Fleischmann-HO International Website

The package of each railway model is for a collector as imporant as the model itself. Without a undamaged package, the whole model is less worth. I'm not a collector of the old models, but let's take a look at the history of the Fleischmann packages.

	1952 - 1957 The first Fleischmann wagons, were packed in a grey cardboard box with a large cover which covered the box complete. As extra protection the models where wrapped in very thin, soft paper. Logo and order number were stamped on a stamp-like label.
	1952 - 1959 In the same period, folding covers were used. It ditn't cover the whole box. The model where packed without extra paper. Logo and order number were stamped on a stamp-like label.
	1952 The cars 1404 and 1405 where sold in a box, filled with a shaped holder. A large cover covered the complete box.
	1959 - 1966 In 1959 the packages where changed into a multi-colored box with a synthetic window. On one side the box was closed with a folding lid. These boxes were used for all models.
	1960 - 1966 Fleischmann introduced in 1960 some of his models as a do-it-yourself kit. The models where delivered in a cardboard box with a removable drawer.
	1965 - 1966 Some modells were delivered in a package with only numbers on the ends, look at 1442, 1443, 1494G and 1513.
	1966 - 1968 The folded covers where changed. The multi-color design was replaced by another motif. A photo showed the packed model.
	1966 - 1967 The photo on the ends is replaced by a sketch.
	1968 - All modells were delivered in abox, which folded cover covered the whole box. The ends changed to yellow.
	1971 - In 1971, all coaches and wagons where delivered in a cartboard box with folded end-covers, but without synthetic window. One of the ends contained a sketch and order number. In the last years these boxes were only used for large wagons like, 5297, 5298, 5299 and the railway crane 5595.
	1978 - 2011 At the end of the seventies Fleischmann introduced the transparant box. This box is made of synthetic one, with a separate cover. Three separate length are used, but all 62 mm width. Box 1: 150 mm in length and used for the small two-axled coached and wagons. Box 2: 225 mm in length and used for the longer two- and three-axled coaches and wagons. Box 3: 300 mm in length and used for the four- or more axled coaches and wagons.
	A removable supplementary sheet contains the number and a sketch of the model. The bottom side of the card shows how to change of the coupling, the serial number (Limited Editions only) and how to install interior lightning.



	These days all coaches and wagons are equipped with short coupling. Therefore Fleischmann places a "K" on both ends of the box.
	An export model can be identified with the abbreviation of the country.
	Fleischmann changes the lettering of the wagons. Most of the time it's a change of wagon or coach number or the destination boards. The change can not be found on the Fleischmann website. On one end of the box a yellow card is added (see on the left).
	The transparent lid of the box was from the beginning provided with a red Fleischmann logo in the upper left corner.
	From 1999 Fleischmann also used a cover with a transparent logo instead of the familiar red one. From 2010 Roco also uses this packaging, of course the logo of Fleischmann is replaced with a blank rectangle. From 2011 the Fleischmann logo has dissapeared on the Fleischmann boxes as well.
	All coaches and wagons are checked before shipment. On the goods wagon on the right the number 23/9 is printed. The number 23 stands for the control station at Fleischmann, number 9 indicates the year. In this example 1999.
	All coaches and wagons are checked before shipmen. In 2009 the controle number was replaced by a code, here "F8".
	2011 - present The purchase of Fleischmann by Modelleisenbahn GmbH, already owner of Roco, of course entails a standardization of packaging with them. The packaging for carriages and wagons is now also used for the coaches and wagons from Roco. There are two differences: - The logo of Fleischmann is on the Roco packages replaced by an empty rectangle. - Both brands use their own inlay. The inlay of Fleischmann's, following the locomotive boxes, suits the new house style. A removable supplementary sheet contains the number and a sketch of the model. The inside of the card shows how to change of the coupling. The removable supplementary sheets in the Roco boxes have no extra information about the models. The appearance of the product numbers, font and format of the number, varies from model to model, see the end faces of the 520901 and 507702.

	The packaging of the new wagons, such as 520901 and 520902 have a modified plastic insert. The wheels rest now no longer against the side of the box.