A new beginning for EFE?

They say a week is a long time in politics. It seems a week (or two) is also a long time in the model bus industry, as much has happened since I published my last piece on the demise of Exclusive First Editions just a week ago. Bachmann Europe have recently issued a press release announcing their acquisition of the range, a very welcome development considering how uncertain EFE's future looked just a short time before. Bachmann have reportedly purchased the EFE name, tooling and stock, but not the Gilbow Holdings company itself, and it is too early to tell what the future holds for EFE but collectors breathed a sigh of relief at the news that the business had been saved and production is expected to continue.

Thanks to Bachmann it looks like there will be more from EFE for our collections in the future

The end of EFE?

The model bus world has been left reeling by the weekend's announcement that Gilbow Holdings, the parent company of Exclusive First Editions, has gone into liquidation and ceased trading. While not entirely unexpected as it had been obvious for some time that all was not well, it still came as a great shock when it happened. EFE will be missed as they were the pioneers of diecast model buses in 1/76 scale and revolutionised the hobby with their widely-available, ready-made and well-detailed models, as until then all you could get were white metal kits and the occasional toy from Dinky or Corgi. On a personal note, it was the products of EFE that introduced me to collecting in 1/76 scale around twenty years ago and I now own dozens of them, so I have much to thank them for.

EFE made many different versions of the Leyland National. This is one of the infamous overprints.