Frateschi 55 Years
FRATESCHI celebrated its 55th anniversary on August 18, 2022. For those who do not yet know us, we considered it a good time to revisit some historical aspects — from its founding to the strategies adopted and influences received — that made it possible to celebrate this date.
FRATESCHI, currently registered as INDÚSTRIAS REUNIDAS FRATESCHI LTDA (since 08/67), is the successor of Fábrica de Brinquedos Frateschi, founded in 1958 by Galileu Frateschi.
That small company dedicated itself to producing wooden toys and plush animals, as the founder realized his dream of manufacturing toys. Over the years, Celso Frateschi dedicated himself to model railroading — a hobby he had taken up in 1953 and practiced with the unrestricted support of his father, the founder of FRATESCHI. In 2003, Lucas Frateschi joined the team representing the 3rd family generation to dedicate themselves to the business.
If we count the time elapsed since the start, we have 64 years of continuous and exclusive model railroading practice, or 59 years since the founding of Fábrica de Brinquedos Frateschi, or 40 years of Frateschi exclusively focused on Brazilian-themed (“green-yellow”) model railroading.
These initial paragraphs allow us to conclude that FRATESCHI is an industry whose vocation is model railroading, charged with a strong idealism arising from the same vocation.
During the time of its founding, a toy manufacturer dominated the electric train market in Brazil: the former Atma Paulista. Experience has shown that manufacturing both modeling and toys has not worked, and the best electric-train manufacturers worldwide are not toy makers. Attempts by some toy manufacturers to produce electric trains have not been successful. Examples, besides the former Atma, can be found in France, Italy, USA, etc.
Due to the market existing at the time of its founding, and considering the predominance of the HO gauge as ideal — balancing space requirements and detail fidelity — FRATESCHI made the right choice for the 16.5mm HO gauge. Had it chosen another gauge, it would have failed, by going against the existing and predominant market worldwide.
Having defined the market and channeled its vocation, Frateschi added the technical ingredients to produce its own molds, and began the first projects to develop its own molds and tools, becoming technologically self-sufficient.
With its vocation defined, the market chosen, and its technological capability achieved, FRATESCHI began manufacturing its first wagons in 1969, the first being the “gaiola” reference 2001, from the former CMEF, today existing as an assembly kit.
Other wagons followed, until we reached the first locomotive.
Another parameter of the company's stability equation was set: to produce Brazilian models — baptized as “green-yellow model railroading”. This option was certainly the most important among the many decisions Frateschi had to make over time. In fact, Brazilian model railroading would not be so vigorous had it remained in the hands of importers who, unlike Frateschi, with the sole ideal of profit, would have been disputing a depersonalized market, orphaned of vocation, reduced to a salad of inconsistent models — a great patchwork.
It is essential to emphasize that Brazil is the only third-world country with its own electric-train manufacturer. Despite all the problems created to destabilize national industry, plus external interference in our internal economic and industrial policies driven by the lust to conquer a market of 160 million new consumers, Frateschi continues its course founded on a few basic premises:
- Green-yellow model railroading is the most sensible form of partnership between market and manufacturer. Both feed from it in a healthy symbiosis, for many obvious reasons, without one side cannibalistically exploiting the other.
- The spring that drives Frateschi is to sponsor the spread of model railroading, facilitating its practice by anyone. Model railroading should not be the privilege of a few enlightened ones who hold truth and skill. These virtues will be developed by each one over time. The hobby must grow not to die, and everyone is invited to practice it. It is the opportunity for new values.
- Our quality has grown significantly over time, and today it incorporates the concept that quality is shown not only in the product but also in customer service to stores and model railroaders.
- New launches and other ways to stimulate the market will always be directed at the green-yellow consumer, as a way to consolidate what was said above.
After 55 years, we look ahead with the eyes of growing challenge and new opportunities important to keeping the company in the national and international market with a strong and consistent brand — a reference in the segment in Brazil.
Celebrate this great date with us — you are part of this history!