Gama Toys
Encyclopedia
Gama is a German maker of toys, usually cars and trucks, dating from before World War I. The company is headquartered in Furth, Bavaria, near Nurnberg, a traditional German toymaking center.
In the early 1940s, toy tanks were popular and offered in various sizes including 3.5 and 7 inches in length. The destruction of World War II disrupted production as with other German makers such as Marklin
and Schuco
. In the late 1940s, production was started again under the auspices of the U.S. which controlled this portion of the country. Gama made tinplate or pressed steel trucks of various sizes (8 and 14 inch sizes were common), and they were often stamped, "Made in U.S. Zone Germany".
Gama also made tin friction and plastic cars from the late 1950s through the early 1960s. Trucks and motorcycles were also made and these were usually around 10 inches long, but many were smaller. One example made around 1950 was a 6 inch long motorcycle ridden by a chimp in a circus suit. Many of these were wind-up/clockwork operation. Other more traditional toys, like a donkey ridden by a clown, or more fantastical, like spaceships, were also produced.
Like Schuco, remote control models were common, both cars and trucks, and some were made even as large as 1:12 scale. In the 1960s and 1970s several slot cars were made called "Gama Rallye". These were unique in that they could do a 180° spin and drive on in opposite direction. They were not interchangeable with other slot car tracks, and featured a special hook that would keep them affixed to the track. Scales of the slot cars were 1:24, 1:32, and 1:40. Cars in the Gama Rallye series were the Opel GT, Porsche C6, Porsche 910, Porsche Carrera RSR, Ferrari GTO, McClaren CanAm, Matra and other Formula One selections.
Typical of many manufacturers, Gama vehicles started with rubber tires and later hard plastic 'fast' wheels. At times headlights were jewelled, which competitors Schuco and Solido
avoided, but later cars like the BMW 7 Series from about 1990 had much more authentic looking clear plastic lenses.
A wide variety of cars, trucks, construction, and commercial vehicles have been produced, including oddities like fork lifts and skid steers. These models were similar to Gescha, NZG or Conrad, but Gama didn't seem to penetrate the truck promotional market like these companies did. Usually German brands were reproduced such as Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and Volkswagen. Faun was a common truck brand.
In the late 1970s, Gama introduced its diecast old car series and attached the "Mini Mods" name to that. These were in brightly colored box style (see photo above) that hinted of the 1920s or 1930s. These were very much like Matchbox Models of Yesteryear in detail, precision and size, but focused on classic cars of the European mainland.
Though Gamas are usually as detailed and finely rendered as Schucos or Marklins, they don't seem carry the same respect from collectors. Perhaps this sentiment comes from the diecast seconds sold to other countries and brand 'inter-breeding' which makes identification of true Gamas difficult at times.
(see website below), reproduced about 20 different Gama vehicles through the 1990s, in several colors. Sometimes they were packaged with "Made in Germany" still marked on their bases - but after a time the country designation was gradually removed. The diecast Micro'67 Opel GT, in 1:41 scale, for example, does not say the manufacturer on the base, but does say 'Made in Bulgaria' on the box.
Also, Force points out that, especially after Gama purchased Schuco in the mid-1980s, company model offerings were not brand unique. The firm often, with lack of discretion, marketed other manufacturers' toys. Schuco models were dumped, without much change, directly into Gama boxes and Conrad Models, Norev
, and Nacoral dies would appear as Gamas, virtually unchanged. Some of the Micro'67 models made in Bulgaria also appeared in Gama boxes back in Germany.
Unlike other brands like Polistil
, Corgi, or Dinky, the cross-country appearances of Gama models makes collecting them a challenge and it is often best to consider the foreign made (outside of Germany) makes as model companies in their own right.
History
According to Edward Force, Gama is the acronym for Georg Adam MAngold, who started the company in 1882 making tinplate mechanical toys. Most toy production up through World War II and up until the late 1950s was lithographed tinplate.In the early 1940s, toy tanks were popular and offered in various sizes including 3.5 and 7 inches in length. The destruction of World War II disrupted production as with other German makers such as Marklin
Märklin
Gebr. Märklin & Cie. GmbH or Märklin is a German toy company. The company was founded in 1859 and is based at Göppingen in Baden-Wurttemberg. Although it originally specialised in doll house accessories, today it is best known for model railways and technical toys...
and Schuco
Schuco
Schuco is a German toy maker founded in 1912 by Heinrich Müller and the businessman Heinrich Schreyer in Nuremberg, since early days, Germany's toy capital. Its specialty was usually cars and trucks in both tin and diecast...
. In the late 1940s, production was started again under the auspices of the U.S. which controlled this portion of the country. Gama made tinplate or pressed steel trucks of various sizes (8 and 14 inch sizes were common), and they were often stamped, "Made in U.S. Zone Germany".
Gama also made tin friction and plastic cars from the late 1950s through the early 1960s. Trucks and motorcycles were also made and these were usually around 10 inches long, but many were smaller. One example made around 1950 was a 6 inch long motorcycle ridden by a chimp in a circus suit. Many of these were wind-up/clockwork operation. Other more traditional toys, like a donkey ridden by a clown, or more fantastical, like spaceships, were also produced.
Like Schuco, remote control models were common, both cars and trucks, and some were made even as large as 1:12 scale. In the 1960s and 1970s several slot cars were made called "Gama Rallye". These were unique in that they could do a 180° spin and drive on in opposite direction. They were not interchangeable with other slot car tracks, and featured a special hook that would keep them affixed to the track. Scales of the slot cars were 1:24, 1:32, and 1:40. Cars in the Gama Rallye series were the Opel GT, Porsche C6, Porsche 910, Porsche Carrera RSR, Ferrari GTO, McClaren CanAm, Matra and other Formula One selections.
The Diecast Era
Force says that Gama metal 1:42 or 1:43 scale vehicles were introduced in 1959, rather late compared to several other diecast European brands like Corgi and Dinky. During the 1960s, to distinguish the smaller diecasts from larger slot cars and remote control vehicles, Gama introduced its main line called "Mini Mods" (Mini Models). These were very Corgi-like with plain aluminum wheels and rubber tires. While bodies were diecast, chassis were often plastic, a money saving feature that would be common throughout most diecast company lines some twenty years later. Other details were odd, like the flat chrome 'rivet' headlights on the VW Transporter van. The company, however, did not stick firmly to 1:43 scale and some 1:25 scale vehicles were produced and even a Matchbox sized Minette series - which did not last very long.Typical of many manufacturers, Gama vehicles started with rubber tires and later hard plastic 'fast' wheels. At times headlights were jewelled, which competitors Schuco and Solido
Solido
Solido is a french manufacturer of die-cast model cars and trucks based in Oulins, Anet, France, about 40 miles west of Paris. Cars are usually made of the alloy zamac in varying sizes, but mostly 1:43 scale.-History:...
avoided, but later cars like the BMW 7 Series from about 1990 had much more authentic looking clear plastic lenses.
A wide variety of cars, trucks, construction, and commercial vehicles have been produced, including oddities like fork lifts and skid steers. These models were similar to Gescha, NZG or Conrad, but Gama didn't seem to penetrate the truck promotional market like these companies did. Usually German brands were reproduced such as Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and Volkswagen. Faun was a common truck brand.
In the late 1970s, Gama introduced its diecast old car series and attached the "Mini Mods" name to that. These were in brightly colored box style (see photo above) that hinted of the 1920s or 1930s. These were very much like Matchbox Models of Yesteryear in detail, precision and size, but focused on classic cars of the European mainland.
Though Gamas are usually as detailed and finely rendered as Schucos or Marklins, they don't seem carry the same respect from collectors. Perhaps this sentiment comes from the diecast seconds sold to other countries and brand 'inter-breeding' which makes identification of true Gamas difficult at times.
Brand Inter-breeding
Gamas have appeared in other countries as dies have been sold. For example, a battery operated Gama 1:12 scale plastic Opel GT later appeared marketed by the Greek firm 'Ellas' by the Gavrielides Bros. The MIR Toy factory in Mir, Bulgaria (later to become Mikro'67Mikro'67
Mikro'67 is the Bulgarian manufacturer for Matchbox, Gama, Schuco, NZG and other diecast models.In 1990 there were 96 toy manufacturers in Bulgaria - producers' co-operative societies and factories. 13 of them were forming the State Economic Group "ДСО МЛАДОСТ" / "DSO Mladost")...
(see website below), reproduced about 20 different Gama vehicles through the 1990s, in several colors. Sometimes they were packaged with "Made in Germany" still marked on their bases - but after a time the country designation was gradually removed. The diecast Micro'67 Opel GT, in 1:41 scale, for example, does not say the manufacturer on the base, but does say 'Made in Bulgaria' on the box.
Also, Force points out that, especially after Gama purchased Schuco in the mid-1980s, company model offerings were not brand unique. The firm often, with lack of discretion, marketed other manufacturers' toys. Schuco models were dumped, without much change, directly into Gama boxes and Conrad Models, Norev
Norev
Norev is a French manufacturer of diecast metal model cars. It has normally has produced modern and vintage European vehicles, especially French vehicles - though Italian, German, and American vehicles were also produced.-History:...
, and Nacoral dies would appear as Gamas, virtually unchanged. Some of the Micro'67 models made in Bulgaria also appeared in Gama boxes back in Germany.
Unlike other brands like Polistil
Polistil
Polistil was a toy company headquartered in Milan, Italy, with production center in Chiari, Brescia. Polistil specialized in diecast metal and plastic vehicles of all sizes. The company also made toy and model tanks, dolls, robots and TV tie-ins...
, Corgi, or Dinky, the cross-country appearances of Gama models makes collecting them a challenge and it is often best to consider the foreign made (outside of Germany) makes as model companies in their own right.