Bachmann Industries

Lore & Background

Bachmann was founded in 1833 by Henry Carlisle, originally producing vanity products such as parasol handles and Spanish combs made of ivory horns for the aristocracy of the American South and Louisiana. After the Civil War, it made hair ornaments and walking cane handles from tortoise shell and ivory. In 1899, Carlisle's firm merged with a competing firm run by Henry G. Bachmann, becoming Bachmann Bros. By 1902, the company began using celluloid, and in 1912 introduced optical frames made from it. In 1927, shortly before moving to its final Philadelphia address, Bachmann became the first American manufacturer of sunglasses, with the 'Solarex' line becoming popular worldwide and later purchased by the U.S. Army and U.S. Army Air Forces during WWII. During the war, Bachmann Bros. received the Army-Navy 'E' Award. Other notable products included Birds of the World Model kits, Plasticville U.S.A., shooting glasses for Winchester Repeating Arms Company, and Stein Eriksen ski goggles.

Bachmann entered the model train market in June 1968 with N scale products, followed by HO scale in 1970. The Spectrum line of higher-quality equipment debuted in 1988, initially featuring a GE 44 Ton Diesel. In 1998, the Spectrum HO scale 2-8-0 Consolidation was selected 'Model of the Year' by Model Railroader magazine. Bachmann began phasing out the Spectrum brand in the 2010s, moving most products to the Standard Line, though a re-tooled Spectrum 80-ton 3-truck Shay was announced for the 2026 catalogue. The company also introduced Big Haulers large scale (G scale) train sets in 1988, and purchased Williams Electric Trains in 2007 to enter the O scale market. In 1994, Bachmann introduced E-Z Track, HO track built into a moulded plastic roadbed, which became popular for floor layouts.

Reader's Guide

Bachmann Industries has played a significant role in model railroading by providing entry-level train sets and later elevating quality through the Spectrum line, which catered to experienced hobbyists. The company's retooling of its standard line in recent years, discontinuing most Spectrum products and incorporating their features into standard offerings, reflects a shift toward higher baseline quality. Bachmann's introduction of E-Z Track in 1994 brought integrated-roadbed track to the North American HO market, enabling operation on floors without concern for dust or carpet fibres. The acquisition of Williams Electric Trains in 2007 expanded the company into O gauge, maintaining a value-oriented position in that segment. Bachmann's long history, from 19th-century vanity goods to wartime sunglasses and post-war Plasticville kits, underscores its adaptability. The company's move to Chinese manufacturing through the Kader group and its joint-venture plant in Dongguan has allowed continued production of a wide range of scales and product lines, including Thomas & Friends models in HO, N, and Garden scales. Bachmann's partnership with Lenz Elektronik for DCC implementation, culminating in the Dynamis DCC system in 2007, helped the company catch up technologically in digital command control.

Did You Know?

• Bachmann was founded in 1833 by Henry Carlisle, originally making parasol handles and Spanish combs from ivory horns.
• In 1927, Bachmann became the first American manufacturer of sunglasses, with the 'Solarex' line later used by the U.S. Army during WWII.
• The Spectrum line's HO scale 2-8-0 Consolidation was named 'Model of the Year' by Model Railroader magazine in 1998.
• Bachmann introduced E-Z Track in 1994, featuring HO track built into a moulded plastic roadbed.