the locomotive built by Mr. Merker ( Bavarian D VI ) found sufficient interest at the Nuremberg Toy Fair in 1967. To set up the company, the supplier Heinzl was taken over, the founder of which had suddenly died. Fischer left the company in 1976.
Small series models (cast metal)
Starting in 1969, the first small series kits ( Wismar rail bus , V 20 etc.) and accessory kits were produced, mainly in nominal size H0 , but explorations were made in other niche segments such as B. Nm = 1000 mm narrow gauge in N gauge or MMT (Multi Micro Train, a 600 mm mine and lorry railway in H0f) with the help of parts of Z gauge .
The range was at times very extensive with up to a dozen models available at the same time. In addition, there were the legendary super upgrade kits, which were also offered for standard models from large-scale manufacturers. With these, many of the industrial models, which were often quite simple at the time, could be brought to a high to very high level of detail that was previously not considered possible. A wide range of models resulted from the various parts and accessories kits as well as the extensive labeling sheets for many variations. In addition, there was the range of individual parts (investment casting) for building and refurbishing vehicles. It originally came from Heinzl, but was greatly expanded by M&F.
The range of independent models included common prototypes, for example based on standard locomotives of the Prussian State Railways that came to the Reichsbahn and Bundesbahn, such as the Prussian G 10 (DRB / DB class 57) or the Prussian T 16.1 (DRB / DB class 94.5 -17) as well as exotic types, but original types that were not very common in the model. Also Bavarian types such as the Bavarian GtL 4/4 (DRB / DB series 98.8-9) or the so-called glass box ( Bavarian PtL 2/2 ), which was taken over from the Heinzl range. This also included a Wuerttemberg DW (steam railcar).
The market and target group for the activities of M & F were obvious and clearly defined: At that time the manufacturers of toy model trains dominated the market. When in doubt, their execution of models was sometimes rather rough, in any case simplified, sometimes the scale was not correct. At that time , the manufacturer Fleischmann was still producing on a scale of 1:82 instead of - as would have made mathematical sense - in the official size ratio of 1:87 for the nominal size HO. Overall, there were only few innovations to be expected in very slow steps. A lot of model railroaders and model builders already had fine craft skills, especially knowledge of metalworking and metal materials science. The economic boom from 1969 onwards favored the market. M&F filled the market with long-awaited models in extremely rapid succession, albeit as high-priced metal kits. The design was high quality, so the vehicle frames were made entirely of metal injection molding, which made assembly very easy. Spoked wheels were cast with hitherto unknown delicacy and precision. The drive technology has been continuously improved, in particular through the transition to an elastic, noise-dampening drive using rubber belts. The models were much more expensive than industrial goods, but in proportion to what was offered. The precision was very good. The small parts program of the finest model castings was unique in its time.
As a pioneer among small series manufacturers, M & F also entered the production of models from plastic injection molding. Only Heinzl's steam railcar had already been equipped with a plastic housing and chassis. M & F created the model of the electric locomotive of the DR series E 04 or that of a double multiple unit of the Bern-Lötschberg-Simplon-Bahn . Because of the high investments, these were daring steps, but with high quality of manufacture and detailing, which further strengthened the reputation of M&F among model railroaders.
M & F took on another pioneering role in the production of models based on German models of narrow-gauge railways in nominal size H0e. The plastic model of the Wismar rail bus became very popular , but soon also the small diesel locomotive of the Jagst Valley Railway , which was also made with a plastic housing, and the Helene steam locomotive, which was operated there at times in the museum. The two plastic models were later taken over by the manufacturer Bemo . A model of the Saxon VI K type five-coupler steam locomotive popular in Saxony and Württemberg , as it ran on the Bottwartalbahn and is still on the Öchsle Bahn today, was also available from M & F , as well as two copies in Saxony. The manufacturer Bemo later brought out an independently developed model of this type. M & F had already planned the types of wagons for the Bottwartalbahn in its program and calculated and announced the sales price. However, this was dropped after it became known that the Bemo company would be bringing out these cars.
The production of popular models that sold well was associated with great economic risk for M&F: It had to be expected that a large-scale manufacturer would release the same model regardless of this. M & F had prepared the Prussian P 10 model ready for production when it was leaked that the Rivarossi company would soon present this locomotive as a (well-made) plastic finished model, which it did. So M & F turned to the model of the DR series 41 at short notice so that the prepared production capacity could be used.
M & F's popularity in the model railway scene also resulted from the fact that company boss Merker was a friend of clear words and openly addressed his customers through his in-house magazine. He didn't skimp on criticism - even of his own procedures - nor with honest statements about his company situation, anger with customers and his own well-being, up to and including a heart attack due to his constant 100-hour workweek.
From 1976 the Austrian manufacturer Roco turned to the European market for model railways based on German models. It was the second manufacturer of model railways in the true sense, after the defunct German manufacturer Röwa . Roco produced its finished models in plastic injection molding in a design that only M & F had been able to do until then. This made M & F a massive competitor, especially since Roco's first steam locomotive model, the Prussian G 12 , occupied a niche that M & F took away another grateful role model. In addition, as a small and medium-sized company, M & F had to suffer severely from the rapidly rising wage cost level in the Munich economic area. M & F had to push through massive price increases several times at short intervals. The previously good profitability of M & F's production could have been maintained if M & F had presented even more models in shorter succession. This could neither be done nor would the market have taken it up.
Therefore, in the early 1980s, Hermann Merker gave up the production of small series kits in metal construction (mainly brass and white metal castings) and sold this segment to England.
Rai-Mo (plastic)
In 1979/1980, Pola took over the 0 gauge plastic kits known as "Pola Maxi" and added another locomotive model ( E 44 ). Then there were further plastic kits in H0 as well as the T 3 , which was taken over from the bankruptcy of the Röwa company and which was reissued as a kit.
This niche market turned out to be economically unsustainable and so this branch of business was sold on in 1985, the plastic kits were later reissued by the new owner as Rai-Mo or Röwa.
Eisenbahn Journal (formerly M + F Journal)
In 1975 a publication was brought out for the first time in addition to model production. The M + F-Journal was published by Hermann Merker Verlag; it was renamed Railroad Journal in 1980 . In 1983 it was the first railway magazine to be produced in four-color printing . The predecessor of this magazine was the paper Modellbahnrevue (MBR), published by G. Schmidt Verlag Knittlingen, later Stuttgart. Initially it was published as a model building revue from 1963 at the latest , with a model railroad part. From the start, the model railway editor - always part-time - was the Stuttgart engineer and model railroader Horst Joachim Obermayer . At the beginning of 1974 the MBR surprisingly stopped its publication, among other things as a result of the oil crisis and the bankruptcy of the model railway manufacturer Röwa , whose full-page advertisements for the MBR were no longer available. Editor Obermayer had already regularly presented M & F's products in the MBR. Hermann Merker won Horst J. Obermayer and his small staff of freelancers to work for M & F as editors from 1975, which means that M & F immediately had a high-profile in-house magazine with a steady readership. The circulation rose from an initial 3000 pieces (1975) to 10,000 (1978) and to over 20,000 (1980). The economic success of the magazine and the entrepreneurial courage to invest - such as the gradual and finally complete introduction of four-color printing - quickly consolidated the publisher's position. On the other hand, the entrepreneurial double burden for the model making production and at the same time for the publisher was no longer acceptable. The time when the small series production was withdrawn enabled Hermann Merker to devote himself fully to the publishing business at the right time.
It was Horst J. Obermayer who, thanks to his good contacts to the model railway industry, was initially able to avoid double developments between M&F and other manufacturers and, on the other hand, had a good feel for which models might be particularly desired by the market. Obermayer was always active in advocating the interests of the friends of narrow-gauge railways in the model and convinced Hermann Merker to produce such models. The idea of implementing the Bottwartalbahn vehicle range in the model also came from Obermayer, as the model types were very well suited for economic production as a product platform in the model thanks to the strictly uniform models. For this reason, Obermayer had already repeatedly presented the models of narrow-gauge locomotives in the magazine MBR, but also presented their realization as a model constructively and in many cases already built the models himself. Obermayer deliberately selected those models that were particularly suitable for creation in the model due to their compactness, robustness, the adoption of existing chassis or other advantages. Obermayer presented each of the models with self-made type drawings, often combined with technical sketches, which showed the production of the gearbox for the model. In this way, Obermayer relieved model railroaders of building their own, but also earned great respect through his practical experience.
On the other hand, for this reason Horst J. Obermayer was also a valued advisor for other model railway manufacturers, which generally concerned the choice of role models for new large-scale models. In addition, he was always willing to provide the manufacturers with drawings and photos from his archive - an enormously important (and cost-saving) source in an age without the Internet, which often made the economical production of such models possible.
swell
- ↑ Eisenbahnjournal 11/1993 p. 65ff 25 years of Merker
- ^ M&F Journal, year 1977
- ↑ M&F Journal, various years 1975 - 1980
- Bayern Munich District Court HRA 55092 Hermann Merker Verlag deleted