Faller

Overview

Faller is a German manufacturer of model railroad scenery, plastic kits, and accessories in scales including H0, N, TT, and Z. It produces structures like houses, commercial buildings, bridges, and terrain items, along with the Faller Car System for slot car racing and owns the Pola brand for G scale structures. The company shifted from wooden toys to specialized model railroad products and remains family-owned.¹³

History

Faller was founded in 1946 in Stuttgart by brothers Edwin and Hermann Faller, initially producing wooden toys and construction kits. The company relocated to Gütenbach in the Black Forest and transitioned to plastic model kits for railroads, including scenery and accessories. Key developments include the Faller Car System and acquisition of the Pola brand in 1997; it continues as a family business.¹³

Product Lines

Manufacturing

Products are manufactured in Germany at the company's facility in Gütenbach. Production involves plastic model kits made in-house, with a history of shifting from wooden to plastic materials. No outsourcing details are specified.¹³

Notable Products

• Faller Car System - Slot car system with motorized vehicles for model layouts.
• Railway Stations (H0) - Detailed plastic kits of train stations and platforms.
• Black Forest Houses - Traditional German-style building models.
• Amusement Rides - Fairground attractions for miniature worlds.
• Terrain Accessories - Landscaping items like trees, roads, and tunnels.

Reputation

Faller is regarded by model railroad enthusiasts for high-quality, detailed plastic kits and innovative systems like the Car System. Its products from the 1950s and 1960s are collectible. Some note the shift to plastic improved durability over early wooden toys, though it remains niche in the hobby market.¹³