|
Many small Danish toy factories emerged in the
years that followed World War II. In most cases production took place in
basements and in garages. I 1945 Guido Krohn-Rasmussen bought a foundry in
Copenhagen and began casting toy figures of metal.
The earliest known figures made by Krohn-Rasmussen from 1945 to 1950 are
true copies of Elastolin and Lineol figures. All German copyrights and patents
were cancelled after the war. Cheap scrap metal from 150 destroyed German
airplanes materialized into the first colourful toy figures made by this
small new factory.
It was not until Krohn-Rasmussen in 1950 made Knud Lyngsaa
his partner, that the name Krolyn became registered. It does not require
too much imagination to see how the name of the firm derived if one takes a
look at the names of the two gentlemen.
The partnership really boosted production which until then had been limited
to a few cowboys. Apart from more western figures, knights and Vikings of own design began to appear also. Production of
Krolyn figures with Krohn-Rasmussen and Lyngsaa as chairmen lasted until
1958, when the company was sold.
Krolyn changed owners a few times between 1958 and 1962. An ad from 1962
announced the moulds for sale and soon the figures disappeared from the
market. The metal figures were losing the competition to the plastics.
For a period of time around 1954 Tekno had a sole agency agreement with
Krolyn, selling the figures along with their own metal
guards. Krolyn made accessories for Tekno’s
cars at the same time.
The earliest mounted cowboys are without the brand name engraved under the
base of the horses. The rest of the production can be identified by the
’Krolyn’ and number engraved base. With the exception of some of the Vikings
which have been named (Røde Orm and Håkon Jarl). The horses of the Robin
Hood and the western series all have no. 1201. The horses of the knights are
no.1006 apart from the earliest ones which are blank under the base but
otherwise identical.
Some of the figures were bronze painted. They were sold as souvenirs.
Examples in "Gallery". Some are mounted on a plate to which a small copper
sign with the inscription ”Danmark” is attached. Most common bronze figures
are the Vikings and Hamlet.
 A few other metal figures are commonly found among Krolyn lots, but their
origins are not confirmed. A kneeling, scouting cowboy without base is
assumed to have been made by Krolyn. The total production of Krolyn is not
fully catalogued yet.
One thing that makes these attractive and colourful figures even more
interesting is the fact that many of them were named after heroes from
literature, films and comic books. Finding them in good original condition
is somewhat of a challenge though.
The listing in these pages is based upon an old order form and a catalogue
page. These important and very rare documents do not show descriptions of
the Vikings. They have been registered by number and engravings on known
copies.
Documentation of the story behind the firm and its figures is scarce. A few
results of collectors’ research are found under the "History" tab.
|
