Danish/Dutch Tekno diecast toys, 1930s onwards

Tekno was a Danish manufacturing company of scale model trucks and other vehicles, currently headquartered in De Lier, Netherlands. Originally established and based in Copenhagen, Tekno began manufacturing construction toys in 1928 and model vehicles immediately after World War II, selling 1 million a year during its peak.

The company was founded by Aksel Siegumfeldt, a plumber from Copenhagen, who after many years of producing wooden toys, began producing die-cast vehicles post-war perhaps late 1945. Through the 1950s, Tekno gradually became a main competitor, even to Dinky Toys. Brochures show that the company regally celebrated its 25th anniversary in 1953.

Tekno's models were known for their high quality and realism. They were made of die-cast metal and had many working features, such as opening doors and hoods, and moving wheels. Tekno also produced a wide range of vehicles, including trucks, cars, buses, airplanes, and tractors.

The more... company's popularity peaked in the 1960s and 1970s, but it began to decline in the 1980s due to competition from cheaper foreign imports. Tekno went bankrupt in 1982, but the company's assets were bought by a Dutch company, Van Min, which continued to produce Tekno models under the name "Tekno Holland".

Tekno Holland continued to produce models until 1993, when it too went bankrupt. The rights to the Tekno name were then acquired by a group of Danish investors, who revived the company in 1995. The new Tekno company produces a limited range of high-end collector's models. less...