In 1840, Theodor Friedrich Wilhelm Märklin settled in the city of Göppingen in Germany. In 1856, he obtained German citizenship. He married Caroline Hettich Ludwigsburg in 1859 and decided to concentrate on producing kitchens dolls. The year 1859 is considered the founding year of Märklin.

At first, Ms. Märklin gave a helping hand and set himself up as a true business woman. She scoured the whole of southern Germany and Austria to make itself the goods. The company grew and was soon faced with a lack of space.

In 1866, F. Th W. Märklin died tragically in an accident. Mrs. Märklin resumed, only the torch, and after a few dark years, the son of Theodor Eugen and Karl, took the company into the Gebr. Märklin.

At that time the range consisted of doll kitchens, cars, boats, windmills, etc.. At the Spring Fair in 1891, Märklin introduced the first model train system, consisting of a locomotive clockwork and a network of channels in the form of eight. Here was born the miniature train, but not only as being in its entirety. The first network, which will from all levels, laying the foundations of model railroading.

Soon, other steam trains are emerging, fueled by methylated spirits. In 1895, Märklin arrives with his first electric train for something very strange because the city of Göppingen was equipped with electricity in 1900! The first model trains, both steam, clockwork and electric exhibited numerous defects in the drive mechanism. Locomotives clockwork starting but quickly abandoned after a few laps. The steam engines were warmed rapidly and not adjustable in terms of speed, which could present some danger in tight curves. The train continued running until he was alcohol. The electric train sets were connected to a local power grid, mostly in 110 or 220 Volt, protected only by two resistance lampe.Toucher directly track could be cooking!

Since 1926, the model train is safer and more easily manipulated by the appearance on the market system 20 volts. Märklin catalog was filled with toys of all kinds, drawing on the technical progress of life everyday. Steam locomotives, doll houses, cooking utensils, rides, cars, planes, boats and boxes of metal construction. The budding engineers discovered a fun way after 1914 meant that mechanical movement of the lever and transmission.

The most significant change appeared in 1929, boxes of metal construction until black and brass became red, green and blue packaging that remained valid until their demise in 2000. Around 1950/1960, the construction of metal boxes had the same status as the electric trains in the nursery. The parts were often used to decorate the network in the form of bridges, lifts, cranes or cargo in bulk.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the train was only a small part of the whole set. This proportion changed in 1935 with the appearance of the scale 00 (1:87). At this point, the rails could be laid on a table. If before we climbed the track network for Christmas, we could now roll all year. From 1950, this scale is the scale H0. They stopped production of the scale 0 in 1954. The age of model railroading sheet was coming to an end. In 1969, Märklin launched the new "Track 1", the same scale as the scale 0, but subject to another manufacturing method.
In 1972 at the International Toy Fair in Nuremberg, a new scale was presented: the mini-club. With a scale of 1:220 th, the world's smallest, that gauge called "z" was introduced immediately in the "Guinness Book of World Records. 1984 saw the emergence of the digital system. Up to 80 locomotives and 256 switches and / or signals could be operated simultaneously. It is impossible for someone to lead such a network, the ability to control network through a PC opens new opportunities.

In 1994, we witness the return of model train sheet with the appearance of MAXI. Completely made of metal, the MAX is the model input range of channel 1, with the charm and nostalgia of model trains of the 30s. Suitable for children, been coveted by adult collectors. In 1995, Märklin operates a homecoming: it offers a replica of a doll's pram and a doll's kitchen.

2004 is the year of a new technological revolution with the emergence of "Märklin Systems" and the capacity to generate over 16 000 addresses (locomotives, switches, accessories, etc ...) while winning ergonomics, intuitiveness and simplicity with its touch screen (Central Station) and his approach "Plug and Play *". All information is now accessible from one central, providing play opportunities hitherto unsuspected.