Ertl Company

Template:Realworld

The Ertl Company (or Ertl for short) was a maker of die cast and injection molded plastic models.

History

AMT/Ertl company logos
File:AMTErtlLogo.jpg
1982-1986	1987-1992	1993-1999

Founded in 1945 by Fred Ertl Sr, the Iowa based occupied a specific market niche in the booming die cast model market of the time as it specialized in models of agricultural farming equipment and vehicles. Starting out with the manufacture of models for marketing purposes often licensed by real world manufacturers of farming equipment and vehicles, the company soon also produced models for collectors and as toys. In 1972 the company wanted to branch out with the introduction of injection molded plastic model kits, based upon their product line. Not gaining the hoped for popularity, Ertl wished to remain in the model kit market and adopted a strategy of acquisition of model kit and die cast model companies. In three decades Ertl acquired Carter Tru-Scale (1971), Structo Stamped Steel (1974), Aluminum Model Toys (1981), MPC Model Kits (1985), ECSI Model Kit Company (1987) and Britains Limited, in the process becoming one of the largest US manufacturers of model kits and die cast models. The purchase of AMT from Lesney Products, who was in the process of going bankrupt, led to the new name AMT/Ertl (suggesting an equivalent merger, which it was not, Ertl fully owned AMT, but wanted to retain the established brand name), which it would carry till 2000.

While an active acquirer of companies, Ertl itself was owned by a succession of holding companies, Victor Comptometer Corporation (1967-1977), Kidde, Inc. (1977-1987), Hanson PLC (1987-1999) and RC2 Corporation (1999-current). The last change in ownership proved to be far reaching for the company, though the "Ertl" name was first incorporated in the new parent company name, "Racing Champions/ERTL", suggesting a equal status within the parent company, a 2003 re-organization essentially dismantled the company, as it was split up in its original components. As of 2004, Ertl was relegated as a subsidiary brand under the RC2 umbrella, coming full circle as it only carries a product line of die cast agricultural equipment and vehicles, just as it did when the company started way back in 1945.

Star Trek association

Star Trek model kits

For the individual Star Trek model kits listing see AMT/Ertl.

With the acquisition of "AMT", leading to the new name "AMT/Ertl", Ertl also gained the license to produce the Star Trek model kit line. During the nearly three decades the company held the license, the line would see its largest expansion with numerous new additions, buoyed on with two more live action Star Trek series and eight more Star Trek films. AMT/Ertl lost out on the license for Star Trek: Voyager, which went to Revell-Monogram.

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock 1984 toy line

Though already having merged with AMT, which held the Star Trek license, Ertl released a small toy line based on Star Trek III: The Search for Spock in 1984, consisting of 4 plastic action figures and three diecast ship models (two of which was re-released in 1989), under its own brand name only.

Release	Item	Item number	Material	Scale	Notes
1984	Mr. Spock	331	Plastic	n/s	With phaser
	Captain Kirk	332	Plastic	n/s	With tricorder
	Scotty	333	Plastic	n/s	With phaser
	Klingon Leader (=Kruge)	334	Plastic	n/s	With Klingon monster dog
	USS Enterprise refit	1372	Diecast	1/2743
	USS Excelsior	1373	Diecast	n/s	Labeled as "NCC-1793"
	Bird of Prey	1374	Diecast	n/s	Two variants, one light blue and one light green on slightly differing cards
File:Ertl 1372 1984 diecast USS Enterprise.JPG
1989	USS Enterprise-A	1372	Diecast	1/2743	Re-issue for Star Trek V: The Final Frontier; Outfitted with new decals; On new card
	Bird of Prey	1374	Diecast	n/s	Re-issue for Star Trek V: The Final Frontier; Outfitted with new paint scheme; On new card
1991	USS Enterprise-A	n/a	Diecast	1/2743	Re-issue for Star Trek Smithsonian Exhibit as merchandise for their gift shop; On new card
File:Ertl 1991 diecast Enterprise Smithonian.jpg

External links

• Ertl Company at Wikipedia
• ErtlToys.com - official web site