26-418: NZG may refer to: NZG Models , a German toy manufacturer Nederlandsch Zendeling Genootschap , a Dutch missionary society New Zealand Gazette , a government publication Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title NZG . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change
52-557: A 300 piece production order. NZG specializes in a wide variety of heavy equipment types ranging from hand pallet movers, forklifts, scissors lifts, reach stackers, power generators and skidsteers to front loaders, shovels, excavators, graders, and mammoth ore carrying dump trucks. Caterpillar and other engines and machinery are sometimes also made and displayed free-standing. Some offerings, like pavement profilers, road finishers, asphalt strippers, road rollers, pipelayers, large cranes and drill rigs have also been offered, and NZG seems to have
78-582: A handful. Chinese built bulldozers are reproduced. Larger NZG trucks, like the Terex and Liebherr ore carriers are quite expensive, sometimes costing as much as 500 U.S. dollars, but most models seem to sell for anywhere between US $ 50 and US $ 150. Diecast model car collectors have become accustomed to NZG's replicas of Porsches and Mercedes-Benzes which were often used as dealer promotional models. NZG Mercedes diecast promos were commonly seen in dealers and recognizable by their simple, but ubiquitous silver boxes with
104-406: 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
130-454: 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
156-552: 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
182-571: A variety of scales; Bubmobile and JNF Toys which reproduce classic 1950s windup toys in the Schuco Modell tradition and also HO scale vehicles. Lastly, is the Y-Serie of modern military trucks and equipment. Conrad Models Conrad GmbH (previously " Gescha Toys ") is a German manufacturer of diecast scale model trucks, primarily in 1:50 scale for use both as toys and promotional models by heavy equipment manufacturers. Conrad
208-578: Is Conrad Models . According to the NZG website, Gerhard Schmid and Betty Hauer started NZG Modelle in 1968, when shop was set up in the second floor of a furniture company. The business soon moved to a 10,000 sq ft (930 m ) site at Sigmundstraße industrial estate. The first model produced was a Weserhutte wheeled crane, in that year. By 1974, at least 30 models were in the NZG range were noted in David Sinclair's Catalog. Sinclair, in
234-559: Is a German manufacturer of diecast scale models primarily in 1:50 scale for use both as toys and promotional models mainly by heavy transport and construction equipment manufacturers. As seen in the name, the company is based in Nuremberg , Germany. Car models were also important as well as jet engine, aircraft, and stamping press models were also produced by NZG. A main company in competition with NZG, especially in production of construction vehicles in diecast for promotional purposes,
260-596: 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. Gesch." was short for the German for "trademark registered". This may have led to the eventual name of the predecessor toy firm of Gescha which
286-445: 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
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#1732773380534312-462: The French Solido in detail and realism. All doors, hood, and trunk usually opened. Body proportions were spot on. Clear plastic lenses were used for headlights (no toy-like faceted jewels here) and tail light lenses were separately cast in red plastic. NZG also was adept at chrome plating small emblems and grille details that other diecast manufacturers would not attempt on models three times
338-567: The auto models was very good and comparable to other German manufacturers, Schuco Modell , Schabak , Gama Toys , or NZG. Conrad focused on Volkswagen ( Polo (Mk2, hatchback and coupé) , Passat (B2, 5-door hatchback and wagon) , Santana , Scirocco (second generation) and Type 2 (T3) ) and Audi ( Coupé (B2) , 100 (C3 sedan) and the Quattro ). 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
364-648: The base was stamped "Made in the Federal Republic of Germany". Stern stickers were commonly found on the bases warning that the models were "not toys and not for children." Most NZG cars were produced in the 1980s and 1990s. A variety of vans were also produced (FIAT, Peugeot, and Citroen) in the 1990s. No cars seem to have been produced past 2002, as the company continued to focus more on its trucks and construction vehicles. Many car models were manufactured, and remain widely available at reasonable prices. Cars rivaled companies like fellow German Schuco Modell or
390-541: The blue markings. Design and concept for models and packaging were similar to Conrad Models which focused more on the Audi make, and also Cursor Modell which also produced Mercedes-Benz as well as BMW promotionals. Most cars were in 1:43 scale, but some were larger, like the No. 82 Mercedes 420/500/560 SEC coupes which were 1:35 scale (almost 5½ inches long). Other Mercedes offered were the 380 SEC / 500 SEC and 280 SEL sedans. On
416-569: 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
442-544: 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
468-422: 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
494-468: The link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=NZG&oldid=945372597 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages NZG Models Nürnberger Zinkdruckguß-Modelle GmbH (English: Nuremberg Diecast Models , mostly known for its initials NZG )
520-458: The market corner in promoting many models for a variety of manufacturers. Considering the variety of commercial model vehicles and equipment, one sees that details are intricate and sometimes delicate. To call NZG models 'toys' is too simple - they are precise replicas of the real thing - and quite sophisticated. Marques represented are from a broad range, and include MAN, New Holland, Volvo, Caterpillar, FAUN, Grove, Terex and Liebherr, to name just
546-564: The mid-1960s was one of the first importers to bring lesser known European brands to the U.S. Since then, over 700 different models have been produced and the company makes over 400,000 models a year. In 1986 the company was operated by Inge Ludwig (née Schmid) and Hannelore Hauer. In 2000, NZG passed completely to the Ludwig family. Inge and Michael Ludwig run the company today. Scales produced are 1:25, 1:50, and 1:87, as well as commercial vehicle models in 1:43. Special models require at least
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#1732773380534572-418: The model was turned over. Various websites show that prices for Conrad construction models vary greatly from about $ 55.00 (AU) for a Moffett forklift or $ 80.00 (AU) for basic Mercedes Sprinter ambulances to over $ 1,900.00 (AU) for some of the more complex Liebherr tower cranes. During the 1980s in particular, and similar to NZG, Conrad introduced automobile promotionals mainly in 1:43 scale. Fit and finish of
598-560: The same style silver and black boxes whether the model was produced by NZG or Cursor. Also, some NZG Models are also marketed under the Conrad name. About the late 1980s, some dies were also sold to the Bulgarian company, Mikro'67 and produced in the city of Mir. NZG now consists of several lines of other model subsidiaries including TWH and Sword which are American Companies licensing NZG products. More autonomous are Premium ClassiXXs , producing classic German cars, vans and motorcycles in
624-495: The size. Wheel designs were unique to each vehicle, for example, incorporating Mercedes or Porsche logos. Unlike Solido and Schuco, however, as well-done as they were, trucks and construction equipment were NZGs bread-and-butter, not cars. There are similarities in marketing and relationships with other model companies in the 1980s like Gescha /Conrad Models and Cursor Models , who produced similar promotional models for truck and automobile companies. The collector gets used to seeing
650-427: Was established in 1923. Gescha had previously specialized in wind-up tin toys similar to Schuco Modell or Gama Toys . 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
676-466: 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
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