1930s German Tipp & Co. tinplate toy vehicles and aircraft

Tipp & Co. was a German toy company founded in 1912 by Miss Tipp and Mr. Carstens. The company was originally based in Fürth, but later moved to Nuremberg, the centre of the German toy industry. In 1919, Philip Ullmann became the exclusive proprietor of the company.

Tipp & Co. produced a wide range of tinplate toys, including cars, trucks, airplanes, trains, and boats. The company's toys were known for their high quality and realism. In the 1930s, Tipp & Co. began producing military toys, which were in high demand during the Nazi era.

Three of the most notable Tipp & Co. toys were the Führerwagen Mercedes, a clockwork toy car produced in 1937 and features a depiction of Adolf Hitler in the driver's seat; the London Bus, produced in the 1930s and features authentic London advertising and the Mercedes-Benz 770, a highly detailed replica clockwork toy more... car that was produced in the 1930s, considered to be one of the finest Tipp & Co. toys ever produced.

In 1933, Philip Ullmann was forced to flee Germany due to Nazi persecution. He settled in England, where he founded Mettoy, which later produced Corgi Toys. Tipp & Co. was seized by the German government during World War II, and production was halted. After the war, Tipp & Co. was re-established in Nuremberg. However, the company never regained its former prominence. It ceased production in 1971.

Tipp & Co. toys are still highly sought-after by collectors today. The company's military toys are particularly prized, as they are a rare and valuable reminder of a dark period in German history. less...