Quote:
Originally Posted by sheepherder
Amazing! That a toy company would put such research into a kids toy... 
That reminds me - Was the Schuco toy company involved in German arms production during/before WW II??? I seem to recall that they were bombed extensively. They certainly had experience with stampings... |
Hope this answers the question.
"During the course of the war, Märklin maintained a difficult balance of the production of war materials and toys all the way up to early 1943 when the production of toys ceased. Märklin had the task of producing the Entlastungzunder 44 (E.Z. 44), a device commonly used to prevent the removal of mines which would detonate when lifted. These pressure-lifting devices required special fuses, springs, and clockwork mechanisms. Märklin’s penchant for producing precision technical toys suited them perfectly for this task. Although Märklin is known as the primary producer of the E.Z. 44, some examples have been found with a marking
which is believed to be that of Shuco, a German toy manufacturer."