David Blackburn questioned:
One of the most well-known names in model train history are the Bachmann model trains. The history of the company which made Bachmann a household name goes back way before they started making model trains. The company goes as far back as 1833, though they did not start making model trains until 1966 when the N scale model train started to gain popularity in the United States. Having a history of making plastic products, the company was perfectly suited to make trains and accessories, which were sold in a plastic shell that was their trademark. Plasticville USA was the first model train product, which place the company into the minds of model railroaders.
Plasticville USA was something, which was sold previous to the first Bachmann model train. These were plastic buildings and other accessories, which would fit in with the trains being sold by other companies. While they were not producing any model trains themselves, it did not prevent them from being known in every home as having fine model train products. These products are still sold in conjunction with model train sets by Lionel to this day. While some may argue the pieces are nothing but mere toys, it opened the door to the ornate layouts made to this day.
While the N scale was the original line of Bachmann models, they quickly made changes in order to expand into the HO scale. They could foresee at the time the HO scale would become the most well loved scale to date, which it has. Unfortunately for the company, they were not positioned to sell globally and were losing money. Bachmann Bros. sold the company to Kader who was the manufacturer of Bachmann products. From this sale, Bachmann industries was born and the company started selling globally. Even with a dwindling interest in model trains, the company was able to stay profitable.
In order to appeal to a broader market, the Bachmann model train company came out with a new product line called Spectrum. The Spectrum line was kept completely separate from the Bachmann line in order to cement the product as a luxury model train line. They did not want there to be any relation between the luxury Spectrum line and the Bachmann industries toy model trains which had sold up until that point. These trains offered much more detail at a much higher price. Made of metal with plastic gears, the company was able to keep costs down while building revenue from those who were serious about model railroading.
As an effort to reach the middle of the road, Bachmann model trains started selling Bachmann Plus in 1992. These trains had more detail than the regular Bachmann line, but not nearly as much as the Spectrum line. The creation of the line signified the go of production to China. Eventually the Bachmann plus line was dissolved and was replaced by the silver series. This is the middle grade that is sold today by Bachmann industries for those who aspire to have the Spectrum series, but cannot quite afford it yet.