History and catalogs of electric trains of Lima SpA.

Lima Memory - Vintage

Section dedicated to the historic Italian manufacturer of electric trains in Vicenza.
An entrepreneurial heritage and a piece of history of "Made in Italy" changed hands.

In the '50s Mr. Bisazza Ottorino was the owner of the factory Lima (Italian working Metals and similar products) in Vicenza, specialized in working of ricilclated metals bombed trains, for the production of handles and doors. The engineer was able to direct the productive activity of his factory to build toys, prams, cars, boats, etc ... up to specialize in model railways, first metallic and then plastic (and here was the turning point.) Isola Vicentina soon became the land of the model trains, and his factory gave models to the delight of many Italian children for many years. In fact, the product coming out of Lima was of good quality, the prices were competitive and accessible to the mainstream population, which began to live in those years the prosperity resulting from the economic boom, and it was a success. The posh of the market, however, continued to be in the hands of Rivarossi and the German Marklin, in fact the locomotives and the wagons Lima remained consistently lower in terms of finishes and details. Even the engine was changed from the early models, from the second half of the '60s was introduced G motor at 12 volts DC. The designers of Lima planned at that time many many trains colourful and attractive, and exposed in the shops attracted the attention of young and old. In the '80s Lima came to have 400 employees and touched the tips of sales. In recent years the engines became cardanic in all locomotives, and also the level of quality was compared to Rivarossi models, but from there began a slow decline, especially for the competition of video games. In 1992, Lima was bought by Rivarossi, which at that time also incorporated the French Joeuf and the German Joeuf Arnold (specialized in N scale), companies were also in crisis. In 2000 the factory was closed and all production was moved to Isola Vicentina, already seat of Lima. The ongoing crisis in the sector, the many vicissitudes of policy management and administration, caused the final crisis of Lima, the 16.12.2004, was purchased for 8,000,000 Euros from the British company Hornby (another famous name in the sector), which moved in China all the production chain. Currently Hornby markets its products in Italy with the four brands purchased.