ROD'S REDLINES

SIku & Schuco – I collect both of these German brands but only cars and trucks with jewel headlights.

SIKU is the range of toy vehicles and related products produced by the German company Sieper Lüdenscheid GmbH & Co. KG in Lüdenscheid, Germany.  In 1963, 12 new models produced in zinc alloy were introduced, and these were spray painted by hand. Between 1963 and 1969, new releases were made in both plastic and metal, but there was a gradual shift to metal with fewer plastic models. The last plastic model was issued in 1969, and since that time all new models have been die-cast zamac.

In 1973, the letter V was removed from the numbering system, and new models came packaged in colored cardboard boxes with names and pictures of the vehicles within, which seemed rather rustic compared to the use of blister packages that were becoming dominant by other makers at this time.  Sikus also used rhinestones for headlights which were sparkly but not always realistic.

The V Series came to an end in 1975, when the Super Series was introduced.

Schuco is a German toy maker founded in 1912 by Heinrich Müller and the businessman Heinrich Schreyer in Nuremberg, Germany's toy capital since early days. The company's specialty was usually cars and trucks in tin, plastic and diecast.