MARKLIN - Lot 211

MARKLIN Display model of the "Columbus" made for Nord Deutsche Lloyd in painted iron, finely detailed with chimneys, lifeboats, pennants, masts ... Circa 1920-1930 L. 105 cm The SS Columbus was a German transatlantic liner built before the outbreak of the First World War. She was originally named Hindenburg. Her sistership the Columbus was handed over to the British government as war reparations in 1920 and renamed RMS "Homeric" by her new owners, the White Star Line. The Allies allowed Nord Deutsche Lloyd to keep the unfinished Hindenburg, which they renamed Columbus. Construction resumed at the Schichau shipyards in Danzig, Germany. Material shortages caused by the war delayed completion until 1922. She made her maiden voyage in April 1924. At the time, she was the largest and fastest liner in the German merchant navy. She was 236 m long, with 1,750 cabins for first-, second- and third-class luxury passengers. Her top speed was 18 knots (33 km/h). She was chartered for several years by Cooks Travel Agency in New York and sailed to the West Indies approximately every two weeks, with occasional trips to South America and Africa. Märklin is a German manufacturer of model trains. Founded in Göppingen in 1859, the company specialized in doll's house accessories. Only a little later did it specialize in building sets, small steam engines, road vehicles and pull-along trains. The early 20th century was the golden age of the German toy industry. Märklin consolidated its position in the toy industry and built its reputation on international markets as a producer of fine metal toys. Looking back over the entire history of Märklin's production, from its inception to the present day, Märklin offered some of the most diverse and interesting products in the first half of the twentieth century, which were unfortunately abandoned in the following decades.