Founded in Sonneberg (Thuringia), Germany, in 1790 as J.G. Escher & Sohn, manufacturers of abrasives and toys, renamed to JGES Theuern in 1920. Postwar model production started in 1948, originally to make use of the capacity of the machinery present. The privately held Company was expropriated in 1953 and renamed VEB Press-und Schleifmittel, a name that was later changed into Plasta Werke Sonneberg, Betrieb Theuern, Germany.
There was also a prewar production, but due to the war, the Kdf JGES were never distributed. See the Kdf JGES listings. For the regular postwar JGES, see JGES.
The postwar JGES Split Window VW models were made from Duroplast (bakelite), a material that was not injected in the mould but was formed under pressure which resulted in a thicker, hollow one-piece model. Good details for the front and rear hoods, with 13 engine lids, windows and door seams. The Duroplast wheels usually had a different color than the body. One of the few VWs produced in the former East Germany with the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9 and 12 engraved inside the body (as seen so far) and the model number 907. There is no chassis. Company owner was J.G. Escher, hence the Company name JGES.
The JGES cars were also used for a traffic education game. For that purpose the cars had a duroplast pole attached to the car (on both sides of the body a hole was drilled to cater for the pole). These poles were intended to simulate the trafficator for use in the game. The pole was attached loose in the body of the car. By pushing the rod, it could stick out to the right or to the left, depending on the direction chosen. So if you find a model with 2 holes, it is a traffic education model.
Enclosed some pictures of the traffic game. Unfortunately it is not clear what parts really belong to the game. Most probably at least one of the 2 variations of traffic signs do not belong to it.. Hopefully another game shows up and we can compare...
JGES produced the following Duroplast toys (all numbered from 901 to 908) and it seems that they all were used in the traffic game:
|
901 |
US Limousine |
|
902 |
Convertible |
|
903 |
Truck |
|
904 |
Two-axle trailer for Truck 903 |
|
905 |
IFA Pionier tractor |
|
906 |
Two-axle trailer for Tractor 905 |
|
907 |
Volkswagen Split Window Beetle |
|
908 |
Mercedes 300SL |
