Pocher

Lore & Background

Arnaldo Pocher was born in 1911 in Trento, Italy, and trained as a goldsmith engraver. After World War II he became interested in railway modelling, and in 1951 formed Pocher Micromeccanica S.n.c. with Corrado Muratore, producing train signals, platforms, and points. Under a later name, the company made finely detailed white-metal railway carriages and locomotives.

At the 1966 International Toy Fair of Milan, Pocher astonished the world with a 1:8 scale model of the Fiat F2 130HP, containing 144 plastic parts, 173 brass parts, and 506 parts in steel, copper, leather, rubber, and aluminium. The company subsequently produced ever more detailed kits of classics such as the Alfa Romeo 2300 Ac Monza, Rolls-Royce Phantom II Drophead Sedanca Coupe, Mercedes-Benz 500K/AK (2,378 parts), and Rolls-Royce Torpedo Phantom II Convertible (2,905 parts). Kits were molded in color and ready painted; finished preassembled versions were also sold.

In the 1970s Muratore sold his share to Rivarossi, and later Arnaldo Pocher sold his share and left the company. The brand passed through Lima group bankruptcy to Hornby in 2004. In 2013 Hornby relaunched Pocher with a new 1:8 Lamborghini Aventador kit. In 2017, during Hornby's financial crisis, Danish importer Vestergaard acquired Pocher and its surplus inventory, releasing a green Lamborghini Huracan kit. Hornby repurchased the brand, and as of October 2020 stated plans to continue the Pocher legacy.

Reader's Guide

Pocher's significance lies in its pioneering of large-scale, highly detailed model car kits that emphasized mechanical realism. The Classic line featured working brake systems, rotating crankshafts and pistons, movable windows, operable steering, and even headlights that lit with a tiny key. These kits were assembled mostly with threaded fasteners, allowing disassembly and repair. The later Prestige line offered die-cast metal bodies and about 500 parts, with working suspension and opening doors, aimed at easier assembly. A third line, Pocher Truck, included two Volvo trucks using press-fit parts. Four separate engine kits were also produced, with the Bugatti engine featuring a moving crankshaft and pistons. Aftermarket support for these kits became a small industry, and unassembled kits are rare collector items. The brand's revival under Hornby and subsequent ownership changes reflect its enduring appeal among model enthusiasts.

Did You Know?

• The first Pocher model, the Fiat F2 130HP, contained 823 parts in total.
• Some Pocher models had spoked wire wheels assembled spoke by spoke.
• The Mercedes-Benz 500K/AK kit contained 2,378 parts.
• In 2017, Danish importer Vestergaard acquired Pocher and its inventory of about 1,600 Ducati kits.