Antique mechanical toys in Mělník

A long-term exhibition of electric model trains and construction kits, such as those of the Merkur, Edison, Vašek and Märklin companies, in the Regional Museum at Mělník.

Two rooms have been prepared for visitors, full of historical electric model trains, metal constructor kits, children’s model steam engines and clockwork mechanical toys. The exhibition also includes a demonstration journey of the electric model trains through a miniature model landscape.

The electrified rails with electromagnetic switches and signalling semaphores, supplemented with railway station buildings, illuminated platforms, railway bridges and other objects, is the work of the collector Miroslav Smaha. Particularly remarkable is the excellent lighting system, which uses replicas of period lamps, and the fact that the rails are controlled by seven electromagnetic switches, the highest number of any exhibition in the entire Czech Republic, and perhaps even in Europe.

The project includes a small workshop for children where they can construct their own models from a Merkur kit. The best works will be displayed as part of the exhibition.