 | This article includes inline citations, but they are not properly formatted.(February 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) |
Schabak is a die-cast toy producer based in Nuremberg, Germany. The company is well known for its line of German cars and commercial airline models. The company's on and off relation with German Schuco Modell is particularly notable.
Schabak was formed in 1966 by Max Haselmann, Gerhard Hertlein, Horst Widmann and Wolfgang Stolpe (Force 1990; Rixon 2005, 76). The company began as a toy distributor, mainly for Schuco Modell toys – and not as a producer (Bickford Diecast website). When Schuco went out of business in the late 1970s, Schabak acquired most of Schuco's tooling (cars and airplanes) and made agreements with many airlines to continue producing model aircraft (Bickford Diecast website).
The company reissued many of Schuco's own diecast airplanes (Force 1990, 211). Schabak then carried on the Schuco tradition of producing toy and model cars (Johnson 1998, p. 209).
In the early 1980s, Schabak largely replaced Schuco, but it should be remember that Gama Toys acquired dies from Schuco and reproduced many of Schuco's 1:43 scale line as well.
Schabak models were a range of exclusively German vehicles first in 1:43 scale (Bickford Diecast website). A Volkswagen Jetta was the company's first car, and Volkswagens, Audis, BMWs, and German made Fords were the company's common offerings. Many cars were offered as promotional models in manufacturer approved packaging with official logos.
Later diecast cars were offered in 1:24 scale – so Schabak was one of the earlier model manufacturers to move up to the larger sizes, in the mid-1980s. Vehicles offered in the larger scale were: Ford Sierra Cosworth (the Sierra also offered in police livery), Granada, Orion, and Fiesta XR2i; Audi 80 Quattro, BMW 750, BMW 850, and Z1; Mercedes S Class, and VW Golf VR6.
Over time, Schabak has carved a respectable name for itself in the die-cast car market, although it is not well known outside of Europe. Outside Germany, competitors Matchbox, Hot Wheels, Maisto, and Corgi were more popular.
Similar to Schuco which preceded it, Gama Toys, and NZG, Schabak car models have excellent detail and proportion usually with all apertures opening. Fit and finish of Schabak vehicles often seemed superior to the other German toy brands.
Also similar to other German 1:43 scale products, headlights are usually done in chrome rather than jeweled. Tail lights were most commonly red plastic lenses. Model bases are diecast as similar to Schuco, but often in a darker 'gun-metal' color. Unlike Schuco, Schabak Models usually did not have basic specifications of the real cars on their bases. Often models came in two different kinds of packaging – window boxes for the retail toy market (see photo here) or a smaller container with a photo of the car, but sans plastic window.
Similar to the trend set by Mattel's Hot Wheels, and as a cost saver, tires were hard plastic, though wheel designs were often unique to the particular model, a feature that Solido had pioneered in the 1970s. For example, Audi's four "Auto Union" rings appear on Schabak wheels.
Schabak, perhaps more than anything, is known for its diecast airplanes, mostly commercial airliner models in 1:600 scale. As mentioned earlier, Schabak's first planes were taken directly from Schuco.
Schabak has well over 200 airlines as customers, and even produces the liveries of some defunct airlines. Thus, the company has become a competitive name in the world of airline promotionals, and their offerings are in a constant state of change. Schabak was, for a long period during the 1990s, the only company known to have a contract to produce models of Iraqi Airways, having produced a Boeing 747 of that airline in the 1:250 scale.
Today, Schabak represents nearly 100 different airlines in 1:250 and 1:600 scales. Aircraft in the Schabak line include:- Junkers Ju 52, Concorde, Vickers Viscount, Ilyushin Il-86, Ilyushin Il-96, Tupolev Tu-154, McDonnell-Douglas DC-9, McDonnell-Douglas MD-11, Boeing 737, Boeing 727, Boeing VC-25, , Boeing 747SP, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 767, Boeing 777, Boeing 787, Airbus A300, Airbus A310, Airbus A319, Airbus A320, Airbus A321, Airbus A330, Airbus A340 and Airbus A380.
Schabak was purchased by Schuco in January 2006. Schuco had been a part of the Simba Dickie group, since 1999. Ironically enough, Schuco now once again possessed Schabak's aircraft line – which Schuco itself had originally started and surrendered to Schabak.
With a revived Schuco, a situation occurred similar to Mattel's acquisition of Matchbox, or Solido being acquired by Majorette (which was also purchased by, Simba-Dickie, but previously these were together for some time). This issue is two respected lines brought together within one company that must be distinguished to avoid profit loss resulting from internal competition.
Schabak's car line, as a part of Schuco, for a while focused on German vehicles, while Schuco's lines focused on more toy-like scales (like the Piccolos), wind up cars, and autos from other countries. During the 1990s and beyond, for example, Schabak has added Porsches and Mercedes-Benzes to its mix, but by 2010, perusal of the Schuco website shows that Schabak car lines have been eliminated, leaving the Schabak name focusing solely on airplanes.
A model vehicle or toy vehicle is a miniature representation of an automobile. Other miniature motor vehicles, such as trucks, buses, or even ATVs, etc. are often included in this general category. Because many miniature vehicles were originally aimed at children as playthings, there is no precise difference between a model car and a toy car, yet the word 'model' implies either assembly required or the accurate rendering of an actual vehicle at smaller scale. The kit building hobby became popular through the 1950s, while the collecting of miniatures by adults started to pick up momentum around 1970. Precision-detailed miniatures made specifically for adults are a significant part of the market since the mid-1980s.
A die-cast toy is a toy or a collectible model produced by using the die casting method of putting molten lead or zinc alloy in a mold to produce a particular shape. Such toys are made of metal, with plastic, rubber, glass, or other machined metal parts. Wholly plastic toys are made by a similar process of injection moulding, but the two methods are distinct because of the properties of the materials.
Schuco is a German toy maker founded in 1912 by Heinrich Müller and the businessman Heinrich Schreyer in Nuremberg Germany's toy capital since early days. The company's specialty was usually cars and trucks in tin, plastic and diecast. The company went bankrupt in 1976 but was reorganized in 1993 and then totally independent again by 1996.
Majorette is a French toy manufacturer which mostly produces small die-cast cars and other construction and military vehicles, particularly in 1:64 scale. This is a normal 2.5 to 3 inch size, thus Majorette has sometimes been called the Matchbox Toys of France. Traditionally, production was centered in the urban area of Lyon, but models are now made in Thailand.
Minichamps is a die-cast car producer founded as Paul's Model Art GmbH in 1990 in Aachen, (Germany), best known for its 1:43 scale models. The company grew out of the Danhausen trade catalog of miniature vehicles and specially made Danhausen diecast releases during the 1970s.
BBurago is a diecast metal brand of toy model cars. Originally, the company was based in Burago di Molgora, Italy, where all products were made from 1976 to 2005. At its most popular, Bburago's main competition were Politoys and Maisto, the latter of which was to become dominant in the 1:18 market segment around 2000. Bburago has been a brand under the umbrella of Maisto since 2007.
1:43 scale is a popular size of die-cast model cars in Europe, Asia and the US. It has its origins in the British / European O scale for model trains and the rise of certain accessories made for that scale which since have become popular in their own right.
Conrad GmbH is a German manufacturer of diecast scale models primarily in 1:50 scale for use both as toys and promotional models by heavy equipment manufacturers. Conrad is one of the few European diecast companies which have not outsourced production to China or elsewhere in Asia. Conrad Modelle is headquartered in Kalchreuth, just northeast of Nuremberg.
NZG for Nürnberger Zinkdruckguß-Modelle GmbH is a German manufacturer of diecast scale models primarily in 1:50 scale for use both as toys and promotional models mainly by heavy transport and construction equipment manufacturers.
Mebetoys was an Italian toy manufacturer that produced die-cast model cars during the 1960s and 1970s. The company was purchased by Mattel in 1969. Mebetoy's main competition in Italy was the earlier trailblazer Mercury, Polistil and the rarer Ediltoys.
Solido is a French manufacturer of die-cast model cars and trucks based in Oulins, Anet, France, 40 miles (64 km) west of Paris. Vehicles are usually made of zamac alloy in varying scales, but mostly 1:43 and 1:50. Typically, Solido's main competition in France was Norev, but internationally, Polistil, Corgi Toys, Dinky Toys, Mercury, and Tekno produced similar style toys.
Norev is a French manufacturer of diecast metal model cars. traditionally based in Villeurbanne, a suburb of Lyon. It has normally produced modern and vintage European vehicles, especially those of French origin – though Italian, German, British, and American vehicles were also produced. Norev's closest competition was Solido, but that company had more pan-European influence, while Norev was more national in orientation.
Vitesse was started in 1982 as a Portuguese company making diecast cars mostly in 1:43 scale. It was founded in the city of Oporto and is a brand name of Cinerius, Ltd.
Polistil was a toy company headquartered in Milan, Italy, with production center in Chiari, near Brescia. Polistil specialized in diecast metal and plastic vehicles of all sizes. The company also made toy and model tanks, dolls, robots and TV tie-ins. After a 33-year span, and a collaboration with Tonka, Polistil went out of business in 1993, but now is a brand under the May Cheong (Maisto) Group, along with the name of former competitor Bburago. Traditionally, the principal Italian competitors to Polistil were Mercury, Mebetoys, and the shorter run Ediltoys.
Gama is a German maker of toys, usually cars and trucks, dating from before World War I. The company is headquartered in Fürth, Bavaria, near Nürnberg, a traditional German toymaking center. Other German companies that competed with Gama Toys were Schuco Modell and Conrad Models.
Auto Pilen was a diecast line of model cars made in Ibi, Alicante, in southeastern Spain by Pilen S.A.. Models were produced from the 1970s through the mid-1990s mostly in 1:43 scale. A majority of the castings were inherited from French Dinky. The company was started in the 1960s, diecasting items like colorful metal sailboats and key chains. In the late 1980s. Pilen was apparently bought by AHC of the Netherlands.
Efsi was a Dutch company making diecast cars and trucks starting in 1959 under the Bestbox name. The company could be considered the Matchbox Toys of the Netherlands, but its origins and purpose as a government sponsored employer was far less commercial than other toy manufacturers. Efsi was based in Heerlen, the Netherlands, which is located in southern Limburg province.
Sablon was a Belgian company near Brussels that made diecast zamac toy cars in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Models were mostly in 1:43 scale and were similar in concept to Dinky Toys or Solido.
Ziss-Modell, originally also called R. W. Modell or Wittek Modell were 'brand' names of the German Mini-Auto firm which made diecast metal classic and contemporary vehicles from the 1960s through the late 1970s. Later, use of the Mini-Auto name largely disappeared and the models were mainly known as Ziss or R. W. Modell. The company was based in Lintorf.
Gamda Koor, also known as Sabra was an Israeli diecast toy company that specialized in 1:43 scale cars. Most of these seem to have been original offerings, not seen elsewhere and not secondary tooling. The toy company Cragstan marketed Gamda Sabras as "Detroit Sr." for the American Market.
The Bickford Diecast Research Center. Diecast Oddities website.
Force, Edward. 1990. Classic Miniature Vehicles Made in Germany. Schiffer Publications.
Johnson, Dana. 1998. Collector's Guide to Diecast Toys & Scale Models. Second Edition. Padukah, Kentucky: Collector Books, A Division of Schroeder Publishing. ISBN 1-57432-041-6
Rixon, Peter. 2005. Miller's Collecting Diecast Vehicles. London: Miller's, a division of Mitchell Beasley.