Kato - 23-213 - Highway guard rails - Municipal Structures

Specific Item Information: Set includes Highway guardrails and street fences of various lengths. These are designed to be used with the Kato Diotown series of street plates, plugging into specific holes in the plates but can be used on any layout by drilling holes in the base. The Highway guardrails would be appropriate for US or Japan. The street fences are very similar to those used in Tokyo and other cities in Japan.

Road Name History: Municipal structures are buildings and other structures dedicated to services typically provided by local government and other community organizations. These will include, Fire Departments, Police Stations and Hospitals as well as other facilities.

Models of these structures may include kits as well as pre-assembled buildings. The models may be painted or undecorated.

Brand/Importer Information: Kato Precision Railroad Models (関水金属株式会社 Sekisui Kinzoku Kabushikigaisha) is a Japanese manufacturer of model railroad equipment in N and HO scales. The Tokyo-based company manufactures models based on Japanese prototypes (such as the Shinkansen bullet train) for the Japanese market, North American prototypes for the North American market and European high-speed trains for European market.
The Kato (pronounced kah-toe) model railroad companies were founded by Yuji Kato, father of current president Hiroshi Kato, of the parent company Sekisui Kinzoku Co., Ltd.

The design and distribution of models for the North American market are handled by their U.S. subsidiary, Kato USA, located in Schaumburg, Illinois.
The design of special models for the European market is handled for some of them by their partner, Lemke, whereas the general distribution of Kato products in Europe is handled by NOCH; both companies are located in Germany.
As a result, some Kato European models are sold as Kato Lemke and others as Kato (alone).