The Company
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Walter Merten GmbH was a longstanding German manufacturer of painted plastic figure sets in all of the popular scales. The original
Merten figures were of lesser |
quality as compared with competitor and market leader Preiser, although Merten did have a wry sense of humor
(consider: pirates and garden dwarves). Many of Merten's figures are recycled by Faller. |
The Figures
Not long ago, Merten was purchased by Preiser, who has since reissued about two-thirds of the sets with improved painting, which was honestly Merten's only shortcoming.
Preiser made some other changes: some figures that used to be packed while attached to their casting sprues have been cut off and placed in nests. Most Merten figures have
bases, which are handy for beginners but annoying for more advanced modelers; it appears Preiser has begun removing the bases from some figures. Preiser has also added a
few new sets (2535 and onward); these figures do not have bases. Their horse-drawn cars are very similar to those
from Roskopf.
The list probably has errors. It's a challenge determining which items might be or have been discontinued, as Preiser's website is ambiguous as to the status of the sets
that are out of stock, of which there are many. Those marked OOP were not re-released by Preiser. Merten had two
different packaging styles. Photos are mine.
Cat # |
Description |
Notes |
0800 |
Street vendors |
|
0806 |
Women travelers |
|
0812 |
Men travelers |
|
0818 |
Traveling groups |
|
0820 |
Traveling pairs |
|
0853 |
Women sitting |
|
0855 |
Men and women sitting |
OOP |
0859 |
Men sitting |
|
0865 |
Sitting groups |
|
0867 |
Sitting pairs |
|
0870 |
Track repairmen |
|
0876 |
Track repairmen |
|
0889 |
Blacksmiths & horses |
|
0891 |
Foresters & shepherds |
|
0896 |
Farm workers |
|
0902 |
Harvesters |
|
0908 |
Railroad personnel #1 |
|
0914 |
Railroad personnel #2 |
|
0948 |
Bathers |
|
0954 |
Swimmers |
|
0960 |
Swimmers |
|
0963 |
Wedding group |
OOP |
0967 |
Wedding guests |
|
1006 |
Jockeys |
OOP |
1007 |
Riders on horseback |
OOP |
1008 |
Riding school |
OOP |
1009 |
Military horsemen |
OOP |
2024 |
Pirates #1 |
OOP; rare |
2025 |
Pirates #2 |
OOP; rare |
2174 |
Musicians on the beach |
|
2180 |
Pedestrians |
|
2191 |
School children |
|
2197 |
Children playing |
OOP |
2203 |
Ice cream shop |
|
2209 |
Organ grinder |
|
2234 |
Workers loading |
|
2240 |
Workers loading |
|
2246 |
Policemen |
|
2250 |
Policemen |
OOP |
2252 |
Traffic policemen |
|
2258 |
Workers |
|
2264 |
Street cleaners |
|
2268 |
Railroad personnel #3 |
|
2280 |
Railroad personnel #5 |
|
2286 |
Passengers climbing stairs |
|
2292 |
Passengers |
|
2295 |
Passengers |
|
2301 |
Passengers |
|
2303 |
Garden dwarves |
OOP; rare |
2319 |
Women hanging laundry |
|
2325 |
Gas station workers |
|
2331 |
Race car mechanics |
|
2337 |
Cement workers |
|
2343 |
Construction workers |
|
2371 |
Firemen #1 |
OOP |
2377 |
Firemen #2 |
|
2397 |
Young people |
|
2398 |
Happy drunks |
|
2399 |
Chubby passengers |
|
2400 |
Chubby couples |
|
2403 |
Sheep & shepherd |
|
2406 |
Pigs & goats |
OOP |
2407 |
Cows - brown |
|
2407 |
Cows - black |
|
2408 |
Show horses |
OOP |
2409 |
Work horses |
|
2410 |
Stags |
|
2411 |
Fallow deer |
|
2414 |
Wild boars and fawns |
OOP |
2417 |
Mountain goats |
OOP |
2451 |
Car occupants |
|
2454 |
Playground 1 |
|
2455 |
Playground 2 |
|
2458 |
Merchant stand |
OOP |
2462 |
Mini golf |
|
2465 |
Ping pong |
|
2466 |
Cats and dogs |
OOP |
2467 |
Hunting hounds |
OOP; rare |
2481 |
Wind surfers |
OOP |
2490 |
Tennis players and judge |
OOP |
2493 |
Rubber dinghy occupants |
OOP |
2496 |
Wagon with logs |
OOP |
2497 |
Wagon with freight |
OOP |
2508 |
German fire department 1 |
OOP |
2509 |
German fire department 2 |
OOP |
2535 |
Wedding group |
new |
2539 |
Passengers with luggage |
new |
2544 |
Wanderers |
new |
2550 |
Passengers |
new |
2558 |
Car mechanics |
new |
2567 |
Young passers-by |
new |
|
|
Where to Buy
Merten figures are available from a number of European online shops, as well as directly from Preiser. Vintage
sets frequently appear on eBay, although some are quite rare.
Copyright © 2017-2020 by David K. Smith. All Rights Reserved.
Corrections and contributions greatly appreciated. Thank you! |