Lemaco

Lemaco was founded in 1985 in Ecublens, Switzerland, by Urs Egger, a visionary who had already spent three decades shaping the industry at Fulgurex. The company’s name was a poetic tribute to its roots, combining "Lac Léman" (Lake Geneva) with "Compagnie." Leveraging Egger’s deep relationships with master craftsmen in Japan and Korea, Lemaco established itself as a premier name in the "prestige" market, moving beyond the raw brass imports of the past to offer fully painted, glazed, and detailed museum-quality models that were ready for the display case or the layout.

The brand's philosophy centered on exclusivity and artisanal precision, producing limited-run series that often numbered only a few dozen units worldwide. While many manufacturers specialized in a single scale, Lemaco’s expertise spanned the entire spectrum from N (1:160) and H0 (1:87) to the imposing Gauge 1 (1:32) and Gauge 2. Their catalog became a definitive archive of European railway history, featuring meticulously researched Swiss, French, German, and Italian prototypes. These models were celebrated not just for their aesthetic fidelity, but for their mechanical excellence, often utilizing high-performance motors and intricate valve gear that operated with the smooth precision of a Swiss watch.

In 2006, the Lemaco era reached a significant milestone when Urs Egger retired, leading to the company’s acquisition by Lematec Prestige Models SA. This transition ensured that the legendary "Lemaco tradition"—defined by handcrafted brass construction and an uncompromising eye for detail—would be preserved under new leadership. Today, the legacy of Lemaco lives on through these rare and highly sought-after collectors' pieces, which remain benchmarks of the "golden age" of brass modeling, cherished by enthusiasts for their historical accuracy and timeless craftsmanship.