Linde Material Handling 125 Scale Model 2985 E25 Forklift by Conrad Germany

  

Original owner, mint condition, been in storage many many years. Only taken out to take pictures of it!

Includes original box and foam packaging. E20 / E25 / E30. Made in Germany by Conrad GmbH. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Conrad GmbH previously Gescha Toys.

Primarily in 1:50 scale. For use both as toys and promotional models by heavy equipment manufacturers.

Conrad is one of the few European diecast companies which have not outsourced production to China or elsewhere in Asia. Conrad Modelle is headquartered in Kalchreuth, just northeast of Nuremberg. In the past, Conrad also manufactured model cars. On early German toys the abbreviation Ges. This may have led to the eventual name of the predecessor toy firm of Gescha which was established in 1923. Gescha had previously specialized in wind-up tin toys similar to Schuco Modell. The Conrad website says that Conrad - a family name - started making diecast models in 1956, however Gescha used the Conrad name as a sub-brand first. Most diecast truck and heavy equipment models, for which Conrad became most well-known, were marketed as Gescha in the 1960s and 1970s. The name Conrad was increasingly used through the 1970s and by about 1980, the Gescha name was discontinued. The official website says that since 1987 the company has been run by Gunther Conrad assisted by his wife Gerde and their son, Michael. Thus the company has remained a family owned business, probably since about 1956 when the Conrad name was introduced when the Conrad family took control of Gescha. Conrad today has a line of over 90 separate models, mostly trucks and cranes. The appearance and finish of the diecast models themselves is similar to its competitor, NZG Models.

Though perhaps NZG's are slightly more adventurous in models contracted and slightly more realistic - but this is simply a perception. While NZG Modelle focuses more on construction and earth moving equipment, Conrad's line-up centers more on a variety of commercial trucks themselves. Several models, however, are quite distinct, like stationary construction cranes, tunnel borers, and jackhammer trucks. Lately, some NZG Models have been marketed under the Conrad name, but normally the two companies remain fairly autonomous from one another, while competing for similar contracts.

For example, Conrad had the Caterpillar line of construction vehicles through about 1990, but the licenses changed over to NZG sometime after. Model details were generally finely crafted. For example, Conrad's Volvo 470 F16 Intercooler Globetrotter cab with refrigeration tanker had some priceless details such as an opening rear door on the tanker revealing cooling gauges and mechanisms. Intricately detailed cooling fins under the rear of the tanker were surprising considering one couldn't even see them unless the model was turned over. Note here the simpler chrome wheels.

During the 1980s in particular, and similar to NZG, Conrad introduced automobile promotionals mainly in 1:43 scale. Fit and finish of the auto models was very good and comparable to other German manufacturers, Schuco Modell. Conrad focused on Volkswagen Polo (Mk2, hatchback and coupé).

Passat (B2, 5-door hatchback and wagon). By contrast, NZG did more Mercedes-Benz and Porsche models while Cursor focused on Mercedes and BMW.

Conrad did, however, do some Mercedes-Benz replicas like the 280TE wagon and 190E sedan. Also similar to NZG, Mercedes-Benzes were cast in a larger 1:35 scale, indicating the marketing preferences of the client.

Also NZG made Porsche promotionals, while Conrad did not, but, like NZG Conrad has not produced automobile models since the 1980s so as to focus more on models of trucks and construction equipment. Observation of the selection and timing of promotional products of Conrad and NZG reveals a sophisticated relationship between model companies and real vehicle manufacturers - relationships rarely seen among toy manufacturers in England or Italy. In Germany, the contract of the model manufacturers, the choice of models and their appearance and packaging, appear to be more decided by the specifications of the specific German auto producing client, not the demands of the toy industry or the collector. This kind of relationship, however, was somewhat more common in France where even Citroen (for a time) made its own promotional models. This marketing relationship also emphasizes the probability that, to avoid confusion, there was more interaction between the different German firms making the models.

Conrad model cars were packaged in boxes virtually identical to those of other German manufacturers like NZG and Cursor. Boxes were normally silver and standardized (down to vehicle likenesses on the flaps and the big blue serif lettering on the box sides). This is another indication demonstrating that, here, the requirements of the client drove the appearance and marketing of the promotional product. The model companies are closely knit to the real companies' requirements - something not quite as common with American promotional makers and the'Big 3' auto companies. The uniform packaging situation among different model manufacturers, then, causes brand confusion. Which models are made by Conrad and which by NZG or Cursor. It is not always clear on the box - one could assume Mercedes-Benz itself might have made them. This is similar in a way to how Corgi Toys. Or Lonestar Toys were packaged similarly in the 1960s. But, by contrast, Corgi and Dinky were not making promos for competing companies, they were competing against each other. This item is in the category "Toys & Hobbies\Diecast & Toy Vehicles\Cars, Trucks & Vans\Contemporary Manufacture". The seller is "billz" and is located in this country: US. This item can be shipped to United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Denmark, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Estonia, Australia, Greece, Portugal, Cyprus, Slovenia, Japan, China, Sweden, Korea, South, Indonesia, Taiwan, South Africa, Thailand, Belgium, France, Hong Kong, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, Bahamas, Israel, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Switzerland, Norway, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Croatia, Republic of, Malaysia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts-Nevis, Saint Lucia, Montserrat, Turks and Caicos Islands, Barbados, Bangladesh, Bermuda, Brunei Darussalam, Bolivia, Ecuador, Egypt, French Guiana, Guernsey, Gibraltar, Guadeloupe, Iceland, Jersey, Jordan, Cambodia, Cayman Islands, Liechtenstein, Sri Lanka, Luxembourg, Monaco, Macau, Martinique, Maldives, Nicaragua, Oman, Peru, Pakistan, Paraguay, Reunion, Vietnam, Uruguay.

1. Brand: Linde
2. Series: Linde Diesel Heavy Forklift Trucks
3. Vehicle Make: Linde
4. Vehicle Type: Linde Diesel Heavy Forklift Trucks
5. Model: Linde Diesel Heavy Forklift Trucks
6. Theme: Diesel Heavy Forklift Trucks
7. Material: Diecast
8. Scale: 1:25
9. MPN: 2985
10. Gender: Boys & Girls
11. Country/Region of Manufacture: China
12. Character Family: Linde