Tekno is a toy maker from Copenhagen, Denmark, that began manufacturing construction toys in the 1923 and model autos immediately after World War II, selling 1 million a year during its peak.[1] While started as a toy company, the focus later shifted to adult collectibles and promotional models.
The company is not to be confused with Tekno, the 'robotic' dog and pony.
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The only Scandinavian company to become an accomplished diecast metal toy producer, Tekno was similar to Schuco Modell, Marklin, or Gama Toys, being one of the oldest toy and model producing firms of Europe. The founder was a plumber from Copenhagen, one A. Siegumfeldt who began producing diecast models in 1945, thus becoming a main competitor to Dinky (Rixon 2005, p. 34).
The company regally celebrated its 25th anniversary in 1953. By this time a wide variety of trucks, tractors and cars were being produced along with toy miniature pots, pans and other kitchenware (Tekno Dansk 1953). Wooden houses, cranes, trucks and other toys, sometimes in association with the Swedish company Brio were also produced in the 1950s.
More than any other diecast maker, Tekno was known for its variety of liveries and model variations which could seem almost infinite. For example veteran collector Cecil Gibson wrote as early as 1970 how Tekno in the 1960s made its Volkswagen transporter panel truck and Ford Taunus vans in many many liveries, often for Scandinavian products such as Amstel Beer and the Politiken Newspaper (Gibson 1970, pages 28-29). In fact, Tekno may have been the earliest diecast company to focus on promotional products, perhaps even earlier than Winross Models' diecast trucks of Rochester, New York in the United States.
Normally producing in 1:43 scale, Tekno's principal rivals were Corgi and Dinky who were formidable competition. Models produced often mimicked their offerings, like the Commer estate or the later Oldsmobile Toronado. Still, Tekno always had a personality all its own, offering unique vehicles (especially Swedish Saabs and Volvos). One example was the 1970 Volvo 144 Police sedan or the Saab 99. Another was the Corvair Monza concept vehicle, produced in several colors - later reproduced by Auto Pilen.
In contrast with most other diecast car producers, Tekno appears to have never given in to the temptation to make low friction, flashy wheels on their vehicles. Conservatism seems to have won out - which was not good for sales. Gradually, the smaller cars and trucks gave way to the marketing strategy of larger diecast trucks - often still for promotional purposes. At least the company survived in this way, though more in the mode of Conrad or NZG.