Piko (model trains)
Piko was once a state-owned enterprise in the German Democratic Republic (GDR) which produced model railways and accessories. Today the denationalized enterprise named as PIKO Spielwaren GmbH. It also let company to establish among Märklin, Fleischmann and Roco as "the fourth biggest" in model railways market with a complete offer in the very much spread H0 scale. Piko manufactures a complete line of H0 scale locomotives (DC & Märklin AC); rolling stock; a selection of highly detailed structure kits in both H0 and G scales; and is introducing G scale track and an American prototype steam 0-6-0 set which includes track compatable with LGB.
It was in the 60s when PIKO started to produce N scale models. Only 20 years later, the company decided to discontinue the N-scale products and to sell the molds to other N scale firms.
In 1990 the reunification in Germany was a big challenge for the company. The former governmental owned company was sold May, 1st, 1992 to the PIKO Spielwaren GmbH. PIKO Spielwaren GmbH was founded in April 1992 by Dr. René F. Wilfer, PIKO’s President, who had been working in the toy industry since 1986 and had managed a model building company until 1992.
Piko was distributed in North America by LGB of America, a subsidiary of Ernst Paul Lehmann Patentwerk. Piko is now distributed by Silvergate Distributors, Inc. located in San Diego, CA. Silvergate Distributors, Inc. has also purchased the remaining inventory of LGB product from LGB of America.== External links ==
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