El Áncora de Oro

La Casa de los Trenes

(Barcelona Spain)

El Áncora de Oro was a business in Barcelona, owned by German immigrant Guillermo Leopold who opened an industrial machinery store in 1896, expanding into the model railway business some years later, his shop becoming a local meeting place for model railway enthusiasts, La Casa de los Trenes (The House of Trains). The business was of sufficient size to justify overprinted (rather than just rubber stamped) catalogues by leading manufacturers including Paya, Bing and Marklin.

This unusual model appeared on eBay Spain, May 2017, described below (translated from the original Spanish, via Google) :

Automotive LAMECA, scale 0, Spanish manufacture 50's.

It is a real museum piece, very scarce and difficult to find. Only 100 units were made, 50 in blue and 50 in red under the order of the old house "El Áncora de Oro" in Barcelona. Each unit is stamped on the rear flap and on the chassis the manufacturing number. In this one that is offered has the number 65 (see photos).

Handcrafted manufacture, in good condition, no dent in the sheet, paint with signs of use but is well maintained. The brand "Lameca" is perfectly distinguished on both sides.

With a futuristic design, the chassis plate finishes in a cylinder in which it carries a thin pin, which forms a hinge to be able to open it and access to its interior: this pin was missing and was repaired (see photos). The rims of the wheels were painted red of origin, they were repainted. Apart from the aforementioned the automotor keeps everything original and in perfect working condition, both of gear and lights. (This car is only designed for forward travel).