The Kibri Toymakers in Böblingen
The Kibri Toymakers in Böblingen Only relatively few of the original toy manufacturers in the state
of Württemberg have survived from the 19th century up to the present day. The firm of Kibri from
Böblingen, numbers amongst them. When one examines the complete range of products of model railway
accessories for all the scales of HO, N and Z gauge, one can easily see that the company is also
bound for success in the 21st century too. As one of the leading suppliers, their comprehensive range
encompasses several product groups: landscaping materials, pre-formed model railway baseboards and
accessories, houses for villages and towns, corner houses, churches, industrial buildings, loco
depots, stations and bridges with accessories, service vehicles and rail-carrying vehicles.
Already by 1995, Kibri could look back on a 100 year old history of ever changing endeavours. The
entry in the original business register of 1895, shows that in its founding year, the company was
to be a toy manufacturer, and by 1905, that's just what the firm had become. Up until the twenties
of the last century, the production from its own factory was purely articles made from metal.
Wooden toys were gradually withdrawn. In the thirties, the model railway accessory sector began to
grow, particularly with the success of the railway stations. Up until 1939, Kibri introduced
many new items into the toy market, which are now considered extremely valuable for their time.
The Kibri rocket toys from 1929 are still spoken about today.
After both the World Wars, hard work and dedication were required in order to make a new start
once more. A lot of imagination was needed, for example in 1948, to create a tanker station from a
used tin of jam. From then on up until the sixties, the main accent lay upon the production of model
railway accessories, supplemented by wooden toys and articles for summertime and leisure pursuits.
1973 saw the firm suffer a severe setback, with the complete manufacturing plant being consumed
by fire. The damage could be calculated in millions, and 150 people were without work. The
director of the company, Rudolf Gußmann, who had been with the company since 1941, took the
initiative for the reconstruction. With a new factory of completely modern machinery and
embracing new technology, 1975 saw the start of production once again in the Hulb in Böblingen,
concentrating heavily on the manufacture of model railway accessories. Many of the parts were
made in Schopfloch. The mould-making department and the plastic injection moulding were located
in a tiny village in the Black Forest. By relocating the warehousing, the factory has been
continually extended.
Following these fascinating chronicles in its history, it is clear that the labour of love, in
the continual production of model railway accessories in all its many facets, is written large
in the history over the 100 years of Kibri.
Origins and Changes of the Product Range
Kibri's model railway accessories from the thirties of the last century, now number amongst the
most valuable and sought after items for collectors: station platforms, level crossings, signal
boxes with signals, loco sheds or stations all made from tin with the finest hand painted finish. The changes first set in motion in 1935, with the gradual introduction of the so called scale models, and with the use of synthetic materials from 1957 onwards, set Kibri on the road to success with their new designs.
The new plastic material proved to be a most versatile production medium. Up to the present day,
Kibri produces correct scale model railway accessories as its speciality, which stand up well
in comparison with the earlier hand made toys from tin or wood. The manufacturer has set itself
its own objective to solely reproduce objects which actually exist in real life.
Kibri numbers amongst the pioneers of scale production, above all in the area of model buildings.
From the previous, no longer countable kits - the first stations were delivered as ready-built
models in plastic - the Kibri range has given itself a set direction of reproducing true-to-life
originals in model form.
Since 1960, the technique of plastic construction has continually been improved, giving the
models even more detailing, and making the choice of prototypes ever more varied. Originally the
original buildings of Southern Germany dominated the range, but over the course of time, one can
discover the more Northern and Eastern regions of Germany. Nowadays, the railway modeller can
reproduce more or less all of the types of landscape, in all three standard scales, with the
help of Kibri models. As each model has appeared, new standards have been set. Kibri now produces
realistic models of timbered houses and farmhouses, as well as items found within the railway
fencing (gantry cranes, coaling stages, loco depots, bridges, etc).
Speciality Area
Up until now, each annual Toy Fair in Nürnberg has introduced the visitor to yet new and
unexpected surprises within the field of model railways. In the last few years, Kibri has
presented over 40 new items under the banner "Our Prototype is the Original".
The new generation of special service vehicles in HO gauge number among the products produced in
the history of the last 25 years. The range has now developed in the meantime to include heavy
transporters, diggers and cranes as well as vehicles from the countryside and the world of
agriculture. Six models started off this range in 1976. The slogan "Kibri has Something Special"
shows the gentle change in the modelling policy. Over 250 special vehicles now make up the
vehicle range. The high standard of reproduction of these models can be easily recognised, by
their quality and enviable detail. This goes just as well for yet another generation of vehicles
which Kibri introduced in 1998. Vehicles made for running on rails in the form of a railway crane
or the track-tamper machine both appeared in 1998.
Kibri's mould makers now have the experience necessary to be able to make the exact details for
this new discovery of vehicles. Easy to use clip joiners keep the use of adhesive kept to a
minimum. The production of such an interesting vehicle has been achieved thanks to the many
years of careful consideration and forethought given in developing an easier kit to make,
without losing any of the important detail. The kits contain several parts, each of which have
corresponding holes and locating lugs to make a sturdy connection. The latest models mark not
only another high point in the development, but also an achievement by use of the most modern
tools and plastic injection moulding machines. Injection moulding of two colours, or two
components is the standard of technology used by Kibri today, so that the models will satisfy
the most discerning modeller in its shape, proportion, detail and colour. Without the most
modern injection machinery, it would be unthinkable to manufacture all of our coaling stages,
cranes, bridges, timbered houses, heavy transporters and tractors, or railway plant. The Kibri
models are specifically designed for use on any model railway layout, so that the model railway
technology corresponds directly to that of the original. |
