Kohler Toy Company History Western Buildings Erwin Sell and Markus Leckshied have put together this information on this German company. Kohler was a small company but they made some interesting figures. We take a look at them in the near future. We are first going to look at the their history. Then we will look at the western buildings.
Kohler Toy Company History Western Buildings History
KOHLER TOY COMPANY ,GERMANY 1932-1997
Company history and description of the company Georg Köhler in Nuremberg, Germany (GKN)
In 1932 Georg Köhler founded the game and metal goods factory in the Äußere Ziegelgasse 8 in Nuremberg in a residential area. Trademark became the three letters GKN intertwined standing in a triangle. The first animal figures were the frog and the bird pick each lithographed and with clockwork. Later came the retrieved dog with stick, ducks, squirrels and other tin toy figures. The friction and movement drives were bought by the company Gebrüder Bühler from Nuremberg. The outstanding feature is that the animals move like their real life counterparts.
1942 Georg Köhler died and the Nuremberg entrepreneur Fritz Collischan took over the company. The range has been extended annually by about 6 to 8 items .
1948 the production started again properly because now were enough resources available. Every year several new toy characters were created and produced.
1954 began the production of the first plastic toys which initially were produced of sheet metal and plastic as the songbird and Puss in Boots with plastic feet.
1960 included the range 70 tin toys items.
IN 1965 the daughter Ute took over the company after the death of her father. The production was enhanced switched to plastic parts.
1973 the production in Böblingen had to be adjusted by an arson attack .
1975 production could be resumed.
1997 the company under the strong pressure of the competition , above all, by Ernst Paul Lehmann was closed.
In 1932 Georg Köhler founded the game and metal goods factory in the Äußere Ziegelgasse 8 in Nuremberg in a residential area. Trademark became the three letters GKN intertwined standing in a triangle. The first animal figures were the frog and the bird pick each lithographed and with clockwork. Later came the retrieved dog with stick, ducks, squirrels and other tin toy figures. The friction and movement drives were bought by the company Gebrüder Bühler from Nuremberg. The outstanding feature is that the animals move like their real life counterparts.
1942 Georg Köhler died and the Nuremberg entrepreneur Fritz Collischan took over the company. The range has been extended annually by about 6 to 8 items .
1948 the production started again properly because now were enough resources available. Every year several new toy characters were created and produced.
1954 began the production of the first plastic toys which initially were produced of sheet metal and plastic as the songbird and Puss in Boots with plastic feet.
1960 included the range 70 tin toys items.
IN 1965 the daughter Ute took over the company after the death of her father. The production was enhanced switched to plastic parts.
1973 the production in Böblingen had to be adjusted by an arson attack .
1975 production could be resumed.
1997 the company under the strong pressure of the competition , above all, by Ernst Paul Lehmann was closed.
Kohler Toy Company History Western Buildings The Buildings
Kohler made four Western buildings.The houses are plastic and true 1.32 scale.
They are in the scale as Jean Hoefler buildings. and while minor resemblance they not same at all. Kohler’s buildings are perfect match with German toy brand houses by Plasty. They also work well with Timpo, Britains, Lone Star and Hong Kong made buildings. They could blend with but are not in exact same scale with Jecasan and Comansi plastic houses.(more 1.30 scale)
So far I have entire Plasty, Jean/big, Timpo, Hong Kong, Comansi and Jecsan line. Will do a big western scene city(39 buildings) in spring summer if have time. Britains I only have one,Lone Star too.
Mix brand figures provided in pictures are 54 to 64 mm scale max.
Entire case photos and all are mine.
Kohler Toy Company History Western Buildings Final Comments
We will be showing you some of the figures that Kohler did in a future article. Germany was enamored with westerns and did buildings in wood and plastic. We would like to thank Erwin and Markus for this article.
Erwin, How many Comansi Western buildings are there? 5 or 6?
Are you the source for Stengel having them?
This is an interesting article.
Thanks guys for going through the trouble to educate us.
Since I pretty much have all the US stuff , I’ve become enamored with European plastic.
I always enjoyed Plastic Warrior Magazine and had the first 10 years or so issues.
They got ruined in a basement flood and had to be thrown away.
Having Erwin and Markus is so much better!
Bill.
Comansi plastic buildings are 6 complete different (3 two floors,3 lower) that can be change-swap in between to make additional 9 more models combination.
Jecsan in plastic did 6 too in same scale as COMANSI and you can make about 6 more swapping top parts with lower floor from each other.
Stengel Juniors at 2002 N Jersey show, bough from me 48 houses.36 carriages and last 12 forts .
But not figures packs and buckers armies as I did not have left.
Yeas later he ask me for more or else but I did not have but my houses and carriages I kept.My pernoal last large deluxe fort I sold in around 2008 -funny back to Spain as in 1998 COMANSI not longer made it and move or old mold machinery to storage.
I will in spring or early summer pull out all to do a lot pictures.
Jean Hoefler-actually sold under BIG in late 70s TWON playset or the sear US imported version have the 4 building, their style is to be combined as that of COMANSI and Jecsan because flat floor.
Hong Kong early 60s Under Star Toy did 3 building and one LOG cabin-Unique not copies in 1.32 scale.(Not combinable as slant roof)Unless you improve it.
Hong HONG 1980s playset of (forgot brand) has 4 houses very alike BIG brand but not exact(they are a mix model of Timpo and Jean models.
Timpo western building counting cabin are 12 if not mistake(I have to dig then out).
I have some doubles as I keep buying then confused some times.You can play and swap parts to make new ,but were not meant for that originally I think.
Lone star I think are 4 ,I got but one.(ARE EASY to see on eBay often in packs),not much detail-simple and not too deep.
PLASTY Germany are 4 ,I got them and are not to be combined in most unless adapt and improvise. But very nice pretty rare designed.
Dulcop made 6 ,I got 1 only. They are very hard to get as limited done from 1979-1982 only and were sold along or with Big(Playmobil type figures) most during the change over era of toy figures playmobil start in late 70s to 80s in Europe. When company such Jean Hoefler ,Dulcop,Comansi and Hohler change over using new brands names articulates figures such PLAY BIG ,AIRGAM to compete with the stronger PLAYMOBIL. During that time Dulcop made also a nice plastic Fort,Jean or BIG a Viking Ship and Airgam-Comansi a Roman ship .All compatible x perfect toy soldiers. Not as today more toys Playmobil style.
Britain I think are 4 in western models only,here I may be off, sorry.
All above are in plastic
Only early 1960s NARDI,JECSAN and Comasi did wood style houses more fine than ELASTOLIN and East Germany styles.
But they soon change to plastic. The Wood artists of Jecsan,Comansi and Reamsa wood forts, buildings ,else was (Artesania SA) who did and work doing all type building x Nativity in early 50s first for other Spaniards brands too.
Reamsa did not do Plastic houses for their western, not PH or other Spaniard firm as far I’m aware till now.
In British line I can not remember if Cherilea and Charben did plastic too, I think had seen some, but can not corroborate now.
Most French western building are light wood or hard cardboard style.
There is Nardi too with plastic building (4) were commission done by another company for them.(NOT TO BE swap in between)
Very hard to get as well.
NARDI did a large fort apache stockade all full plastic with center cabin inside (30″ by 13″ ),it was used in rounded shape style to make Alamo playset fort and to do Canadian fort set in Square format with 75 mm scale figures, yet could be use with 54 mm perfect.(NARDI did 45,54 ,75 and 100 mm scale swapped figures only)
It was with very super realistic rustic wood logs walls and connector are well done disguised too.
Argentina two brands did unique houses for western and two rare Typical Argentina ranch-Gaucho Style in plastic.
I may be missing some data x now, so far is what I can remember now off my head…
Best…
You can see the Hong Kong Jean Hoefler knockoff buildings along with some Timpo buildings in the western town in my Timpo video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s43AM197zxg
Also a Jean Hoefler fort (actually a compressed version as I could not fit the whole thing in the diorama.)
Nice collection and well done Mark!!!Great video!!
Thank you !!!
Thanks for sharing that fascinating video, Mark. I have it saved for reference.
Love Timpo wagons and buildings, but so darned expensive WHEN I can even find them in good shape.
Timpo as well most other are too collectibles.
Is hard to find then cheap. Mine had been in mix lots.Or bough paying price else in About 14 year period.
I do often find mix under train category .
Some of mine are leftover from my childhood, but most of the collection in the video, I bought on eBay in the early 2000s before the prices went through the roof. Back then I remember getting the unbroken stagecoach and the surrey and the medicine show wagon for about $15- 25 each! Ten Mexicans for $9.00! All those mounted cavalry only cost me about $25.00 in one shot, too. Those days are long gone. I think I’ve bought my last Timpo figure, sad to say.
Glad you like the video!
$15 – 25!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My last Timpo was the buggy, MIB, shipped from England for $200. Still looking for Dr. Tripp wagon, complete MIB & maybe a surrey. You hit it right, Mark!!
I get most my buy off ebay since mid 2000 using other European sourses.
More cheap deals most time.less crazy and many never seen in ebay.
Ebay have become a chance of opurtunity x voltures .
They had create a increase price dilemma culture over years way above normal reasons.
I get ship things via sea .it take long but very economical.
I use paypal and other system portected w AM express card that protect any purchases if damage or missing.
Never had issues.
I had got many Timpo here too.
Stads had sold then x years in his finds.
Britain are hard to get .
I recently givea way one saloon w some mussing parts.
It was repaired nicely but new owner.
Some times when I find doubles I sale it.
My problem is all split storage in three houses and not time to dig out.My inventory record is a mess.
I barrely have time to look and set scenes.
May be one I retired .Not soon x now.