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Trix model railways from 1935
to 1965
© Copyright 2014 Garry Lefevre
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Patents Summary of patents with original drawings
taken out by the owners of the Trix Model Railway system in Germany and
England |
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Based on
research by Garry Lefevre
Background
Note :
The Trix Model Railway system was
started by the German company – “Vereinigte Spielwaren-Fabriken, (the United Toy Factory).
The history of the ownership and
developments can be read in the history section of this website – see History
index
The first patents were taken out
in Germany by the company there and soon after duplicate patents were sometimes
applied for in the UK under either the German company’s name or the name of
“Trix Limited” an English company, established in 1932, initially owned by the
German company. This changed in 1938 when, as a Jew, Stephan Bing was forced to
sell the German company in which he owned 70% to Ernst Voelk. But Bing was permitted to keep 100% of the
English company in which he was the sole shareholder.
Some patents were taken out by
only one company and not the other. Trix
Limited patented many products not made in Germany. A few were patented in Switzerland. Many were re-patented in France or the USA.
The two companies continued a
close trading and joint manufacturing arrangement even after the war.
Note : some of the
patents in Germany in the 1930’s do not show the name of an inventor, as if he
was Jewish it was not allowed. However the duplicate patent in England shows
the name of the inventor or is patented in their joint name.
The company also patented a
number of other toy items including the construction set components from 1925
not shown here.
Patents
in date order
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Note
the wheels pick up the current not a pick up shoe from the outside track,
with a split axle insulating one wheel from the other |
Invention : The invention is for an electric toy train
which in particular enables two trains on one track to be independently
controlled for speed and direction from a distant controller. The patent goes
further to describe the need for 3 rails insulated from one another and the
current for one locomotive to be picked up from one outside running rail
through the wheels ( not a pick up shoe) and the current returned via the
centre rail The other loco utilises the other running rail. To this end the
wheels are insulated on one side of the loco from the other side via a split
axle. Patent office
: Deutsches Reichspatentamt Patent number
: 630570 Date Applied for
: 29th November 1934 Date granted
: 7 May 1936 Applicant : Vereinigte Spielwaren-FabrikenAndreas
Fortner & J Haffner’s Nachf.G.m.b.h. Inventor : Not named |
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Note only part of the drawings are shown here |
Invention: This describes a method by which toy train
track can be firmly joined together by pushing together and they will not
separate unless bent upwards at the joint, as used on all
the Trix bakelite track. Patent office
: Deutsches
Reichspatentamt Patent number
: 630571 Date Applied for
: 16 February 1935 Date granted: 7 May 1936 Applicant : VEREINIGTE SPIELWARENFABRIKEN A. FORTNER & J. HAFFNER'S NACHFOLGER
GES Inventor : Not named |
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Invention : Describes a method of automatic coupling
two wagons together by a hook sliding on one car over an angular part of the
other car’s coupling to fall into a space behind. Also to automatically uncouple by using a
special rail which raises the height of one wagon, thus lifting the wire hook
above the other coupling so disengaging it.
Note : the first part was used in the
production models but the second part was not put into production replaced
instead with a bar in the track that raised the hook on one car via a tab
hanging down from the coupling. (See
29/2/1936 patent below) Patent office
: Deutsches
Reichspatentamt Patent number
: 631 542 Date Applied for: 3 March 1935 Date granted: 28 May 1936 Applicant : VEREINIGTE SPIELWARENFABRIKEN A. FORTNER & J. HAFFNER'S NACHFOLGER
GES Inventor : Not named |
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Invention : Two electric trains on a single track are independently controllable
from a distance through two electric circuits, as provided on the underside
of the locomotive a current collector connected with the motor which contacts
with the " third rail and a current collector or collectors adapted to
contact selectively with one of the other two running rails. Note the
introduction of the collector shoes on the outside track replacing the use of
the wheels to pick up the electricity in the first patent 630570 above. Patent office : United Kingdom Patent Office Patent number
: GB469656 (A) Date Applied for
: 29 /10/1935 Date granted
: 29/7/1937 Applicant : VEREINIGTE
SPIELWARENFABRIKEN A. FORTNER & J. HAFFNER'S NACHFOLGER GES., and KAHN,
S. Inventor : Not named but notice applicant – Kahn S –
not shown on the German patent as he was Jewish. |
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Invention: An electric device for
changing points and with an electric switch, built in the track and operated
by the electric device, for bringing into circuit the centre rail of the track
open to traffic and cutting out of circuit the centre rail of the track
closed to traffic. In other words this
could be used to prevent a train going thorough a point set against it by
switching on/off the approaching centre rail in each spur of the point. Patent office
: Deutches Reich Patent number
: DE489719 Date Applied for
: 28 /02/1936 Date granted
: 2/08/1938 Applicant : VEREINIGTE
SPIELWARENFABRIKEN A. FORTNER & J. HAFFNER'S NACHFOLGER GES., and KAHN,
S. Inventor : Not named. |
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Invention: Means to uncouple one wagon from another
vehicle ( a loco or a wagon), by means of a metal piece inserted into the
centre rail of a piece of track which on raising strikes on to a downward
part of the wagons coupling, thus raising the wire link on the coupling. To
be operated either manually or by remote control. Patent office
: Deutsches Reichspatentamt Patent number
: DE641862 Date Applied for
: 29 /02/1936 as an addition to
patent of 2 March 1935 ( see above) Date granted
: 4/02/1937 Applicant : VEREINIGTE
SPIELWARENFABRIKEN A. FORTNER & J. HAFFNER'S NACHFOLGER GES., Inventor : Not named |
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Invention : Improvements to toy or model buildings for
use with Model Railways: describes sections which can be put together in “manyways” to form different structures. Note, fig 11 and 16 in the drawing opposite were never put in production
although a photo in the Manyways book showed the end piece 11 but not the
tunnel mouth 16. Patent office
: Patent Office London Patent number
: 485170 Date Applied for
: 12 November 1936 Date granted
: 12 May 1938 Applicant : Trix Limited and Siegfried Kahn Inventor : Siegfried Kahn Note : S. Kahn had the idea of modular
construction but the development of the design was by E Twining. Read more
and see drawings of prototypes click here at : |
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Diesel
Flier or 20/58
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Plan
showing detail of contact panel for reversing motor and changing lights
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Invention : To add to the enjoyment of playing with toy
trains running to a timetable a clock is invented whereby the time passing
can be varied to simulate the longer time that would pass for a train to
travel between stations than is possible in the space of a toy railway. Thus a clock is electronically linked to
the layout whereby the clock will run faster when the trains are passing on
some sections of track than others as between two stations, than if the train
is in the section of the station. This can be controlled by the operator so
the speed of the clock can vary at the operators wish. Patent office
: Deutsches Reichspatentamt Patent number
: 659063 Date Applied for
: 28 February 1937 Date granted
: 31 March 1938 Applicant : VEREINIGTE SPIELWARENFABRIKEN
A. FORTNER & J. HAFFNER'S NACHFOLGER GES Inventor : Not named |
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Design
for 20/57, Princess, Scotsman, Coronation & US Pacific
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Invention : Describes
in detail the method for operating by remote a clutch and disengaging device using a solenoid in electric toy
trains, to be used in switching an electromagnet for example situated in a tender
which by remote control thus couples or decouples a trailing vehicle. In
other words this is the patent for the pre-war 4-6-2 Trix Express and Trix
Twin remote controlled uncoupling device situated in the tender. Patent office
: Deutsches
Reichspatentamt Patent number
: 690176 Date Applied for
: 21 January 1938 Date granted
: 28 March 1940 Applicant : VEREINIGTE SPIELWARENFABRIKEN A. FORTNER & J. HAFFNER'S NACHFOLGER
GES Inventor : Oswald Fischer |
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Invention: Describes the method of reversing an AC
motor by remote control anywhere on the track by interrupting the electric
current causing a sprung lever to disengage from an electric coil causing a
mechanical rotation of a spindle changing the contacts to that spindle and
thus the direction of the motor. The drawings also show the entire wiring of
the motor. NOTE: This is odd by how late it was patented since it was the method
used by Trix since 1934/5. The patent
date applied for coincides with Oswald Fischer buying the company from
Stephan Bing by compulsion of the German authorities. Also the method of changing direction through a device based on interupting the current was used in 0 gauge
prior to 1925 on Bing Locomotives and possibly Marklin
locomotives. Bassett-Lowke in England used it from 1925 in some models. Patent office
: Deutsches
Reichspatentamt Patent number
: 690175 Date Applied for
: 6 August 1938 Date granted
: 28 March 1940 Applicant : VEREINIGTE SPIELWARENFABRIKEN A. FORTNER & J. HAFFNER'S NACHFOLGER
GES Inventor : Oswald Fischer |
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Invention : This is an electronic circuit to utilize the neutral position on the
Trix controller when reversing a locomotive, so as to control other functions
such as lights, signals uncoupling for any system where two or more trains
are being independently controlled on the same track. It is designed as a stepping mechanism to
switch devices or several other functions depending on the controller. Thus independent devices could be plugged
into the track avoiding the need for separate wiring from the device to the
controller. Note : As far as I know this was never put in
production Patent office
: Deutsches
Reichspatentamt Patent number
: 941 526 Date
Applied for : 17 August 1938 Date
Granted : 2 November 1939 Applicant : VEREINIGTE SPIELWARENFABRIKEN A. FORTNER & J. HAFFNER'S NACHFOLGER
GES Inventor : Oswald Fischer |
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Invention : Method of switching the current on/off
automatically in a point so the centre rail is only live if and when the
point blade is open for that exit position, both preventing derailments if
the point is set against a train entering the point and enabling automatic
train control. Patent office
: Deutsches
Reichspatentamt Patent number
: 731115 Date Applied for
: 17 December 1939 Date granted
: 24 December 1942 Applicant : VEREINIGTE SPIELWARENFABRIKEN A. FORTNER & J. HAFFNER'S NACHFOLGER
GES Inventor : Oswald Fischer Note this is similar to a
patent taken out in 1936 but in which S. Kahn was co-named as applicant (see
DE489719 above). Kahn was then living
in England and could not dispute Fischer’s claim due to the war already
begun. |
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Invention This both (a) prevents motor at rest from
jumping forward when a surge of current is used to operate the directional
changing mechanism and (b) by part mechanical means attached to the motor
prevents the directional changing mechanism operating whilst the loco is in
motion. Patent office
: Deutsches
Reichspatentamt Patent number
: 718737 Date Applied for
: 5 March 1939 Date granted
: 5 September 1939 and amendment
to patent 715714 26 February 1942 Applicant : VEREINIGTE SPIELWARENFABRIKEN A. FORTNER & J. HAFFNER'S NACHFOLGER
GES Inventor : Oswald Fischer Note this was also patented in France 16/12/1937 |
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Invention: A device to operate by remote control
uncoupling of a locomotive or wagon from another wagon anywhere on the track
by an electromagnet situated in one of the coupled loco or wagons. Patent office
: Swiss Patent Office Patent number
: 219961 Date Applied for
: 16 September 1940 Date granted
: 15 March 1942, recognising
earlier patent 2 September 1939 in the Deutsches
Reich Applicant : VEREINIGTE SPIELWARENFABRIKEN A. FORTNER & J. HAFFNER'S NACHFOLGER
GES Inventor : Oswald Fischer |
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Invention : Patents for raising and lowering the
pantograph on a loco when on a turntable so as to disengage from the overhead
catenary by
either an electro magnet inside the loco or mechanical means in the loco with
an external electro magnet on the turntable. Also patent covered methods of
lining up track as the turntable moves to new positions by mechanical or
electro means. Patent office
: Deutsches
Reichspatentamt Patent number
: 714678 Date Applied for
: 11 February 1941 Date granted
: 13 November 1941 Applicant : VEREINIGTE SPIELWARENFABRIKEN A. FORTNER & J. HAFFNER'S NACHFOLGER
GES Inventor : Oswald Fischer |
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Invention : Method of securing tin plate track to a base using a pin which is not visible
enabling more realistic appearance of a moulded track base, sleepers and
track chairs, the rail being in an inverted U form. (This was the new style track used for the
post war points and uncoupling rail in English manufacture) Patent office
: Patent Office London Patent number: 545033 Date Applied for
: 7 April 1941 Date granted
: 7 May 1942 Applicant : Trix Limited, London Inventor : Robert Bindon
Blood |
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Invention : This invention relates to electric relays
or devices for actuating a rocking member, such as may be used in toy
railways for actuating points or signals or other purposes in which it is
desired to move a rocking member in one of two positions. The object of the invention is to provide a relay or device in which
the rocking member is adapted to be moved in one or the other directions by
applying a full or reduced current to the relay. For example, this was used in semaphore signals and point motors. Patent office
: Patent Office London Patent number: 607563 Date Applied for
: 8 February 1946 Date granted
: 1 September 1948 Applicant : Trix Limited, London Inventor : Werner Alton |
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Invention : Within the structure of a point to place a slidable armature operating the movable section of the rails
between the rails and the base on which the rails are mounted, the ends of
the armature having upstanding portions which are disposed on either side of the track and are
operated upon by two solenoids mounted on the base and positioned one on each
side of the rails. The switch blades
are moved by the two solenoids by applying current from a remote location
thus changing the direction of the points. Patent office
: Patent Office London Patent number
: 644346 Date Applied for
: 14 July 1948 Date granted
: 11October 1950 Applicant : Trix Limited Inventor: Francis John Prior and Werner Alton |
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Post
war 4-6-2 used for BR Scotsman
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Invention : Relates to remote-control coupling and
uncoupling devices for toy electric railways mounted inside the locomotive or
its tender. The patent describes in
detail the function from the rotation of the contact spindle to the two
solenoids inside the tender, the way in which the current is switched between
them and the means to move the coupling. Patent office
: Patent Office London Patent number
: 678257 Date Applied for
: 12 March 1951 Date granted: 27 August 1952 Applicant : Trix Limited Inventor : Werner Alton |
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Invention : Device to electrically remotely control a
clock work motor in a toy train, to stop, start or reverse the motor via a
device located inside the locomotive and via the track to a control box also
connected to the track at a fixed distant position. Patent office
: United Kingdom Patent Office Patent number
: GB 733920 Date Applied for
: March 17, 1952 Date granted
: July 20, 1955 Applicant : Trix Limited Inventors : Siegfried Kahn; Sydney, William Dumbleton |
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Invention: Check switch and related switches combined in
a block to operate remotely several devices such as to prevent a train going
through a point set in an opposing direction, by reducing the current by
means of a visible bulb set in a serial connection thus stopping the train
but enabling sufficient current so as not to activate the reversing mechanism
and simultaneously operating a signal. By remotely changing the point the
link changes the signal and switches off the bulb enabling the locomotive to
restart. Patent office
: United Kingdom Patent Office Patent number
: GB737214 Date Applied for
: April 22, 1953 Date granted
: September 21, 1955 Applicant : Trix Limited Inventors : Francis John Prior; Werner Alton |
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Invention : A device for a toy railway raises imitation coal or other material from
an open container and deposits the material into a tipping truck which may be
moved round on a track from the material receiving position to the open
container, the material then being tipped into the container from the truck Patent office
: United Kingdom Patent Office Patent number
: GB726723 (A) Date Applied for
: April 22, 1953 Date granted
: March 23, 1955 Applicant : Trix Limited Inventors : SIEGFRIED KAHN; WERNER ALTON |
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Invention : Operating dump wagon that by means of an
electro magnet in a rail will tip the wagon to shed its load and return the wagon’s
container to a normal position after the magnet is switched off. Patent office
: The Patent Office London Patent number
: 737213 Date Applied for
: 22 April 1953 Date granted: 21 September 1955 Applicant : Trix Limited, London Inventor : Werner Alton |
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Invention : Operating dump wagon that by means of an
electro magnet in a rail will tip the wagon to shed its load and return the
wagon’s container to a normal position after the magnet is switched off. Patent office
: Deutsches Patentamt Patent number
: 1052287 Date Applied for
: 22 April 1954 ( following UK
Patent 22 April 1953 Date granted
: 5 March 1959 Applicant : Trix Limited, London Inventor : Werner Alton of Northampton England |
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Invention : This relates to magnetic sound generators
and has for its object to provide a sound generator which provides a
chord-like note in the lower frequency range which is especially suitable for
use as a whistle or hooter for a toy electric
railway train but can be used for other purposes. Patent office
: Patent Office London Patent number
: 767059 Date Applied for
: 18 November 1954 Date granted
: 30 January 1957 Applicant : Trix Limited Inventor : Siegfried Kahn, Francis John Prior and
Werner Alton Note : This was also patented in the
USA on 7 May 1957 number 2791765 Note also: a similar device was patented by the Gebr. Bing company in the 1920’s
to retrofit in an 0 gauge tender. |
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The above is a sample of the Patents that were taken out by
Trix.
Many of the above
patents were also registered in the USA, France and Switzerland
Research
by :-
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Locos | Coaches | Wagons | Accessories, catalogues & track |
History in pictures | Exhibition layouts | TTR in practice |
World layouts
| Links
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________