Time travel with Fleischmann

Permanent exhibition of the history of the company Gebr. Fleischmann.

The City Museum of Schwabach in cooperation with the company Gebr. Fleischmann presents the largest specialized collection in the world of toys and model railways in about 800 square meters - an entertaining experience not only for collectors and fans but also for the whole family.

2000 rare and precious exhibits tell the Fleischmann story thoughout the moving times from 1887 until today. The exhibits are drawn from the company owned museum stock and the archive of the company Gebrüder Fleischmann in Nuremberg.

The present is also featured adequately in the museum in Schwabach: A selection from the current product line is presented every year after the toy fair in Nuremberg at a specially created fair booth.

Search for historic traces: The top class collection also presents lesser known toys from the colourful historic product line. Especially the "maritime tin toys" which Jean Fleischmann and his successors produced since 1887 are one of the exhibition highlights. If it was water castles with swans, "whales" that could blow water fountains that were meters high, divers, submarines, or the famous Do X Water Plane - the fantasy of the Fleischmannn idea smiths was boundless. Since the early 1930s the product line also included toy model trains next to ships and steam engines.

Very impressive is the "Crown Princess Cecilia" which is the true to the original model of an ocean liner that reminds us of the "Titanic". Such miniaturized passenger steamers once decorated the offices of the Northern German "Lloyd" and other ocean carriers. At the world exposition in Brussels in 1910 Fleischmann was awarded a gold medal for such products. The impressive certificate now decorates the beginning of the gallery.

The exposition not only tells the history of the cooperation and its toys but also brings the respective Zeitgeist back to life in a rather successful way. All exhibits are tied into an interactive media concept with many sound and image contributions. Media presentations provide further cultural, social, and political time references. For example a living room from the beginning of the last century that shows toys used in earlier times and who could afford them.

To bring the Fleischmann World back to life the visitors can start six model railway layouts and one car racing track with the push of a button. A separate area for children offers the youngest an opportunity to play with additional layouts and also a "race track" to put the foot to the metal.

That is why the visit is not only rewarding for collectors, fans, " rivet counters and puffer kissers", but also for the whole family as mentioned in the beginning.

The exhibition in short form:

Over 2000 rare and precious exhibits from company owned stock and corporate archives.
Six model railway layouts: Gauge 0,H0, N, Magic Train and Auto Rallye
"Exhibition booth" with the current product line of the company for this year.
Interactive media concept for comtemporary history
Playground for kids with toy railways

The city museum offers special coaches in Gauge H0 and N (EURO 33,90 each) to accompany the exhibition. The coaches are from a limited edition of 500 numbered pieces. Only available in the museum shop! Purchase is limited to two coaches per person (per gauge)! Advance orders per e-mail are accepted, however the coaches are being reserved for 3 months only.

Stadtmuseum Schwabach
Museumsstraße 1 (former barracks)
91126 Schwabach
Tel.: 09122 833933
Fax: 09122 833935
Email: stadtmuseum@schwabach.de
URL: www.schwabach.de/stadtmuseum

Opening hours (all year):
Wednesday to Sunday 10 AM to 6 PM
Holidays ................ 10 AM to 6 PM
closed December 24, 25, 31.

Admission fee:
4 € for adults (reduced admission: 2,50 €), 2,50 € for children. Special discounts on request.

Guided tours by appointment:
Monday to Friday................ 9 AM to 6 PM
Saturday to Sunday and holidays... 11 AM to 6 PM.

Note: Since March 2009 the museum is equipped with an elevator and fully handicap accessible.

How to find the museum:
it is located in the North of the city in the former military barracks area. It can easily be reached by bus no. 61 and 667 and has sufficient parking for tour buses and cars.

By car:
Autobahn Nürnberg - Heilbronn (A6) exit Schwabach Süd, B2/Rother Straße towards the city, after the railway tunnel by the train station take the right side: Weißenburger Straße - Fürther Straße - Ansbacher Straße - Museumsstraße (former barracks); Parking spaces in front of the house.

By bus and train:
Line 61 Nürnberg - Schwabach;
Stop Ansbacher Straße (3 minutes by foot)
S-Bahn: Nürnberg to the Schwabach main train station; switch to the city bus no. 667. Stop: Museum (not on Sundays and holidays).

Museum Shop in the new entrance area:

Articles and rare items of Fleischmann available.

Special coaches - limited edition:
We offer special coaches in the Gauge H0 and N (at Euro 33,90 each) to accompany the exhibtion.