Chronology of Success
The Traditional of WIKING models
1939-45
Hard times full of uncertainty
The times catch up with WIKING-Modellbau: the business is declared an ordnance factory. Government bodies soon realise that useful models of ships, planes and vehicles can be produced for use in training or surveillance as required. The models can also be exported to neutral countries if required.
1938/39
Ships are followed by planes and cars
On water, on land and in the air: in addition to the quickly established series of WIKING model ships, the WIKING workshops now start producing model planes. These are kept to a scale of 1:200 and are made using plastic as early as 1939. WIKING Wehrmacht models are also produced, miniatures of military vehicles in cast metal with fixed wheels which can be used as visual aids. At the autumn trade fair in Leipzig in 1938, we see the first examples of 1:200 WIKING model vehicles. These are also to be seen as non-moving models which have a considerable weight to them due to the cast metal used.
1936
Entry in the Register of Companies
Now it’s official: in autumn 1936 "Wiking-Modellbau Peltzer & Peltzer" appears in the Register of Companies. An entry of just a few lines in the Register of Companies for Greater Berlin signifies the production of miniatures of ships to a scale of 1:1250 in the district of Lichterfelde. This scale was later modified to 1:1275. However, the so-called "Waterline" models do not remain the only area of activity of the young firm for long. On request, the model-maker takes to producing model ships to a larger scale - admittedly made to order. Word of his ability quickly spreads.
1931
from hobby to profession
It was to become the road to success: the hobby of Friedrich Karl Peltzer developed into a profession - and with this came the first thoughts and first steps towards the making of WIKING models. Friedrich Karl Peltzer is born on February 5th 1903 in Berlin. The son of an officer of the Imperial Navy, he is introduced to seafaring at an early age. So it’s no wonder that he soon develops an interest in making models of ships. He impresses outsiders with his extraordinary and love of detail. It was the starting point for an ambitious enterprise.
Hard times full of uncertainty
The times catch up with WIKING-Modellbau: the business is declared an ordnance factory. Government bodies soon realise that useful models of ships, planes and vehicles can be produced for use in training or surveillance as required. The models can also be exported to neutral countries if required.
1938/39
Ships are followed by planes and cars
On water, on land and in the air: in addition to the quickly established series of WIKING model ships, the WIKING workshops now start producing model planes. These are kept to a scale of 1:200 and are made using plastic as early as 1939. WIKING Wehrmacht models are also produced, miniatures of military vehicles in cast metal with fixed wheels which can be used as visual aids. At the autumn trade fair in Leipzig in 1938, we see the first examples of 1:200 WIKING model vehicles. These are also to be seen as non-moving models which have a considerable weight to them due to the cast metal used.
1936
Entry in the Register of Companies
Now it’s official: in autumn 1936 "Wiking-Modellbau Peltzer & Peltzer" appears in the Register of Companies. An entry of just a few lines in the Register of Companies for Greater Berlin signifies the production of miniatures of ships to a scale of 1:1250 in the district of Lichterfelde. This scale was later modified to 1:1275. However, the so-called "Waterline" models do not remain the only area of activity of the young firm for long. On request, the model-maker takes to producing model ships to a larger scale - admittedly made to order. Word of his ability quickly spreads.
1931
from hobby to profession
It was to become the road to success: the hobby of Friedrich Karl Peltzer developed into a profession - and with this came the first thoughts and first steps towards the making of WIKING models. Friedrich Karl Peltzer is born on February 5th 1903 in Berlin. The son of an officer of the Imperial Navy, he is introduced to seafaring at an early age. So it’s no wonder that he soon develops an interest in making models of ships. He impresses outsiders with his extraordinary and love of detail. It was the starting point for an ambitious enterprise.