Maker record
Prämeta
Prämeta was a German maker of die-cast model cars, produced in Cologne from 1948 to 1958. Its range included the VW 1200 ‘Brezelkäfer’, Mercedes-Benz 300, Jaguar XK 120 and Opel Kapitän. Models featured a wind-up drive and a steering mechanism that could be set to follow a programmed route; the wind-up key was shaped like a traffic policeman. Prämeta also made hinges and later medical products, so model cars were a brief part of a broader manufacturing business.
- Founded
- 1946
- Locations
- Cologne, Germany · 1946 · Troisdorf, Germany · 2006
- Founders
- Ferdinand Freiherr von Soiron · Soiron's wife (first name not stated)
The story of Prämeta
Prämeta was founded in Cologne in 1946 by Ferdinand Freiherr von Soiron and his wife, initially as a distributor of hinges. It briefly sold bicycle accessories before beginning production of its ‘Kölner Automodelle’ in 1948. The toy cars were made by injection moulding. The first model was a VW 1200 ‘Brezelkäfer’; a Mercedes-Benz 300 ‘Adenauer’ followed in 1953 and a Jaguar XK 120 in 1954. The Mercedes was available in several colours, including bright nickel-plated finishes. Prämeta promoted the cars’ sturdy construction and gave them a distinctive wind-up key shaped like a traffic policeman. Their steering could be set to make the car follow a programmed route. The last model was an Opel Kapitän, introduced in 1955; production of Prämeta cars ended in 1958. The company continued in other fields, expanding from hinge distribution into hinge development and manufacturing, and adding medical products. Its later business history included changes in ownership and a move from Cologne to nearby Troisdorf in 2006.