Pocher 1:8 Classic kits building tips

History of Pocher?

brady | scaleautoworks - Jul 15, 2003 1:12 pm

Edited by Jul 15, 2003 6:13 am

posted by modelparts Ť from the temp message board: Jun 27th, 2003, 10:01pm ť

I have been emailed by a lot of builders of Pocher kits about the history of Pocher. I remember in 1975 I puchased my first Pocher kit, K71 Alfa Romeo Monza, at K-mart for $22.00 and I remember them having K70 1907 Fiat there too.

Does anyone know for sure when the kits first arrived on US soil? From my understanding, Deluxe Classics from Los Angeles, California, was Pocher's first importer? Is this correct? What year?

Does anyone know the history of Pocher back in the 70's?

What happened to them in the 80's and 90's and what happen to them in 1999?

I also heard a Japanese firm bought them over and are improving the casting molds and they are going to go back into production. Or is this hearsay?

If anyone knows, this would also be good information to have directly on ScaleAutowork's site.

Thanks, Modelparts

yellow-mellow - Jul 16, 2003 6:37 pm (1.)

Hi Brady,

I found this post in a german n-scale-train-forum. It seems that no one has bought anything from Lima.

We received the-following text today as press release of the international press combination FERPRESS. We think that this information for many of interest might be.

EXPRESS MESSAGE Saturday, 12.07.2003 now probably finally the from for LIMA with RIVAROSSI, JOUEF, ARNOLD, POCHER: The Italian model course manufacturer LIMA S.p.A. in Brescia seems to be at the end; Rumors went around already for approximately 14 days after appropriate expressions of the management. Wages and salaries for June were paid still normally, distribution take place according to plan. We quote in addition now from the Italian newspaper IL GIORNALE DI VICENZA of today's Saturday. Evtl. We ask to excuse translation errors:

lsola Vicentina, 12 July 2003. End of the journey for the historical railway company. Trade union: "no comment". LIMA is finally concerned at the end a three firm representative in Brescia the official receiver assigned. Lima is in bankruptcy. Yesterday early in Brescia in the kanzlei by Anna Rumma by three representatives LIMA's the inability to pay of the entire group one announced. As official receivers Valter Seddio and Alberto Falini from Brescia as well as Pierluigi Tita from Milan were ordered. The entire staff of production on lsola the Vicentina (approximately 80 persons employed, who have to do with the production of the collecting miniatures) and the administration in Brescia (about 20 persons employed are dismayed and scareThe trade union prefers it not to react yet: "we wait the official statement on Monday off". One waits thus breathlessly for the further development. As already once with the December crisis the decision lines up, the company in the via Capiterlina to close. Yesterday the chairman Luca Ramello has his resignation admits given. Afterwards the dissolution of the board of directors was decided and the official receivers was appointed. "the commitments are with scarce under 20 million euro and exceed thereby the available capital enormously" avoid the official receivers because of Monday their order will formally assume. This seems to be actually the last station for the model railways of the company LIMA.

brady | scaleautoworks

- Jul 16, 2003 7:38 pm (2.)

Sorry to hear the news, but thank you for the official press release after many years of only rumors. Of course we all hope someone may buy the Pocher tooling and eventually make the kits again.

gingerbaker - Aug 20, 2003 11:08 am (2.1)

Hi Brady

Perhaps it is time for you to take a vacation to Italy? This sounds like the final opportunity to rescue whatever molds are left, and they could undoubtably be had for a song. As a business trip, your entire vacation would be tax deductible. Go man, go! :)

Michael Martensen - Jul 24, 2003 8:28 am (3.)

Hello All, Hello Brady,

am in kontakt with an human some works with Lima in Italy.

I talk with it manday afternoon. It say to me that it is true that Lima is not more existent. It will never give more models from there, no trains no cars. So, we custumer must life with this. Sorry my bad english.

regards Michael

Paddy Stanley - Aug 7, 2003 10:36 pm (4.)

Edited by Aug 7, 2003 3:39 pm

The Pocher Fiat was on sale in England toward the end of 1967 at a price of 19 Pounds for the kit and 49 Pounds for a built-up in a "High Class Showcase". By 1968 its price had risen to 22 Pounds and 15 shillings (three fourths of a Pound) while the Alfa Monza arived and was on sale for 35 Pounds. I remember 'doing a deal' with someone in Italy and and getting one for the equivalent of 25 Pounds. I still have it. I think this would have been very shortly after they were on sale in Italy. I bought an Alfa Spider and Rolls Royce Sedanca in Gibraltar in 1975/76 and do not remember being surprised at seeing them so the initial issue must have been earlier. I can't put a date to the Torpedo and Bugatti and never knew of the RR Ambassador or 'Dinner Jacket' and Surprofile and Mille Miglia Alfas until I got interested in Pocher again about a year ago! Perhaps some of your Italian contacts can give us more detail

Mike Poole - Dec 10, 2003 7:21 pm (4.1)

Who's Arnaldo Pocher?

I was surprised to see a 1/12 scale Caudron biplane kit on Ebay the other day. There was a credit to one of the kit designers a certain Signore Pocher (I think Arnaldo is his first name). In any event the kit looked like it was made in very limited quantities. The kit was made in Turin and all the loose parts were in little bags stapled to the box flaps making a strong case for a connection to the Pocher car kits. Anyone know of Sig. Pocher and when the Pocher car company was formed? When the Caudron was kitted? Did Sig. Pocher sell his little model car company and strike out on his own later? Inquiring minds want to know!..

Neil Falcone - Oct 9, 2005 4:16 pm (4.1.1)

I have a 1:24 scale Caudron G3 "Metrop Kit N2001-X" The box is very old, (I have the kit about 12 years and it was old when I got it), and states that the kit was designed by Arnaldo Pocher and Adelmo Canali ...Turin. I also find on the box that the kit was produced in Torino Italy by AR-PO. (I assume Arnaldo on his own). The kit was also distributed by Metrop 1052 Le-mont . Lausanne Switzerland. I too would be interested in any "new" information and do hope that some of this helps!

Alfafan2000

- Dec 10, 2003 10:20 pm (5.)

Arnaldo Pocher

I don't know all the answers, but here's my bit from what I remember having read and seen in the internet:

Yes, Arnaldo Pocher is the man behind Pocher. Pocher started out as a train model company somewhere in the late 50s or early 60s, and started in 1969 with their 1/8 car kits. You're also right to assume that he sold (or left?) the Pocher company later on and went on on his own. A few years back I saw an eBay auction for an 1/8 Fiat modelkit by Arnaldo Pocher. And no, this was definitely not the K/70/77/88. I'm no Fiat man, but it kind of looked like the 24HP from Alfa Romeo, if that means anything to you. I have no information what so ever about the Caudron or any other plane he might have made.

JC - Mar 24, 2004 4:11 pm (6.)

Lima France told me last year they'll produce a new F40 model. And we can buy new model on this french web site : http://www.central-train.fr/Intro.html (go to Catalogue and select Pocher). New models have the following references : PA10001 (Ferrari F40 nuovi particolari) and PA100002 (Ferrari F40 nuovi particolari assemblata). Does anyone know something about theses kits ? Is it the sign Lima/Pocher would start again ?

brady | scaleautoworks

- Mar 25, 2004 12:40 pm (7.)

Edited by Mar 25, 2004 4:42 am

Yes, you can supposedly "order" the F40 from a German website as well. It is all in response to rumors and "hope" from Lima, but there will be no new kits until someone brings them back from bankruptcy, see the very recent legal message here.

Ralph Fernandez - Jul 4, 2006 12:05 am (8.)

Hello Mr. Brady!

My name is Ralph, and I have just aquired (from an old friend that passed away), a 1/8 Scale 1932 Alfa Romeo Spider Grand Touring model, kit number K/73 that he purchased while in Italy in 1973, the same year it was produced. It is packed in it's "ORIGINAL" box (the box seal was cut to make sure all parts & materials where there), but all the parts(metal, screws, plastic & leather, etc.) are all still packed in their original plastic bundles. It has all the paper work (mostly in Italian) and the Inspection Seal (N. Collaudato 02 QF 73) from Pocher S.p.A. in Torino, Italy. My question is, since it is apparent that the original company that produced this model originally is no longer in existence, how much do you think, based on your extensive experience, it may be worth to a "Serious" model collector?

Your sugestions and advice will be greatly appreciated!

Sincerely, Ralph wwtilemanjd@aol.com

Leilani Bankhardt - Sep 30, 2006 5:12 pm (9.)

Hi Mr. Brady!

Just commenting in the Question Mr. Ralph brought up. My husband just recently was given 1/8 scale 1931 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza model, kit #k/71. All the parts are still in the org. plastic, and ours also has the inspection tag: "N. Collaudato 02 GF 71." Inside was also the Tyco Industries' "Important: please save!" warnings, to contact them for additional parts, missing parts and any questions. I have tried to find Tyco Industries (Tyco Service) but have had no luck. There also is what looks like two catalogs.

We are trying to get info. on this, because my husband, my daughter and I are planning to build this together. But we have not wanted to touch or open anything until we found info. on it. Along with a place that COULD answer our questions, IF we decide to build it.

Thank you for your time!

Leilani Bankhardt rlpb@cox.net

brady | scaleautoworks

- Sep 30, 2006 9:13 pm (10.)

Hello,

Tyco was one of many US importers of the Pocher kits a LONG time ago. You will not find any official "spare parts" source, but this message board (and the "Parts Wanted" board linked under my banner at the top of this page) are a good place to start. Be sure to read as many of the old messages about the Alfa kits as you can.

I don't give advice on kit values, and I discourage any such discussions here. You should build it, and you'll find many people here willing to help.

Brady

Jeffrey Siegel - Feb 23, 2008 8:14 pm (11.)

I JUST CAME ACROSS A 1962-63 POCHER HO TRAIN CATALOG. THE BACK COVER SHOWS A FIAT 1300 CAR AND READS "IT IS THE EXACT REPRODUCTION IN SCALE 1:13 OF THE ACTUAL MODEL FIAT. IT IS SOLD IN TASTEFUL PRESENTATION BOX WITH A CLEAR EXPLANATORY DRAWING TO BE ABLE TO DISASSEMBLE AND TO ASSEMBLE THE SAME. IT WORKS WITH ELECTRICAL CELL MOTOR (VOLT 4) AND HAS THE BONNET OPENING AND IN ITS HOUSING THERE IS REPORTED, IN SCALE, THE MOTOR WITH ALL ITS PARTICULARS. ART. A/50 Lenght cm 32 - Weight gr. 840

YES THE WORD LENGTH IS ACTULLY SPELLED WRONG IN THE CATALOG.

brady | scaleautoworks

- Feb 23, 2008 9:34 pm (11.1)

Pocher produced a lot of smaller scale toy like cars before they started making 1/8 kits.

Egon Sorensen - Feb 24, 2008 1:18 pm (11.1.1)

Are there anyone who knows what become of all the casting-forms that maked all the models in Italy, someone must have them or has they been scraped.

Pascal Dupont - Mar 3, 2008 4:45 pm (11.1.1.1)

Hello,

The castings of the Pocher 1/8 cars have been bought by an english company that makes model trains. The company is Hornby Plc, I've E-mailed them several times, but no answer. So lets all send Frank Martin CEO of Hornby as many E-mails as possible, asking him to restart production of the Pocher 1/8 cars.

Egon Sorensen - Mar 4, 2008 12:35 am (11.1.1.1.1)

A wery good idea, and to Chairman: Neil A Johnson and maby make new models. Found this info, but no e-mail, and they have Rivarossi in there production, but what ? Hornby Plc Enterprise Road, Westwood Industrial Estate Margate, Kent CT9 4JX, United Kingdom Tel. +44-1843-233-500 Fax +44-1843-233-513

Pascal Dupont - Mar 4, 2008 9:23 am (11.1.1.1.1.1)

Just go to the website, select contact us, and fill in the E-mail form. Send this information to all the Pocher 1/8 car fans in the world. If they get enough people that are interested, maybe they will restart production. Good luck