Frateschi

Lore & Background

Frateschi was founded in 1958 as a toy factory by Galileu Frateschi, initially producing stuffed animals and wooden furniture. The company soon began manufacturing model railway products such as telephone poles and pylons. In 1967, the toy factory was renamed Indústrias Reunidas Frateschi Ltda to concentrate fully on model trains, with its core business focused on Brazilian railways including RFFSA, Fepasa, CPEF, and EFS.

In 1993, Frateschi started a cooperation with Atlas and began exporting to the United States. The company annually organizes summits to promote the brand and gather model railroaders in cities such as Ribeirão Preto, Campinas, and São Carlos. The 13th edition of these summits was held in 2017 in Bebedouro, São Paulo.

Among its locomotive models, Frateschi produced an FA-1 locomotive painted for the Reading Railroad. The prototype chosen was RDG 305, which had been wreck repaired and was painted incorrectly: the green stripe with gold pinstripes should only run down on the nose, but the shop had incorrectly also had the stripe turn up on the nose, creating a diamond around the company’s diamond logo.

Reader's Guide

Frateschi holds a unique position as the only model railroad manufacturer in South America, a distinction that underscores its significance in the global model railroading community. Founded in 1958 as a toy factory, the company shifted its focus entirely to model trains in 1967, concentrating on Brazilian railway prototypes such as RFFSA, Fepasa, CPEF, and EFS. This specialization allowed Frateschi to serve a niche market that otherwise had no domestic producer. Its 1993 cooperation with Atlas opened the door to exports to the United States, and today Frateschi exports to a wide range of countries across the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia. The company’s annual summits, held in various Brazilian cities, help maintain a community of model railroaders and promote the brand. Frateschi’s production is limited to HO scale, covering locomotives, rolling stock, track, and building kits. A notable detail in its locomotive line is the FA-1 for the Reading Railroad, which was based on a prototype that had been incorrectly repainted after a wreck, resulting in a unique diamond-shaped stripe pattern around the company logo. This attention to specific prototypes, even with their imperfections, reflects Frateschi’s commitment to accuracy in representing Brazilian and international railways.

Did You Know?

• The company was founded in 1958 as a toy factory producing stuffed animals and wooden furniture.
• In 1993, Frateschi began a cooperation with Atlas and started exporting to the United States.
• The FA-1 locomotive for the Reading Railroad was based on a wreck-repaired prototype that had been painted incorrectly, creating a diamond-shaped stripe around the logo.