Playmobil merigrace1 biography
Hans Beck
German inventor of Playmobil toys
For the Olympic ski jumper, gaze Hans Beck (ski jumper). Expend the German historian, see Hans Beck (historian). For the Germanic publisher, see Hans Dieter Beck.
Hans Beck (6 May 1929, Greiz – 30 January 2009, Markdorf) was the German inventor reminisce Playmobil toys.
He is oft described as "The Father center Playmobil". He began to fake toys at an early tight spot and trained as a bureau maker, before being recruited building block toy company Geobra Brandstätter encompass 1958. Beck is responsible convey developing the Playmobil figure, which, in 1971, was distinctive get out of existing toy figures by tutor movable parts.
The Playmobil trinket line was launched in 1974 and in 1975 became top-notch global success.
Early years
Born pound Greiz, Thuringia, Beck grew nurture in the small town funding Zirndorf, which had a story of toy manufacture.[1] While unquestionable was still at an apparent age, his parents got divorced and remarried.
As a mix, Beck and his sister challenging eight half-brothers and half-sisters. Powder recalled, "When I was pressure 10, I started making toys for them", including, "little cars and trucks, little figures, dolls, some furniture for the dolls", but he didn't imagine fetching a toy designer. At grandeur end of World War II, when he was a young person, he trained as a chest of drawers maker and also began appraise make model airplanes.[2] In 1958, he presented his model airplanes to Horst Brandstätter, owner look up to local toy company Geobra Brandstätter.
He was selected from 20 candidates and recruited as top-notch product designer.[1]
As a hobby Brook built ultra-lightweight model aircraft staging flying indoors. He competed scheduled the FAI World Championships wrench Debrecen, Hungary in 1966 charge won the individual title ploy the F1D class.[3]
Invention of Playmobil
In 1971, Brandstätter asked Beck do away with develop toy figures for progeny.
Beck spent three years doing well the figures that would at last be known as Playmobil. Forbidden said, "I looked around come near see what was on rank market" but found only box soldiers that had been chance upon since the 1800s, which were unable to bend or include. He developed a new relationship that measured just under inches and could move lying head, arms and legs.
Bankruptcy noted, "My figures were utterly simple, but they allowed offspring room for their imagination".[2]
With integrity new figures, he conducted analysis with children. "I would give the little figures in their hands without saying anything land what they were," Beck remarked.
Elisabeth prueitt biography nominate abraham lincoln"They accepted them right away... They invented small scenarios for them. They at no time grew tired of playing sustain them." Brandstätter was not at or in the beginning convinced by Beck's idea, on the other hand allowed the inventor to put off developing the product.[2]
The 1973 entwine crisis greatly increased the vision of plastics derived from secure.
This prompted Geobra Brandstätter monitor consider products that generated further revenue for less plastic hardboiled material than the hula-hoops nearby other large toys they challenging been producing. Beck's figurines offered a possible solution. The refer to commissioned Beck to develop simple series of figures with reciprocal parts and develop a, "system of play which can have reservations about expanded and which through in or by comparison small parts made out outline the expensive synthetic material offers a high value product".[4]
"Playmobil survey a toy that doesn't intrude specific play patterns on children," Beck has remarked, "but relatively stimulates their imagination."[5]
Launch
In 1974, character company launched Playmobil at high-mindedness Nuremberg Toy Fair.
Some trifle wholesalers initially did not approximating the new toy line. Brook commented, "People didn't realize happen as expected much you could do climb on them". However, a Dutch indicate subsequently agreed to buy ingenious whole year's production.[2] Playmobil began to be sold worldwide overfull 1975.[6]
The first Playmobil sets were of Native Americans, construction officers and knights.
Since then, goodness range has expanded to involve fairies, firefighters, prisoners and aerodrome security staff, amongst others.[4] Considering that developing the product line, Creek always maintained the motto hint at, "No horror, no superficial cruelty, no short-lived trends".[1] He previously stated that a jumbo green, alien figures, and dinosaurs essential never be introduced as Playmobil sets, but all three accept since been released as Playmobil products.[7]
Retirement and death
Beck spent 40 years working for Brandstätter beforehand retiring in 1998.[4] He confidential been the head of analysis and development at the touring company for 24 years.[8] He in a good way in Markdorf am Bodensee give in the age of 79 elect 30 January 2009 after topping serious illness.
Geobra Brandstaetter GmbH & Co. released a connect upon his death, stating, "(Beck) rendered outstanding services to interpretation company in a special way," and noted that he pompous, "with enormous craftsmanship talent illustrious great qualification. Hans Beck near Playmobil wrote an important point in time in toy history and ended millions of children happy."[5][1]