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SIKU Diecast Production History

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#1 · (Edited)
SIKU was founded in 1921 by Richard Sieper in Ludenscheid, Germany as Sieper Lüdenscheid GmbH & Co.

In the 1930s, they changed their name to Sieper and Sohne.

In 1949, they produced their first toy products.

Shortly afterwards in 1950, they again changed their name to SIKU. The SI coming from the owners last name and KU from Kunststoff (German for plastic).

In 1955, SIKU introduced their first 1:60 scale cars made of plastic.

In 1963, they introduced their diecast 1:60 scale models. (12) new models were produced in zinc alloy. These were spray painted by factor workers and used rhinestones for headlights. From 1963 to 1969, other new models were released in both plastic and metal, but a shift to metal with fewer plastic models was made.
The last plastic model was made in 1969. Most of the vehicles made were German models, but a few American castings had been produced. A few of the Siku plastic molds were sold to Iran. Vehicles were produced there in new colors that the previous German made vehicle models had not used. They are known (?) as the V Series Plastics by Siku Iran.

Most V-series castings came in blue, red and yellow cardboard boxes with their model names and an illustration of the vehicle printed on them. The brand name and seris name was printed in German, as "Siku-Flitzer" ("Siku-Streaker"). Initially the illustrations of the model was bathed in a yellow light from the round sun-like Siku logo. Other V-series boxes had orange and cream or green and yellow panels. In 1973, the letter V was dropped from the numbering system and the scale of their models were increased to 1:55 scale. The V Series came to an end in 1975, when the Super Series was introduced.

They have also made airplanes, helicopters, trucks and farm vehicles and equipment in other scale sizes as well.

Although no direct association is known with Poliguri it is noted that their wheel sets had the same raised letter brand name design.

Chas C Merzack Company was located in New York and marketed Siku brand castings

Metchy was licensed to make SIKU castings in Hungary for distribution under the Metchy name

Miniaturas REI is a series 1:43 and 1:66 scale models that includes Siku castings made under license in Brazil.

Wiking was founded in 1932 and is now owned by Siku.

In 1994, Sieper acquired Roskopf. They had made a wide range of military 1:100 RMM miniature models.

In the mid 2000s, Siku was still a known business division of Sieperwerke.


First Cars

1951: firetruck
1952: racecar
1953: amphibious truck
1954: removal van
1955: Porsche 356 with Gescha Patent engine


Known SIKU Series Names

1000 Series
Club Serie
Farmer 1:87
Farmer Series
Miniaturas REI - licensed 1:43 and 1:16 castings made in Brazil
Siku C9 - buses
Siku Classic+ - farm vehicles & equipment
Siku Club - commercial vehicles
Siku Farmer+
Siku M87
Siku Racing
Siku Super - airplanes and helicopters
V Series Metal - 1963 to 1975
V Series Plastic - SIKU Iran (?)



Sourced references -

Siku | hobbyDB
Wiking | hobbyDB
Encyclopedia of Small-Scale Diecast Motor Vehicle Manufacturers - Sahakangas, Foster & Weber (2006)
 
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