Johann Distler founded, in 1895 in Nürnberg, the Metallwarenfabrik Johann Distler KG. Until WW1 they mainly produced Penny Toys. Later they also produced cars, planes and mechanical toys. In 1936 the Company was bought by Ernst Völkl (also owner of TRIX) due to the fact that Johann Distler was Jewish and need to sell his company. DISTLER mainly produced for large retailers and mail order. In 1962, production in Germany was seized and the tools were sold to Belgium, where some toys (like the Porsche 356) were still produced for some years.
Very nice lithographed tinplate body with cut out windows. Contour of the roof, sides, front and rear hoods and fenders outlined by pinstripes and tin litho button headlights. Tin plate chassis with bumpers, seat with driver, metal wheels and clockwork motor with a brake lever protruding out the rear hood. There is a "fir tree" symbol stamped into the side of the clockwerk motor and the original key has the same stamping that indicates the well-known German clockwerk specialist company, Gebrüder Bühler. Chassis may or may not be stamped with “MADE IN GERMANY.” License plate registration number IIIA 42801 (same license plate as the KdF Wagen present at the Cornerstone presentation in 1938). Rare versions exist with body lithographed flat black or camouflage.
Variations:
Body is lithographed KdF blue/gray, green/gray, dark green, flat black or camouflaged.
Body is found with or without pin stripes.
Silver lithographed or gray painted chassis stamped with or without “Made In Germany.”
Black or gray colored tin seat with driver and steering wheel
Metal or hard rubber wheels with ribbed hubcaps.
Clockwerk motor with a brake lever.
