Introduction
As vintage toy enthusiasts and collectors, one of the most critical pieces of information we can find about a toy line is the year it was made. Knowing when a toy line was made can provide insight into the context of a line’s conception. It helps us better to appreciate the manufacturers and designers behind the process. With that being said, let’s explore the first Elastolin action figures!
The Birth of Elastolin Action Figures
O & M Hausser of Germany created the Elastolin toy line. This line was the largest one that O & M Hausser ever made. When founded in 1904, this company focused on manufacturing toy soldiers. One of these toy lines was Elastolin, created around 1912. These first action figures had multiple scales: 4cm, 6.5cm, 7cm, and 10.5cm.
Elastolin Themes
In the 1930s, Elastolin’s toy soldiers had many themes. The themes were: Heer (authentic German WWII uniforms), marching panzer troops, infantry, and parade troops. Action figures also represented the Kriegsmarine, Germany’s naval troops from 1935 to 1945. Some other toys represented Germany’s Luftwaffe and Paramilitary troops. Elastolin also included historical characters besides their generic troops. These characters were referred to as personality figures. Since the line existed during the start of WWII, there were figures of some of the leaders of Axis countries, including Mussolini and Franco.
Elastolin Action Figures Evolve
Elastolin production was cut short in 1943 due to German law restrictions. After the war, in 1945, they rebounded. They went from producing toy soldiers to a Wild West theme, seeing as people were no longer interested in buying toy soldiers. They also sought more cost-effective materials like plastics.
As time went on, this enduring toy line experienced other changes. The success of the Wild West theme brought more Elastolin characters representing historical figures. By the 1980s, Elastolin featured figures from almost any historical era: medieval times, the American Revolutionary military, cowboys, Huns, Romans, Vikings, Arabians, Turks, and even the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. It wasn’t until 1983 that Elastolin closed for good.
Conclusion
Elastolin was one of the most extensive and longest-living toy lines. From the early 1910s to the 1980s, this historic toy line has provided countless children with fun and limitless adults with fond memories. Today, these vintage Elastolin figures are highly sought after by collectors worldwide for their rarity and the stories they encapsulate.
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About the Author
Author: Chris Ingledue
Contact: email
Bio: I am the founder and owner of Wheeljack’s Lab pop Culture and Toy Shop. My vision has always been to reunite customers with their favorite childhood toys and pop culture, triggering fond memories, and reigniting their imaginations. Every day, I work in the “lab” where it’s Christmas 365 days a year. I scour the internet, like when we had the Sears Catalog of yesteryear, for the next great treasure. Then, I await the arrival of the postman as if he were Santa Claus himself and helping collectors worldwide with their versions of Christmas. Every day as a vintage toy buyer is an absolute joy!