Maker record
Biaggi
Francesco Biaggi was an Italian maker of model railway trains, producing under the Biaggi and GEM names. The range included O-gauge tinplate trains and OO/HO locomotives, passenger cars, freight wagons, track and accessories. Biaggi introduced OO/HO trains at the Milan Toy Fair in 1947. GEM’s OO/HO locomotives included cast zamak bodies and manual reversing levers; the early four-rail electrical system was later replaced by three-rail track. After GEM disappeared around 1955, Biaggi continued making O- and 1-gauge trains under his own name.
- Founded
- 1945
- Countries
- Italy
- Locations
- Italy · 1945
- Founders
- Oreste Biaggi
The story of Biaggi
Francesco Biaggi registered the GEM name in 1945. The company was based in Milan and initially made trains in O and 1 scales, boats and models of other forms of transport. Biaggi’s OO/HO trains appeared in 1947 and were sold under both the Biaggi and GEM names. The range included locomotives, passenger cars, freight wagons, track and accessories. GEM’s early OO/HO system used four rails, with the two inner rails carrying motor current and the outer rails serving as a common return. The system changed to three-rail track around 1949. OO/HO locomotives included freelance designs with cast zamak bodies and manual reversing levers; the A5 used a reversing relay. By around 1955 the GEM name had disappeared. Biaggi then produced O- and 1-gauge trains under his own name, including models based on European railway prototypes. The maker’s work ranged from tinplate train sets to more detailed locomotive models, and production remained small in scale.