Merkur had its start in Czechoslovakia in 1920 and made both 0 gauge trains and construction sets up until tge Second World War. After the war the firm made trains and construction sets once again but the company became a state controlled company. Aftef the fall of communism the firm came into private hands and is producing a nice line of tinplate. German Wikopedia was a source for some of the information above and I have had the fine opportunity to meet the new owners numerous times.
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