Karl Arnold established his business in the early 1900s, producing tin toys in Nuremberg. The factories were destroyed during WWII, but were rebuilt, although tin toys were by then losing market share. Arnold developed a range of small trains in 1960, the Rapido line with a scale of 1:200 running on 8.5mm gauge track. Competition for the new smaller scale was with Lone Star of Great Britain and Trix of Germany, both of whom adopted a scale of 1:160 and track gauge of 9mm. By 1960, Arnold re-released the Rapido line as 1:160 scale, 9mm track gauge, using, by 1963, couplings adapted from those used by Rokal of Germany, for their TT range.
Arnold production continued until 1995 at which point the company was declared bankrupt, following which all were assets purchased by RivaRossi who were themselves absorbed by Hornby during 2003. Arnold by Hornby production continues, in China.
Arnold N gauge freight set, comprising tank loco, three wagons, controller and track |
Arnold N gauge freight set, comprising tank loco, three wagons, controller and track |
Arnold Rapido N gauge catalogue, 1963-64 |
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