Before the paint: Lemaco’s brass locomotives

A large photograph near the front of Lemaco’s 2000–2001 catalogue shows a steam locomotive in bare brass. Against the black background, its separate pipes, valve gear and tiny fittings are particularly easy to follow.

The accompanying specification for the 0 gauge models goes beyond surface detail. It lists equipped cabs and smokeboxes, opening doors, hatches and covers, sprung buffers and brake rigging on both locomotive and tender. The driving axles are described as running in ball bearings.

Lemaco also specifies a Faulhaber motor and switchable lighting for the headlamps, running gear and cab. These are catalogue specifications, rather than a test of an individual model.

The cover calls them hand-built brass models in both German and French. Inside, the unpainted locomotive makes that description much more tangible: you can see the construction before a finished colour scheme ties all those individual parts together.