Elastolin

O&M Hausser

Company type	Private
Industry	Toy manufacturing
Founded	1904
Founder	Christian Hausser, Otto Hausser, Max Hausser
Defunct	1983
Headquarters	Ludwigsburg , Germany
Products	Toy soldiers and figures (composite and plastic)

Elastolin was a brand owned by the German firm O&M Hausser, recognized for producing toy soldiers and figures crafted initially from composite materials and later from plastic. Established in 1904 by Christian Hausser alongside his sons Otto and Max, the enterprise was based in Ludwigsburg near Stuttgart. Manufacturing ceased in 1943 as a result of Germany’s wartime economy but recommenced after World War II with composition figures. In 1955, Hausser launched figures made from hard polystyrene plastic under the Elastolin name while still producing composition figures until 1969. The production of plastic figures continued until 1982. The company filed for bankruptcy in June 1983 and ended all operations by the close of that year.

Scales of figures

Elastolin produced figures in various sizes including 40mm, 65mm, 70mm, and 105mm scales. The 70-mm size (approximately three inches) equates roughly to a 1/24 scale ratio. Catalogs from the 1930s identified the 7-cm figures as "normal size" (normalgrosse), whereas the smaller 4-cm ones were termed Miniatur-Soldaten. The catalog numbering for the 4-cm models started with an "M," for example, M 47/1 denoted a marching Heer Trommler (Army snare drummer).

Heer

The Heer collection showcased World War II German uniformed parade ground soldiers, including marching officers, infantrymen, flag bearers, musicians, panzer troops clad in black uniforms, mountain troops (Gebirgsjager), cavalry units, and mounted musicians. Parade sets featured figures involved in guard mounting ceremonies such as officers and enlisted men standing at attention or presenting arms, flag bearers, saluting panzer soldiers, musicians, sentry boxes, and cavalry detachments.

Training-related figures consisted of a drill instructor alongside recruits dressed in fatigue uniforms performing drills.

Combat units included Infanterie (series 500/- and 600/-) comprising riflemen, grenade throwers, and machine gun teams; Kavallerie (series 400/-); Artillerie (series 664/-) with crew operating tinplate artillery; Nachrichtentruppe ("communications troops," series 659/-) featuring handlers of messenger dogs and carrier pigeons; Pioniere ("combat engineers," series 662/-); and Krad-Schutzen ("motorcycle troops," series 990/-) depicted riding two- and three-seater motorcycles with sidecars.

In reference to World War I history, there were also Gasalarmschlager ("gas alarm striker," series 584) plus infantry figures outfitted with gas masks.

Medical staff (series 656) included doctors, nurses, medics, along with a "dead soldier" figure [652/15].

The Lagerleben ("camp life," series 550/-) range illustrated soldiers engaged in washing, cleaning, eating, resting activities; tents; and a unit clerk figure [550/36/50] equipped with a table, bench, and typewriter.

Kriegsmarine

The Kriegsmarine was represented by a "personality" figure of Großadmiral Erich Raeder giving a salute, accompanied by marching officers carrying swords, sailors armed with rifles, fanfare trumpeters (Fanfarenblaser), flag bearers (Fahnentrager), alongside a combat figure set. Two primary marching sets displayed the blue winter uniform and white summer uniform respectively, each including full musician contingents. Additional figures featured sailors wearing white shirts paired with blue trousers. The combat set contained standing, kneeling, and prone riflemen; a charging officer; a rifleman wielding his weapon as a club; plus a grenade thrower. All Elastolin Kriegsmarine figures from the Nazi period (1933–1945) are cataloged under series 14/--.

Luftwaffe

The Luftwaffe was showcased through prominent "personality" figures such as Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring, accompanied by two distinct marching figure collections: the Flieger ("aviators") [series 26/-] characterized by yellow waffenfarbe, and the Flak ("anti-aircraft units") [series 28/-] marked with red waffenfarbe. Each set included officers, enlisted soldiers armed with rifles (wearing either soft field caps or stahlhelm helmets), flag bearers, as well as complete groups of marching and stationary musicians. The Flieger series additionally presented an aircrewman dressed in a beige "flight suit."

Combat units featured 28/664 Flak-Artillerie teams and 28/590 Flak-Krad-Schützen, distinguished by their unique blue-gray uniforms. Elastolin priced these similarly to their Heer equivalents; however, contemporary collectors observe elevated auction prices and advise caution regarding potential post-war repainting.

Paramilitary

Paramilitary forces represented include the SA (Sturm Abteilung), SS, LSSAH (Hitler’s elite SS guard unit), RAD (Reichsarbeitsdienst), NSDAP, Hitler Youth (Hitler Jugend), Jungvolk, BdM (female Hitler Youth counterpart), and Marinesturm (Marine-SA subdivision).

These groups were portrayed through marching figures, featuring full musical ensembles for SA, SS, and RAD; a standing SA band with a kesselpauker (kettle drummer); along with drummers, flautists, and fanfare trumpeters from the Jungvolk. Figures carried either the German national flag or their respective organizational banners.

The SA, historically the largest Nazi paramilitary organization during the 1920s and 1930s, was extensively produced with various uniform styles—including basic "brown shirt," brown jacket variants, and winter apparel. Parade figures encompassed pack carriers, riflemen, medics, and nurses—highlighting the emphasis on first aid during the pre-chancellorship Kampfzeit. Additionally, mounted SA musicians and cavalry figures were available.

Beyond parade depictions, an extensive range of SA Lagerleben figures illustrated field training exercises.

Personality figures

Hausser’s initial "personality figures" featured Kaiser Wilhelm II and Feldmarschall Paul von Hindenburg from World War I.

The collection included pivotal individuals such as Hitler, von Hindenburg, Ludendorff, Göring, Hess, Goebbels, von Schirach, Großadmiral Raeder, and Generalfeldmarschall von Mackensen dressed in Hussar uniform. Mussolini and Franco were also represented. An SA leader figure depicting Ernst Röhm was discontinued following his 1934 assassination during the "Night of the Long Knives." General von Blomberg’s figure became generic after his retirement in 1938.

Hitler was portrayed in several versions: a walking figure performing the bent-arm salute, a seated figure designed for Elastolin staff cars, and an early civilian-attired model.

Göring’s significance was reflected through figures wearing SA, NSFK, and Luftwaffe uniforms. He appeared walking while inspecting troops and later as Reichsmarschall, holding an imposing marschall's baton.

Premium-quality models of Hitler, Göring, Hindenburg, Mussolini, and Franco combined headless composition bodies with finely sculpted porcelain heads, commanding premium collector values.

Mussolini was offered as both a walking figure (25/21N) and mounted on horseback (25/496N). Paul von Hindenburg remained available posthumously in uniform (649), civilian dress (648), and mounted forms.

All Nazi leader figures (Hitler, Röhm, Heß, Göring, Goebbels, von Schirach) featured articulated right arms to execute the German greeting ("Heil Hitler!" salute). Mussolini and Franco figures had similarly movable arms for Fascist-style salutes. By contrast, figures representing the Wehrmacht employed the traditional right-hand-to-cap or helmet salute.

Foreign (Ausländer) Troops

The assortment of foreign military figures encompasses British, American, Danish, Dutch, Belgian, Ethiopian, French, Swiss, Italian, Hungarian, Romanian, (British) Indian, Chinese, and Japanese forces.

French contingents comprised regular army and colonial units, marching sailors, alongside a brief line of elite chasseurs alpins mountain troops. Belgian infantry figures featured both marching and combat poses, including the distinctive green-beret Ardennes Rifle Corps. Italian figures were represented by marching infantry, combatants, officers, and elite bersaglieri riflemen distinguished by broad-brimmed hats adorned with black cockerel feathers; tropical attire and African colonial troops were produced in smaller quantities.

Vivid dress uniform Guards Regiments included the United Kingdom’s Grenadier Guards and Denmark’s Royal Life Guards.

Hausser-Elastolin typically fashioned foreign soldiers by fitting authentic helmets onto standard German bodies and then painting them to match. This approach explains why English, American, and French soldiers carry German-style "potato masher" hand grenades and standard German gas mask containers instead of Allied versions. Certain foreign figures—such as Belgian and French troops clad in long greatcoats—were crafted using specialized castings.

Since several European armies adopted the German stahlhelm helmet design, Elastolin was able to portray some foreign forces simply by repainting German figures with the appropriate uniforms. Reference materials like Andrew Mollo's The Armed Forces of World War II are valuable for differentiating among German, Hungarian, and Swiss soldiers.

Additional Hausser-Elastolin Figures from the 1930s

In addition to military models, Hausser-Elastolin’s 1930s offerings included an extensive range of cowboys and Indians (also referred to as "trappers"), medieval knights and foot soldiers (Ritterfiguren), as well as Prussian and Austrian figures from the era of Frederick the Great’s 18th-century campaigns. Prominent historical personalities featured were "der alte Fritz" (0/7/20) alongside generals Seydlitz (0/7/21) and Ziethen (0/7/22). A Prussian drummer figure with a black face (0/7/47/1M) represents a historical African drummer but should be examined for any post-war repainting.

The collection also included numerous wild animals (menagerie-und-jagdtiere), farm animals (haustiere), plus over 30 civilian figures designed to complement electric train sets (Eisenbahn-Figuren). These civilian models depicted DRB workers, station personnel such as luggage handlers, and passengers mainly produced in 7-cm (Normalgroße) scale with some examples in 5-cm and 3-cm sizes.

Accessories

Hausser manufactured a diverse selection of accessories including log cabin forts for cowboy figures, castles for knights, houses and barns for farming scenes, zoo enclosures for wild animals, as well as trench sections and bunkers (Schutzengraben aus Holz) available individually to assemble multi-line trench networks for soldier playsets. These sets incorporated artillery positions, command bunkers, a field kitchen, and a first aid station.

The company also produced an extensive range of tinplate military vehicles such as field kitchens and field bakeries on wheels, trucks, half-tracks, searchlight units, and artillery pieces. While some 1920s models were generic in design, later releases accurately replicated specific weapons like the 721-1/2 leichtes Inf.-Geschutz ("light infantry cannon"), 726 schweres Langrohrgeschutz ("heavy long-barreled cannon"), 710 Schwere Feldhaubitze ("heavy field howitzer"), and the 744 Panzer-Spahwagen ("armored scout car").

Elastolin enhanced interactivity by equipping certain vehicles with battery-powered electric motors enabling movement across tinplate battlefields along with operational headlights; truck-mounted and stationary searchlights were also functional. The Nachrichtentruppe figure series included "radio groups" outfitted with batteries to send Morse code signals. Three Infanterie riflemen featured cap-firing mechanisms that emitted smoke puffs from their rifles. Numerous tinplate artillery pieces were capable of firing caps and projectiles.

More advanced playsets incorporated engineer units featuring manually operated watercraft for obstacle crossing alongside pontoon or girder bridges allowing horses and vehicles safe passage.

Post-World War II Production

Following the conclusion of World War II, the manufacture of composition figures recommenced under rigorous "de-Nazification" regulations. The post-war product lines showcased politically neutral Swiss soldiers donning black German-style helmets and boots, alongside American troops clad in WWII-era dark olive uniforms with "steel pot" style helmets.

Once West Germany and Austria received authorization to rebuild their armed forces, figures depicting the post-war Bundeswehr and Austrian military units were introduced.

In 1955, Hausser preserved the Elastolin trademark while launching hard polystyrene plastic figures, maintaining simultaneous production of traditional sawdust-based composition models. The historical lineup was broadened to encompass Roman legionaries, Huns, Vikings, Normans, Landsknechts, and 17th-century Turkish soldiers. Additionally, the company created licensed character figures such as Prince Valiant from well-known comics and cinematic works.

Certain existing series—including Medieval warriors, cowboys ("Trappers"), Native Americans, and de-Nazified WWII German soldiers—were transitioned into plastic formats. Hausser held exclusive manufacturing rights for figures inspired by the works of Karl May, a German author famed for his American "Wild West" narratives, resulting in plastic figures portraying May’s iconic characters.

This era also introduced new accessory ranges featuring catapults, siege towers, battering rams, camp fences, and early artillery pieces.

Collectors distinguish various plastic figure collections by their paint schemes and plastic hues; variations in attire colors significantly influence rarity and market value.

The 1980 catalog presented Romans, Vikings, Huns, Normans/Medieval figures (including Prince Valiant and Sir Gawain), Landsknechts, Turks, Native Americans, cowboys, US cavalrymen, Karl May characters, Arabs, soldiers from the US War of Independence (including US regulars/militia, British, and German troops), Prussian soldiers, Union and Confederate soldiers from the American Civil War, contemporary Swiss and Austrian troops, de-Nazified WWII German soldiers, plus two Royal Canadian Mounted Police figures.

Cowboy figures featured masked bandits and men dressed in buckskin; the collection also included a prisoner bound to a tree.

Civilian representations comprised a medieval blacksmith accompanied by assistants at a forge and well, as well as Caucasian women and children from the American "Wild West," complementing Native American family groups. Revolutionary War sets incorporated female figures carrying water vessels.

Historical personalities available in 1980 included Götz von Berlichingen, Georg von Frundsberg, Friedrich der Große, alongside an anonymous figure resembling George Washington.

Wheeled vehicles consisted of a four-horse-drawn Roman chariot, a late-Middle Ages Kampfwagen (battle wagon), an American stagecoach pulled by two horses, as well as an American covered wagon also drawn by a pair of horses.

Demise

Hausser discontinued production of composite material figures in 1969 but continued manufacturing plastic figures until 1982. The company declared bankruptcy in June 1983 and ceased all production by the end of that year.

Numerous Hausser molds were purchased by Preiser, which still produces these figures in plastic form.

References

• HAUSSER's ELASTOLIN Spielzeug, Elastolin catalog, 1924 edition
• Katalog »F« HAUSSERS ELASTOLIN FABRIKATE, 1931, Elastolin catalog from 1931
• HAUSSER's ELASTOLIN Spielwaren, 1934, Elastolin product catalog, year 1934
• Hausser Elastolin 1935-1936, Elastolin product catalog for 1935-1936
• Hausser Elastolin Spielzeug 1936-1937, Elastolin catalog covering 1936-1937
• Hausser Elastolin Spielzeug 1938-1939, Elastolin product catalog from 1938-1939
• Hausser Elastolin Spielzeug 1939-1940, Elastolin catalog for the years 1939-1940
• Historische Hausser Figuren, Elastolin catalog issued in 1980
• Losch, Erich (Auctioneer), 1. Sonderauktion Militar- und Blechspielzeug 15./16.November 1996, Worms [GERMANY], 1996 [auction catalog]
• Losch, Erich (Auctioneer), 2. Sonderauktion Militar- und Blechspielzeug 15. Februar 1997, Worms [GERMANY], 1997 [auction catalog]
• Losch, Erich (Auctioneer), 3. Sonderauktion Militarspielzeug 17. Mai 1997, Worms [GERMANY], 1997 [auction catalog]
• Mollo, Andrew, The Armed Forces of World War II (Uniforms, insignia and organization), Crown Publishers, New York NY, 1981
• Polaine, Reggie, and David Hawkings, The War Toys I: The Story of Hausser-Elastolin, New Revised Edition, New Cavendish Books, London [ENGLAND], 1991
• Schmitt, Gunter and Robert (Auctioneers), Samstag, den 13. November 1999, Duren [GERMANY], 1999 [auction catalog]
• Schmitt, Gunter and Robert (Auctioneers), Samstag, den 15. Januar 2000, Duren [GERMANY], 2000 [auction catalog]
• Schmitt, Gunter and Robert (Auctioneers), Samstag, den 15. Februar 2000, Duren [GERMANY], 2000 [auction catalog]
• Schmitt, Gunter and Robert (Auctioneers), Samstag, den 15. April 2000, Duren [GERMANY], 2000 [auction catalog]
• Schmitt, Gunter and Robert (Auctioneers), Samstag, den 03. Juni 2000, Duren [GERMANY], 2000 [auction catalog]
• Schmitt, Gunter and Robert (Auctioneers), Samstag, den 26. August 2000, Duren [GERMANY], 2000 [auction catalog]
• Schmitt, Gunter and Robert (Auctioneers), Samstag, den 07. Oktober 2000, Duren [GERMANY], 2000 [auction catalog]
• Schmitt, Gunter and Robert (Auctioneers), Samstag, den 25. November 2000, Duren [GERMANY], 2000 [auction catalog]

External links

• Information on Composite Figures
• Details about the plastic product line