Maker record
Tekno
Tekno is a Danish toy and model maker founded in 1928 as Dansk Legetøjs Industri. Its early products included tin dollhouse furniture and sand toys, followed by rescue vehicles and metal construction sets. From 1943, the company made zinc-cast vehicle models, including cars in 1:43 scale. After the Danish business ended, Tekno rights and tooling passed to a Dutch company, which resumed production in the Netherlands in 1975. The current Tekno business specializes in miniature trucks, including 1:50 scale models and related kits and parts.
- Founded
- 1928
- Countries
- Netherlands
- Locations
- The Netherlands
- Founders
- Andreas Siegumfeldt
The story of Tekno
Tekno began on 1 September 1928 in Vanløse, near Copenhagen, as Dansk Legetøjs Industri. Its founder was Andreas Siegumfeldt, a plumber who left his plumbing business to concentrate on toys. Early products included tin dollhouse furniture and sand toys. In 1932 the company adopted the Tekno name; from 1934 it also made rescue vehicles for Falck and Zonen and metal construction sets. Shortages of raw materials during the German occupation of Denmark led to a change in production methods. From 1943 to 1972, the company produced about 150 zinc-cast car models in 1:43 scale. In 1968 it employed 250 people and produced about 3.5 million models for export to more than 50 countries. The Danish company went bankrupt in 1972. A Dutch company acquired Tekno’s rights and tooling and continued production as Tekno Holland from 1975. The current Tekno business specializes in miniature trucks; its history dates its move to the Netherlands to 1974 and notes the opening of a Tekno museum in 2003.