#477 FX SCHMID – HEIMISCHE VOGELWELT / BIRDS OF EUROPE (Nr. II/87) (1955)

This is a rather old card deck made by FX Schmid in Munich. In the 50s, most card decks were based on nature or culture topics, and this is a nice example. Note that the back of each card contains a short description of the bird and its environment.

It is interesting to note that the box ("Seifenbox") is the original and has the old FX Schmid logo on the back: "Schmids Münchener Spielkarten Seit 1860" and the slogan: "Die alte deutsche Marken Spielkarte seit über 100 Jahre".

Although the game (according to trustworthy sources) was first released in 1955, the box indicates, that this version might be a re-edition, because 1860+100 makes at least 1960...

Birds of Europe has 9 families. Each family comprises 4 birds which have something in common: Songsters, Woodland Birds, Near Water,… and the name of the bird is written in German, English and French.

The illustrations, as you’ll be able to judge for yourself are great drawings with beautiful backgrounds. Hope you enjoy the pictures.

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: HEIMISCHE VOGELWELT (Nr. II/87)
• Alternate Names: BIRDS OF EUROPE (English), OISEAUX D’EUROPE (French)
• Year: 1955
• Company: FX Schmid (Germany)

#476 KLEINBAHN – MERCEDES 250 and STEYR 1490 (Around 1980)

I am not interested in train models, I don’t want to go into that world, because it is a very broad and extensive one, and it is also a very expensive hobby. Car models in H0 scale are, however, more interesting. These are often used to decorate train dioramas, which we all know, can be quite realistic.

Kleinbahn is an Austrian train model manufacturers. The company takes its name from Erich Klein, the engineer who grounded the company back in 1946. Erich Klein had its first workshop in Vienna. Their first products were boats and planes made of wood, but the trains arrived also very early: 1947.

Until 1952, the company carried the name Gebrüder Klein OHG (Klein Bros.). The first workshop in Währinger Gürtel became too small after a few years, so they had to look for new facilities to produce their models. The final location they chose was Atzgersdorf, in the outskirts of the Austrian capital in 1955.

Their products were oriented for the local market, since they produced mostly models from the Austrian Railways (ÖBB), which were very rarely reproduced by other German or international manufacturers. The company was so successful, that the name Kleinbahn is currently in Austria a standard name for electric train models in H0 scale.

Something remarkable about this models is that they have no distributor. They are only available in their own shops or by amil order. Some years ago there were shops in the most important cities of Austria and Südtirol, but currently there are only 6 (3 in Vienna, Salzburg, Linz and Klagenfurt), and an online-shop.

In 1979, the company splitted in two companies, although they remained very close to each other, even sharing their facilities from 1984 to 2008.

Erich Klein controlled the company „Kleinbahn mechanische Werkstätte – Spielwarenerzeugung Ing. Erich Klein“, that was focused in less detailed, cheaper products. Today the company is controlled by his daughter. The toys shown in this entry are a product of this company.

Oskar Klein (Sr.) controlled „Klein Modellbahn GesmbH.“, that focused in higher quality, and highly detailed products, including the old assortment. In 1987 the company passed to Oskar Klein Jr. after the decease of his father. This company had to close in 2008 and their products were available until 2010 approximately.

It is also interesting to note that the truck is a Steyr, an Austrian truck, which has probably not been reporduced by many toy manufacturers. If I am not mistaken, the truck was produced from 1978 on, and it is now a cult-model in many east European countries.

Each model was available in different colours and color combinations.

 

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name: MERCEDES 250 and STEYR 1490
• Scale: 1:87
• Year: Around 1980
• Company: Kleinbahn (Austria)
• Size: approx. 4 cm (car) or 9 cm (truck)

#475 MAJORETTE – RENAULT 5, R5 TURBO and SUPERCINQ (VARIOUS VERSIONS) (1974 to 1991)

THE RENAULT 5s BY MAJORETTE AND THE "GIRLS" (2200) SERIES 

Majorette is the “popular” French die-cast manufacturer, and the Renault 5 is the most popular of the models made by Renault from the mid-70s to the late 80s. Back then it was not so usual to change the appearance of a car every 3 years, but the Renault 5 still had a few versions.

Majorette chose 5 different ones, from the very first Renault 5 to the last Supercinq, with two “rally” versions in between.

RENAUL R5 (Nr. 257)

• Blue from 1974 to 1975
• Yellow from 1976 to 1978
• Red “RTL” in 1979
• Grey “45” from 1980 to 1981 

The first Renault 5 ever appeared for the first time in the catalogue from 1974 and would remain until 1981. In those 6 years, there were 4 versions of it made, all of them with reference number 257.
This version had no practicable parts, but a very nice plastic part representing the side-mirrors and an antenna. This plastic piece is prone to be (or have been) pulled up, chewed or cut, so pay special attention to this detail when you purchase this model.

The colour depicted in the cataloge (mostly between 1974 and 1978) was only one of the ones that was available. This car has a lot of different versions, some with stickers, other without stickers, and even two different base plate colours: metallic grey or metallic gold.

UPDATE: After I wrote this article, I found a second model like this one, with better paintwork, but missing those plastic mirrors and antenna.

R5 TURBO and MAXI 5 TURBO (Nr. 255)

• Red from 1982 to 1984
• Blue from 1986 to 1987

The next version was released in 1982 and replaced the previous model. It was an impressive Rally version of the popular car made by Renault. It carried reference number 255 and was labelled as R5 TURBO

There was only one version of this cast, made in red with the word TURBO at each side. It remained 3 years on the catalogue, from 1982 to 1984. Although it always appeared in red, there is also a much rarer white version, sometimes decorated with promotional stickers (both red and white versions). It is also interestin to note that the bumpers could be yellow (like in this case), orange or red.

UPDATE: A new version I have found with red bumpers, looks quite nice, although I still preffer the orange one (the one above). The tampography at the doors is golden instead of the more yellowish version above.

 With the same reference, two years after the discontinuation of the red version, Majorette launched an updated version of the same car, named “Maxi” Turbo. It is basically made out of the same cast with a few more details, and new plastic bumpers. It also had a new wheel model, and altogether it looks great.

Although the catalogue image displayed a blue car, there were a few colour variations, like a light blue one, some white versions, a yellow one and a black one, although this last one might be a Globetoys, instead of Majorette.

RENAULT 5 (Nr. 280)

• Green from 1983 to 1984
• White “Tennis” in 1985
• Pink in 1986

In 1984, Majorette launched a new cast with the newer design of the car and 5 doors. The two front ones were practicable. This new version had number 280, and was manufactured during 4 consecutive years. The catalogue images show a green, a white and a pink cars (from which you can see here the first and the third ones), but as usual, there were a few variants made of it, like a black one.

SUPERCINQ GT TURBO (Nr. 205)

• Black from 1987 to 1988
• Blue/pink in 1989
• Blue/White in 1990
• Green/grey “Girl” in 1990
• Green/pink “Girl” in 1990
• Grey “Rally” in 1991

The last model I will show today also had many versions, and they were condensed in only 4 or 5 years. The Supercinq (or “Superfive”) appeared in the catalogues from 1987 to 1991 in the standard 200 series and also as part of the “Girls” series in 1990.

The 200 versions were black, blue (either with pink or white bumpers) and grey with some competition (rally) decoration.

Majorette 2200 Series "Girls"

Most interesting now is the girl series, which was a try to bring die-cast to girls. This series had number 2200 and appeared in 1990 and disappeared that same year, probably sold much worse as expected and was directly discontinued. The collection comprised 8 models, each of them included a small sports bag that was also a keyring. The sports bag had the same logo printed on one side as the car had in the Bonnet or the roof.

These models are nowadays very rare, even more if they come with the bag. The only one I own is this Supercinq with grey bumpers. There was another versión with pink bumpers.

UPDATE (JAN/2017): Added Renault 5 red and Renault 5 grey in double pictures (see above)

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Name:RENAUL R5 (Nr. 257), R5 TURBO and MAXI 5 TURBO (Nr. 255), RENAULT 5 (Nr. 280) and SUPERCINQ GT TURBO (Nr. 205)
• Scale: 1:58 / 1:53 / 1:51 / 1:51 (respectively)
• Year: 1974, 1982, 1983 and 1987 respectively (first version released)
• Company: Majorette (France)
• Size: approx. 3’’ or 7 cm