Brand record
Lima
Lima was an Italian toy and model railway maker founded in Vicenza in 1946 as Lavorazione Italiana Metalli e Affini. It began with metal toys and became known for electric trains and railway models. Its ranges included H0 (1:87), N (1:160) and 00 (1:76) scale products. The Lima name remains in use under Hornby, with product lines for both experienced modellers and newcomers to railway modelling.
- Founded
- 1946
- Countries
- Italy
- Locations
- Vicenza, Italy
- Founders
- Enrico Pagni · Ermenegildo Sabbadini · Antonio Ratti · Mario Bregonzi
The story of Lima
Lavorazione Italiana Metalli e Affini (Lima) was founded in Vicenza in 1946. Its early work included repairs to railway rolling stock damaged during the war. By 1948, the company was producing metal toys, including aluminium cookware, motorboats, mechanical figures and doll prams. It later made other metal toys, including model cars, while moving into electric model trains. A Lima company history dates the start of N scale production to 1966; an outline chronology notes that the company’s early electric train dates are uncertain.
Lima developed into a maker of railway models in H0, N and 00 scales. Rivarossi Memory’s chronology records the first appearance of recognisable prototype locomotives in its range in 1962 and the start of N scale production in 1966. Rivarossi acquired Lima in 1992. In 2001, the Rivarossi group became Lima SpA, based in Brescia, and Hornby acquired the group in 2004. The Lima brand continues under Hornby, which currently offers Lima lines for experienced modellers and new entrants to the hobby.
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In the digital museum
Explore the museum
Lima N gauge 1:160 lot of American & Canadese passenger cars in OBView in the museum
Lima Italy H0 Scale British Nord Railways 1710 L-1A Steam LocomotiveView in the museum
Lima train H0 gauge steam loco FS #3005/LView in the museum
Lima train H0 gauge ten-axle transformer car “Philips” #30 9056View in the museum Original catalogues
Lima Models 1988-1989 International catalogueFree account to read
Lima Models 1988-1989 German catalogueFree account to read
Lima models 1994 International versionFree account to read
Lima 1976 International CatalogueFree account to read
Lima 1977-1978 Dutch CatalogueFree account to read
Lima Models 1988 French CatalogueFree account to read
Lima Europrogram Catalogue 1993 International EditionFree account to read
Lima Models Catalogue 1986 Italian versionFree account to read