Maker record
Hauser
O. & M. Hausser was a German toy maker known for Elastolin composition figures and board games. Founded in Ludwigsburg by brothers Otto and Max Hausser, the company also published picture books and produced a wide range of games. Its figures, often depicting soldiers and animals, were made from a mouldable composition material and became a major part of the firm’s output. The Hausser name is closely associated with Elastolin, a trade name that also came to be used informally for similar composition figures made by other companies.
- Founded
- 1903
- Founders
- Anton Hauser
The story of Hauser
Brothers Otto and Max Hausser established O. & M. Hausser in Ludwigsburg. The company made games and composition figures, later becoming especially associated with its Elastolin figures. The figures commonly represented soldiers and animals, and the Elastolin name became widely associated with composition figures beyond Hausser’s own products. Hausser also published picture books and produced board games, including titles such as *Elfer Raus*.
The firm moved its headquarters to Neustadt bei Coburg in 1937. Its catalogue range included games alongside the figures, and a 1938–39 Hausser catalogue documented the company’s Elastolin toys. After the Second World War, changing materials and competition from newer plastics weakened demand for composition figures. Hausser tried to broaden its range, including with the Bild-Lilly doll, but collectors’ history reports that the attempt did not succeed. The company went bankrupt in 1983.