Märklin

Märklin (pronounced Maerklin) is a German toy company, founded by tin smith Theodor Friedrich Wilhelm Märklin (1817 - 1866) in 1859 in Göppingen, as a maker of household products. The company originally produced lacquered tinplate kitchen utilities and as a side business created smaller versions meant to be toys for little girls to use in their doll houses. Although the company originally specialized in doll house accessories, today Märklin is best known for its model railways and technical toys. In some parts of Germany, the company's name is almost synonymous with model railroads.