Tekno (toy manufacturer)

Tekno is a toy maker from Copenhagen, Denmark, that began manufacturing construction toys in 1928 and model autos immediately after World War II, selling 1 million a year during its peak (Dickson 2006; Tekno Dansk 1953). While begun as a toy company, the focus later shifted to promotional truck models as adult collectibles and the firm headquarters was moved to Holland.

The company is not to be confused with Tekno, the "robotic" dog and pony.

The only Scandinavian company to become an accomplished diecast metal toy producer, Tekno was similar to the German Schuco Modell, Marklin, or Gama Toys, which, like Tekno, were all model firms existing pre-World War II. The founder was A. Siegumfeldt, a plumber from Copenhagen, who, after many years of producing wooden toys, began producing diecast vehicles post-war in 1945. Through the 1950s, Tekno gradually became a main competitor even to diecast powerhouses like Dinky (Rixon 2005, p. 34).

Brochures show that the company regally celebrated its 25th anniversary in 1953. By this time a wide variety of trucks, tractors and cars were being produced along with toy miniature pots, pans and other kitchenware (Tekno Dansk 1953). Wooden houses, cranes, trucks and other toys - even small electric motors - were also made, sometimes in association with the Swedish company Brio, were also produced in the 1950s.

Tekno diecast cars and airplanes were manufactured previous to the war, however, from 1949 through about 1969, many Tekno models were made by H. Langes Legetøj (Langes Toys), a diecaster in Copenhagen with which Tekno had a gentlemen's agreement (Rixon 2005, p. 35).

Langes Legetøj also cooperated with a company called Termax - in the same building. Termax developed many of the model cars, for example, all Mercedes models, Jaguar E type, Opel models, and the DKW Junior. They then were often produced or assembled by Lange's Legetøj..

Some of Tekno´s parts were cast in Nyrnbergade (Langes & Termax) then sent west about four miles to Kirkebjerg. Tekno even had a larger factory on Rentemestervej and one also in Frederikssund. Later, production was also done in Glostrup about three miles west of Kirkebjerg. Langes Toys were bought by Kirk toys in 1958 which replaced the Tekno name with Kirk on some vehicle bases. In 1969, the old agreement between Langes Legetøj and Tekno was terminated. Kirk had existed as early as 1892 as Emil Møller Phone Factory. Since 1970 the company has been traded many times. For some time it was Kirk telecom and then in 2012 became Spectralink Europe ApS. Kirk is a family name, and in the period 1923-1967 the family stood at directorship of the phone factory. Apparently, Kirk's involvement in the toy business was a small venture compared to greater phone production.

...
Wikipedia