Liliput was an Austrian manufacturer of model railroad
equipment founded shortly after World War II. Jouef of
France resold Liliput electric train products in the 1950's.
Liliput was always considered the exotic producer of European Model Trains, that specialized
in manufacturing unique and unusual models of European prototypes. For over five decades they
got collectors' attention with their unique and extraordinary models. Liliput offers a
larger selection of HO and narrow gauge HOe items (both 2 rail DC & and 3 rail AC powered),
but also makes N and G gauge trains.
Lilliput specializes in era II German DRG and DR locomotives and rolling
stock including unique military models.
The firm failed in 1988 and was purchased by Herpa.
In 1992 Bachmann Industries purchased Liliput
and opened a German sales office. Kader Industrial Company Limited is the parent company of
Bachmann. Kader acquired Bachmann industries In 1984. Kader is based in China. After the
Liliput acquisition, Kader transferred the tooling and dies to China. Initally, production
efforts centered on adapting chassis to fit new motors, and on finding new sources of parts
like axles and gears, which Liliput had previously purchased in Austria from non-model-railroad
manufacturers. As a result, most new models were based on original superstructure dies with all
new paint schemes.
In November 2008, Kader also took over Sanda Kan, its nearest competitor
for precision model railway items in the Hong-Kong based ODM contract manufacturing business.
Sanda Kan's biggest client had been Bachmann's dominant rival in the UK market
Hornby Railways, which had concentrated production there from
1997-2001. The company also manufactured for Lionel,
Atlas, Lifelike, Brawa,
Märklin, and approximately 50 other model train companies.
Link to Liliput
German web site.
