Jouef
Encyclopedia
Jouef was a French
manufacturer that specialized in model trains and other vehicles. Jouef is one of the world's most famous hobby brands, perhaps only slightly less well-known than Schuco
, Marklin
, Lines Brothers or Lionel
.
.
In 1979, Jouef opened a factory in Limerick, Ireland, but the ill-fated venture closed in 1981. In 2001, Jouef was subsumed by the Italian Lima
. After shutting down in January 2004, Jouef was acquired a few months later by Hornby Railways
.
Jouef made electric slot car
s for many years, mainly during the 1960s and 1970s. Earlier models were a Jaguar E-type, Mercedes-Benz 190 roadster and coupe, a '65 Corvette Stingray convertible, Ford GT 40s, a Ford Capri, a Chaparral, a Ferrari F1, a BRM F1, a Ferrari 250 GTO, a Lotus F1, a Renault Alpine 1600, a BMC Mini, a Porsche 911 and a Porsche 904. Some of the earlier F1 cars had steering front wheels that turned as guided around the track. Later models mostly made in the 1970s, were an Alfa Carabo Bertone, a BMW 3.0 CSL, a Ligier JS5, a Matra F1, a Matra DJet, a Matra 650, a Renault F1, a Renault Alpine 3000, a Renault Alpine A310, a Renault 5, a Lancia Stratos, , a Porsche 917, and a Porsche 904.
During the 1990s, Jouef also made die cast cars in 1:18, 1:24, and 1:43 scales under the name JouefEvolution. The car models were most often made in China, though train production continued in France. The 1:43 scale series was called 'Legende' and cars included a P41 Ferrari prototype racer, 250 Ferraris from the 1960s, a Ford GT, a 1965 Mustang, an MGB ragtop, and a Triumph TR-3. These models, even the smaller 1:43 scale cars, were ultra detailed. For example, models were often accurately reproduced from different races, a trait usually seen in much more expensive models. Window frames in the Ferraris' opening doors were made out of chromed metal - detail not often seen in 1:43 scale - and engine detail was superb, colorful and realistic. It is curious that on the 'Legende' boxes the brand was shown as both 'Jouef' and 'Jouefevolution' and the French flags colors were shown alongside those of the new 12 star flag of the European Union. Ironically, despite the 'European' emphasis, the cars were made in China.
1:18 scale vehicles included Alfa Romeo Pininfarina roadster, Porsche 911s, the 1994 Mustang, Mustang Mach III concept, the Ferrari 250, and the Ford GT 40 Gulf LeMans race winner. These models were very authentic as well as realistic - quite lovely, in fact. This larger size was notable for their bright yellow boxes.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
manufacturer that specialized in model trains and other vehicles. Jouef is one of the world's most famous hobby brands, perhaps only slightly less well-known than Schuco
Schuco
Schuco is a German toy maker founded in 1912 by Heinrich Müller and the businessman Heinrich Schreyer in Nuremberg, since early days, Germany's toy capital. Its specialty was usually cars and trucks in both tin and diecast...
, Marklin
Märklin
Gebr. Märklin & Cie. GmbH or Märklin is a German toy company. The company was founded in 1859 and is based at Göppingen in Baden-Wurttemberg. Although it originally specialised in doll house accessories, today it is best known for model railways and technical toys...
, Lines Brothers or Lionel
Lionel
Lionel may refer to:as a male given name*Lionel Atwill, English actor*Lionel Barrymore, American actor*Lionel Bart, British composer*Lionel Blair, British dancer and actor*Lionel Hampton, American jazz musician*Lionel Jeffries, English actor...
.
.
History
Manufacturer Georges Huard founded Jouef in 1944. The traditional home of the company was in Champagnole, France. In the early 1950s, as with many manufacturers, the company abandoned the use of lithographed tinplate for trains in favor of plastic injection moulding.In 1979, Jouef opened a factory in Limerick, Ireland, but the ill-fated venture closed in 1981. In 2001, Jouef was subsumed by the Italian Lima
Lima (models)
Lima S.p.A was a brand of railway models made in Vicenza, Italy, for almost 50 years, from the early 1950s until the company ceased trading in 2004...
. After shutting down in January 2004, Jouef was acquired a few months later by Hornby Railways
Hornby Railways
Hornby Railways is the leading brand of model railway in the United Kingdom. Its roots date back to 1901, when founder Frank Hornby received a patent for his Meccano construction toy. The first clockwork train was produced in 1920. In 1938, Hornby launched its first 00 gauge train...
.
An Expert in Trains
Jouef trains were always its primary product and always impressive. Though the company made a variety of commercial and passenger engines and cars, the emphasis always seemed to lean toward passenger coaches. The company's first offering was a passenger train and even today, as a part of Hornby, a main offering has been the French TGV high-speed express train.Various Cars
Around 1960, Jouef made a series of plastic 1:87 (HO) scale cars and buses mainly for display with its train kits. These were mainly French vehicles including a Peugeot 203 and 403, Simca Chambord, Citroen DS 19, and a few Renaults including the hatchback 16. These were simple one-piece mouldings with simple plastic wheels, but detail was nice.Jouef made electric slot car
Slot car
A slot car is a powered miniature auto or other vehicle that is guided by a groove or slot in the track on which it runs. A pin or blade extends from the bottom of the car into the slot...
s for many years, mainly during the 1960s and 1970s. Earlier models were a Jaguar E-type, Mercedes-Benz 190 roadster and coupe, a '65 Corvette Stingray convertible, Ford GT 40s, a Ford Capri, a Chaparral, a Ferrari F1, a BRM F1, a Ferrari 250 GTO, a Lotus F1, a Renault Alpine 1600, a BMC Mini, a Porsche 911 and a Porsche 904. Some of the earlier F1 cars had steering front wheels that turned as guided around the track. Later models mostly made in the 1970s, were an Alfa Carabo Bertone, a BMW 3.0 CSL, a Ligier JS5, a Matra F1, a Matra DJet, a Matra 650, a Renault F1, a Renault Alpine 3000, a Renault Alpine A310, a Renault 5, a Lancia Stratos, , a Porsche 917, and a Porsche 904.
During the 1990s, Jouef also made die cast cars in 1:18, 1:24, and 1:43 scales under the name JouefEvolution. The car models were most often made in China, though train production continued in France. The 1:43 scale series was called 'Legende' and cars included a P41 Ferrari prototype racer, 250 Ferraris from the 1960s, a Ford GT, a 1965 Mustang, an MGB ragtop, and a Triumph TR-3. These models, even the smaller 1:43 scale cars, were ultra detailed. For example, models were often accurately reproduced from different races, a trait usually seen in much more expensive models. Window frames in the Ferraris' opening doors were made out of chromed metal - detail not often seen in 1:43 scale - and engine detail was superb, colorful and realistic. It is curious that on the 'Legende' boxes the brand was shown as both 'Jouef' and 'Jouefevolution' and the French flags colors were shown alongside those of the new 12 star flag of the European Union. Ironically, despite the 'European' emphasis, the cars were made in China.
1:18 scale vehicles included Alfa Romeo Pininfarina roadster, Porsche 911s, the 1994 Mustang, Mustang Mach III concept, the Ferrari 250, and the Ford GT 40 Gulf LeMans race winner. These models were very authentic as well as realistic - quite lovely, in fact. This larger size was notable for their bright yellow boxes.
External links
- http://www.joueftrains.com/
- http://www.bw-slot.de/neue-bw-slot/index.php/jouef