Hi all,

Many of you will have seen the posting by BD regarding my unveiling of something I acquired earlier this year - an original mid-1950's display piece "Wunderrad" (Wonderwheel) BKM 7 built from Märklin Metall to display H0 in a rather novel way with just the Loco (CM 800 / 3000) and pulling three wagons actually driving a large 10kg Ferris wheel.

During my research I have located several examples of the same item at various locations, and what I'm now looking for is verification of those, as well as any new examples not yet recorded of which I am sure there must be at least a couple more.

My starting point was a reference on the German forum stating that around a dozen examples were known to exist. This got me curious, but mainly because my initial aim was to seek more information about the item in general, and where better to start than existing owners? Unfortunately (but not totally unexpected), response has rather low. Most people these days are busy, especially Toy Museums and the like which are often run by volunteers. Not to mention I don't speak German, and may not be asking in the correct manner.

So what I'm asking is for anyone who has seen one of these Wonderwheels "in the flesh", to provide some details. Not much, basically just confirming where it is, Museum, privately owned etc, whether it is open to view by the public, (or special arrangement), and most importantly, some good clear photographs of it from as many angles as possible. The main reason for this is to rule out duplicates where an item may have changed hands, but also as an aid to identifying variations in the models and a further benefit is that if anyone particularly wanted to see one, they may not be far away already.

And of course if you are lucky to be able to speak to someone who knows the history of the item, where it originally came from etc, note that as well. If any details are provided but not for public information, then please PM me rather than posting here.

What I have listed below are all the examples I have found so far. Virtually all my research has been from the internet, and a couple of word-of-mouth references. I have listed them in the order they appear on the 'net, ie the earliest article or reference to one is listed first. For the few that I have been told about, they are entered when I heard about them. And of course the URL for the information as reference.

The URL may be a direct obvious link, or it could be a link to a mention on another forum.

It took quite a lot of search manipulation trying different combinations of keywords to find some of them, those keywords/tags include; (apart from the obvious "Märklin")...

Wunderrad, Riesenrad, Werbehilfen, Verkaufsmodelle, Schaufenstermodell, Wonderwheel, Ferris Wheel, Sales Aid and probably some I have forgotten, some with and without spaces, variations on capitalization, searches on images as well as content but I may (certainly) still have missed something obvious that the native speaker of another language might find easily.

I should also add that the wheel is known to have been produced in German, Swedish, English and Italian versions. I would also expect to find Dutch, and possibly one or two other continental languages where Märklin had a strong presence.

Anything I have been asked to keep private I have done so, but if I have accidentally disclosed something that should not be here please do let me know.

I would really appreciate letting me know of any errors in this posting, link problems etc, but I'd also like anyone who has personal knowledge of any of the museums, or lives nearby if you could confirm the actual location and address, a link to their web site etc.

I hope it makes interesting reading. If there is an additional URL, I've added it below the entry

1: 13/01/2008 - Heinz Busch, Holdenstedt - Privately owned - (would love a better copy of this article)

2: 04/12/2009 - Frank Ronneburg, Tischbahn - Privately owned -

3: 08/01/2010 - Moba Train display (ownership unknown) -
Alt URL - http://www.mobatrain.de/!_Veranstaltungen/Modellbahntage.html

4: 02/07/2012 - Tuebingen Boxenstop (Museum) -

5: 20/02/2015 - Musuem? - Darmstad Nord (?) - ** Possibly a replica **
** Some detailed photos might help confirm this because some of the components could be difficult to replicate - ie the rotating banner top and bottom covers, and the main axle with commutator/slip ring.

6: 01/07/2016 - Walter-Eisenbahnen - Privately owned? (or on-sold) -

7: 13/11/2016 - Spielzeug Museum, Trier -
Alt URL (article) - www.landesverband.lu/download/2224/signal-092016-web.pdf ** Article on Page 32

8: 05/06/2017 - Treuchtlingen - (LED pimped) - Musuem - ** Possibly a replica **
** Some detailed photos might help confirm this because some of the components could be difficult to replicate - ie the rotating banner top and bottom covers, and the main axle with commutator/slip ring.
Alt URL - www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxPBmJKsrB4

9: 04/10/2017 - Frederik Niehues (Auction listing - wheel only) -

10: 01/12/2017 - AnticoMondoAuktionen, Bornheim, (Auction listing) - Possibly near-original. Packing crate and all.
** Almost certainly has since changed hands

11: 06/04/2018 - Franz H. Frankfurt (friend of Andreas H) - Privately Owned - confirmed and have photos

12: 25/04/2018 - Erwin Kleemeier, Bad Oeynhausen - mentioned in "Spielzeug Revue" Apr 1999 - article not online.
** If anyone has copies of Spielzeug Revue and can provide a scan for me it would be much appreciated, it seems other similar items were covered as well.

13: 12/01/2015 - Eslöv Toy Museum, Sweden -
** Swedish version

14: 08/11/2017 - Erlebniswelt Toggenburg, Switzerland, (Musuem, on loan?) -

Outside Europe

15: 31/07/2011 - National Toy Train Museum PA, USA -
** Several other references can be found to this wheel which is also the only confirmed English version.

16: 07/01/2012 - Nette Auctions, Danbury, CT, USA (Auction) -
** Buyer unknown - may be another of the items listed here

17: 24/03/2018 - Andreas Hildebrandt, USA, Privately owned - have confirmed directly with Andreas, photos pending. (Sancho has seen it)

18: 24/03/2018 - Sold by a German seller to a new owner in the USA (advised privately)

19: 2018 - Stephen Cook, Wellington NZ - Privately owned (my own wheel)

I have also been advised that Frans Bevers, Malle also owns one. I asked here about his Museum recently but at that stage could not really reveal why I was asking. I have not included Frans in this list at this stage, it may or may not be a further example but if anyone visits that exhibit, and sees it, photos please!!!

** And finally, there is quite possibly another example in the USA - the first time I heard about any of these wheels and what started me on this was an article I read several years ago (10 give or take) which was very clear that there was a Restaurant somewhere in the USA which had one along the wall and operating. I have not been able to find that original article despite * many * hours searching. I've checked the MML, and other forums. I've also read many old MEA handelspost and US Märklin Insider magazines as well, thinking it was most likely in one of those. That wheel may since have changed hands of course but if anyone knows of it, or the article I refer to I'd LOVE to know. No doubt it's hiding in plain sight!!

Thanks in advance for any help.

Cookee

And here is the page from the 1957 Verkaufsmodelle catalogue showing the Wunderrad as new numbering item "0100". (Provided by a German source who wishes to remain anonymous)

There are several other similar advertising models but that's another topic altogether.

Edited by user 02 June 2018 05:14:16(UTC)  | Reason: Update links, edit listing, further confirmation

Thank you Stefan.

I know only one other examples of the "Ballturm" (ball tower), but that one is a later, coloured model. And it does not have a box. It is in a private collection.

From the catalogue M385 (1932):



Regards

Markus

Thanks for that Stefan, much appreciated. Did you by any chance happen to get a photo of the white sign lying down in the front left corner?

it appears to have fallen over and the only image I have of it is quite small - it appears to state that the wheel was offered to selected toy shops in the 1950's and this particular one has been on loan from "Regula Siefert" of Frauenfeld since 2009, (if I read it correct). ??

The Ballturm was a nice additional photo as well which Markus has added some info about. I have not found the Bridge in between, my earliest sales model brochure is 1931 but of course it may be a custom-built model and not a factory sales model.

Hi,

It took some time to find back a photo of the other example I know. It is restored, it was rescued from a scrapyard.



Regards

Markus