Efsi Toys
Formerly | Bestbox (1959–71) Efsi (1971–96) [1] |
---|---|
Founded | 1959 |
Headquarters | , |
Products | Diecast scale model cars, commercial vehicles |
Website | hollandoto.nl |
Holand Oto is a Dutch manufacturing company based in Weert that produces diecast scale model cars and trucks. The company was established in 1959 in Heerlen as "Bestbox", then changing its name to "Efsi" in early 1970s.
The company could be considered the
History
In 1959 (some sources say 1962), Bestbox started making simple diecast cars in Limburg province.[2] In the 1960s, the coal mines in Limburg closed. Some significant post-mining industries where workers relocated were automobile producers DAF and Nedcar in Born. After the closure, DSM (The Dutch State Mines) tried providing new employment to out-of-work or disabled miners in different shops or factories. These 'WIM' workshops (Workshop for Disabled Miners) were backed by a national Fund for Social Institutions (FSI).
One of the activities was to continue the production of Best-box models. Later the name was changed to EFSI, apparently a phonetic pronunciation of FSI.[3] The Bestbox name was discontinued in 1971, perhaps because of the similarity to the name (and competition) of Matchbox toys.[4] Though similar to Matchbox, and popular locally, Efsi toys do not seem to have been too well known outside the Netherlands.[5] Most Efsi products were marked "Made in Holland" (as opposed to 'Made in the Netherlands') on the base.
Early offerings
Among EFSI's first vehicles were a set of 1960s
Other cars, like a
HO trucks
Many Efsi dies were made by a company in
Early trucks were produced with a basic unadorned black wheel design, while later ones incorporated a triangular chrome wheel that looked a lot like a Majorette design. Packaging in the 1980s was simple as trucks were held in flimsy plastic containers with an EFSI identification sticker on the lower side of the container. Later, more design and color was incorporated on a cardboard blister, but, still, the presentation was simpler than more developed diecast companies – no printing was usually seen on the back of the blister card. One interesting aspect of packaging was the eight sided STOP sign in red seen on the blister packages for EFSI Toys. The sign, which says "code" right next to it, seems to be a warning that the toy is unsafe for children under a certain age. Most EFSI toys were stamped 'Holland' or 'Made in Holland'. Blister packs for smaller trucks and cars were variously marked as Efsi RevWheels, Efsi Toppers, or Efsi Plus.[6]
Holland Oto
In 1996, apparently when the disabled miner program was discontinued, the company was taken over by Vincent Nies and its name changed to "Holland Oto",[1] which is still in operation, making contemporary models of trucks, buses, and agricultural vehicles.[2][11] Today, Holland-Oto is headquartered in Weert, just southeast of Eindhoven, but north of the Heerlen home of the former Efsi establishment in Limburg. While earlier Efsi packaging was either white or yellow or some combination of the two, the Holland Oto vehicles were generally the same products, but now in a blue and orange package.[6]
Holland Oto had connections with Dutch AHC, and thus today has connections to the JOAL and Pilen enterprises in Spain.[4] For example, in 1980, Pilen S.A. introduced new vehicles. These were the former Model Ts rebadged and some of the typical Efsi HO trucks – though re-engineered by Pilen with that company's considerable talent for diecast refinement.[7] Besides Joal, today Holland-Oto is affiliated with or owns Universal Hobbies, Motorart diecast cars and construction vehicles, HiSpeed diecast classic vehicles, and Kids' Globe Farming toys.[11]
References
- Rixon, Peter (2005). Miller's Collecting Diecast Vehicles. London: Mitchell Beazley. ISBN 9781845330309.
Footnotes
- ^ a b About us - history on Holland Oto
- ^ a b c Bickford, Keith (2009). "Bestbox/Efsi (Holland)". Bickford's Diecast Oddities. Presented by the Bickford Diecast Research Center.
- ^ a b Best box series / Efsi / etc... Made in Holland. 2010–2011. Forum in Caradisiac.com (in French).
- ^ a b c d Breithaupt, Doug. 2001. Dutch Treat: The EFSI/Bestbox Story. Toy Collector webpage.
- ^ a b Rixon 2005, p. 85.
- ^ a b c Bras, Jorge. 2012. Efsi Toys. Photobucket picture collection.
- ^ a b Bras Jorge. 2012. Pilen Catalogo 1980. Photobucket member profile.
- ^ Efsi-toys. 2021. Efsi History. Website of Efsi-toys (in Dutch).
- ^ a b Rixon 2005, p. 97.
- ISBN 9781574320411.
- ^ a b Holland-Oto Miniaturen. 2010. Company website.