Latest in Toy Market Analysis

220 Volts to the Present: From life threatening danger to safety

  During the late 19th century and into the early 20th century, Märklin toy trains used one of three power sources – clockwork motors, live steam and electricity. In time, the first two methods with their inherent limitations were displaced, but not entirely replaced, by electric motors. So it was that in 1895 Märklin offered its first electric motor driven

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Collectors focusing on rare and high-quality Marklin pieces

There’s no doubt that prices for Marklin and certainly other toy makers fluctuate greatly, trending in different directions over the years. Factors like condition, provenance, having an original box, and ephemera have a dramatic effect on price. As a recent example, two wonderful examples of the Marklin CCS 66/12920 Krokodil in the United States and Germany sold for $13,000 and

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ENGINE PROPULSION SYSTEMS AND REVERSING UNITS FOR MÄRKLIN GAUGE 1 AND 0

INTRODUCTION When Wilhelm Märklin established the firm Märklin in 1859, the main products included doll kitchens and other general metal toys.  It was not until 1891 that the first trains appeared in the assortment of their products.  Engine power was still in its infancy with floor-runners.  Soon however, Märklin started to produce powered locomotives for their trains.  Clock-work, steam, and

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