Micki Leksaker AB

Micki Leksaker is a notable but lesser known Swedish toy making company based in the city of Gemla.  Micki is a 3^rd generation family-owned business with 61 employees (as of 2007), and began making wood toys in 1944.  They produced their first wooden railway sets for a Swedish department store in 1956.  Their trains are quite unique and the designs have a very Scandinavian “look” to them.

Micki’s train coupler and track connector designs are also quite unique.  For many years, they used one-piece, dome-shaped magnetic train couplers, which were securely glued into recesses cut into the front and back of each engine or rail car.  These are some of the strongest magnetic couplers I’ve seen in this size toy.  Older Micki trains couple with a loud “clack” and will stay coupled during the most vigorous play. 

(I believe Micki now uses the more common flat disk coupler design secured by round-head tacks.)

When playing with other train sets, children (and parents) sometimes had difficulty in completing layouts with peg and hole type track … ending up with the last two opposing track pieces having both pegs or both holes.  Micki’s hardwood track pieces are made with only holes, and included with each set are numerous “dog-bone” shaped plastic track connectors.  So, almost any layout is possible without fear of track connection issues.  (Just don’t misplace … or chew on … the dog-bones!)

Micki trains are hardwood and the trains are very nicely finished in smooth, glossy paints … usually blue, red, yellow and green.  The wheels are hard, durable black plastic with small metal hubs and axles. 

The first photo shows two examples of Micki’s earlier designs … a passenger train with a box-cab “electric” engine … and a freight train with a steam engine (both trains ca. 1970’s).  Examples of their unusual track connection design are also shown.

The second photo shows Micki’s wonderful wooden monorail set (1987-88).  Obviously, these Disney-like monorails cannot use standard 2-groove, wooden railway track.  However, Micki’s beautifully crafted hardwood “beam-ways” can be erected to operate this futuristic monorail system adjacent to … or over … other wooden railway layouts.  (Mouse not included.)