Gamsa

One of the least-known makes of post-war 0 gauge trains in Italy is Gamsa which, as far as can be traced, was active from 1947-1950. It was manufactured by Ing. Fasolis & C, Via Errico Giachino in Turin, a firm which took part in the XXVI Trade Fair of Milan in April 1948 and exhibited in the Toy Pavilion. In the Guide Yearbook 1948-1949 “The Toy Industry in Italy” it is mentioned as a producer of electric trains and technical toys. In advertisments of the model shop Modellotechnica in Seregno, Gamsa is mentioned, together with makes as Rivarossi, FMV and Cappa as being repesented in this shop. An advertisment by Gamsa itself is known from 1948, in which a FS type 691 Pacific is shown, as well as the articulated electric locomotive type E636. An unconfirmed report states that the body of the E636 is identical to that of the Fage E636, but with a different motor. The advertisement also states: “our company also supplies: 1st and 2nd class carriages, baggage carriages, profiled rails, manual and automatic switches with metal and wooden sleepers.” A bogie passenger car and a transformer are also shown in the advertisment.

Known are examples of the type 691 Pacific and bogie coaches.