VACMINEL
| Private | |
| ISIN | 🆔 |
| Founded 📆 | Manuel Saraiva, in 1940 in Lisbon, Portugal |
| Founder 👔 | |
| Defunct | End date c. 1952 |
Area served 🗺️ | |
| Products 📟 | Model railroading (00 scale) |
| Members | |
Number of employees | |
| 🌐 Website | [Lua error in Module:WikidataIB at line 665: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). ] |
| 📇 Address | |
| 📞 telephone | |
Vacminel was a Portuguese brand of model railroading founded by Manuel António Quintas Saraiva in the 1940s.[1]. Handcrafted in Lisbon, Vacminel locomtive sets became known for their high craft quality considering they were produced in a small whorkshop. Although these are copies of the Märklin models, they are an entirely Portuguese recreation. Today, Vacminel pieces are considered rare collectibles among enthusiasts.
History
Manuel António Quintas Saraiva was born in 1913 in Olhão, in the Algarve province[2]. Although he graduated in veterinary medicine, his passion was always model railroading. In 1940, after getting married, he set up a workshop in the backyard of Rua Santana à Lapa nº 17 in Lisbon, where he began developing a toy railway inspired by Märklin models. He also built boats and radio-controlled airplanes, although these were never intended for commercial sale.
The name VACMINEL was formed from the letters of his son’s name, Vasco Manuel who as a baby pronounced his own name as "Vac minel"[3][4].
During World War II, with toy production suspended in many European countries, Saraiva saw an opportunity to create a Portuguese alternative.
Production
VACMINEL produced electric locomotives, passenger wagons, tracks, and transformers, all in 00 scale and powered by alternating current. The most iconic model was the SK 800 locomotive, inspired by Märklin’s streamlined series 05 locomotive.[5]
Saraiva handcrafted all the parts, including molds, gears, and electrical components.
The locomotives were produced in two colors: black and green with silver[6]
The wagons were made of lithographed steel sheet, with green and red versions similar to Märklin’s 341 series.[1][4][5]. A model based on the American “Budd” wagon, used by the Portuguese railway company in express trains, was also produced[4]
The sets were sold in boxes covered with blue or red paper and stamped with the name “Miniaturas Vacminel.” It is estimated that only about 30 sets were produced, sold in stores such as Bazar Thadeu and Biagio Flora in Lisbon.[6]
Registration and closure
To avoid legal issues with Märklin, Saraiva registered the Vacminel brand in 1946, with official approval in 1947. The company was formally recognized as a manufacturer and retailer in 1948.[6]
In addition to locomotive kits, Vacminel also produced a station.
Production ceased around 1952 due to returning competition from major European manufacturers and the high costs of running a handcrafted business.
To this day, a mold of the locomotive and a mold of the tender still exist. Some decorative elements, motors, and other parts also survive.
In 1955, Saraiva visited Märklin in Germany, but did not reveal that he was the creator of Vacminel. He was informed that no legal action would be taken against the Portuguese manufacturer, which eased his concerns.[6]
Manuel Saraiva died in 2001 at the age of 88 in Lisbon.[2]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Gebr. Märklin & Cie (1984). Märklin 00/H0: Primex, Antex, Minex, Werbewagen; d. Handbuch für d. Märklin-Sammler; Grundmodelle u. Modell-Varianten, Herstellungszeiten, aktuelle Preise, Zubehör ([2. Aufl.] 1984/85 ed.). Wetzlar: Mikado-Verl. ISBN 978-3-8124-0049-7. Search this book on
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Manuel António Quintas Saraiva, * 1914 | Geneall.net". geneall.net. Retrieved 2025-10-26.
- ↑ "Vasco Manuel Henriques Saraiva, * 1941 | Geneall.net". geneall.net. Retrieved 2025-10-26.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Gollinger, Gerd; Reinold, Dieter; Pipa, Manuel (15 October 2006). ""Die VACMINEL - Story"". Altes Spielzeug - [email protected]. pp. 2–6. ISSN 1612-5185. Archived from the original on 11 August 2025. Retrieved 25 October 2025. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 5.0 5.1 Pipa, Manuel; Jimenez, Anastasio (JANUARY 2004). ""VACMINEL"". Maquetren. Revista de los aficionados al tren maqueta y real nº 130 (Enero 2004). pp. 68–73. ISSN 1132-2036 Check
|issn=value (help). Archived from the original on 26 September 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2012. Unknown parameter|url-status=ignored (help); Check date values in:|date=(help) - ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Pedro, Fernanda; Simão, Jorge (08 December 2000). ""O portugues que fabricava comboios"". REVISTA EXPRESSO N.o 1467 8 dezembro 2000. pp. 132–138. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 10 January 2023. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help); Check date values in:|date=(help)
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