Founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the home of its North American headquarters, Bachmann is today part of the Kader group, whose model products are made at a Chinese Government joint-venture plant in Dongguan, China.

In 1988, the Spectrum line of high-quality, detailed models was introduced to cater to more experienced hobbyists.

The turnover for Bachmann model trains for the year ended 31 December 2006 was approximately $146.87 million, a slight increase of 3.36% as compared to 2005.

[2] Founded in 1833 by Henry Carlisle, the company originally specialized in vanity products such as parasol handles and Spanish combs made of ivory horns.

After the Civil War it continued to make other types of hair ornaments and handles for walking canes now out of Tortoise shell and ivory.

[citation needed] Other notable products include Birds of the World Model kits, Plasticville USA, shooting glasses for Winchester Repeating Arms Company (now the U.S.

Later on, the Spectrum line expanded to include a Pennsylvania Railroad K-4 Pacific, an EMD GP30, and a General Electric Dash 8-40C.

Williams by Bachmann has produced a new 44 ton switcher that has been introduced in 2015 the company still remains a value leader in the O gauge segment.

[10] Bachmann doubled the MSRP of its products, and cars are now packaged in clear plastic display jewel cases.

Following the war's end, Bachmann came up with the product which made their name a household word..."Plasticville USA"...an assemble yourself kit of homes, stores, and other buildings to enhance train layouts.

They have been made exclusively in China by plastics moulding manufacturer Kader Holdings Company Limited since 1999.

This allowed for operating HO trains on the floor without worry of dust, lint and carpet fibres, though traditional tabletop layouts could also be designed using this track system.

Bachmann dropped Slot Cars and Mini-Planes from its product lines after the Kader takeover (see below) but instead entered the Radio-controlled model market.

[23] In light of dwindling interest in model railroading, the Crowther brothers decided, in 1981, to sell to their manufacturer, the Kader Group.

Kader changed the name to Bachmann Industries[21] and used the new brand to expand worldwide, such as the European market.

The packaging changed from plastic jewel cases to white paper boxes with cellophane window.

[15] As well as introducing its own brands to North America, Kader, under the Bachmann brand, built itself up as the largest volume seller of model railways by purchasing other failing companies, using the Bachmann name to front a series of purchases in the rest of the world to combat the then poor perceptions of Hong Kong-based production quality.

[25] In 1997 it moved to Altdorf bei Nürnberg, Germany, which continues today as the German Liliput headquarters.

Kader's business model for each take over, from its original purchase of Bachmann to the present day, is to buy a perceived quality brand in the target market or country.