Cursor Models

Cursor was a German company making models of antique and modern German vehicles. It is best known for its plastic replicas of vehicles mainly of the era 1880 to about 1920, produced for, and sold in, the Daimler-Benz museum in Stuttgart (Sinclair's 1974,4).

Museum Models

Cursor started making ultra detailed 1:40 scale plastic replicas of 1880-1920 era Mercedes-Benzes and Daimlers about 1969. The first models were started by model maker Wiking and then immediately taken over by Cursor (Force 1990, 122). Models produced (sometimes marked with the initials C.R.) were mostly of vehicles on exhibit at the Mercedes-Benz museum, like the 1886 'Drierad' three-wheeler and Daimler's gas powered 'horse buggy' of the same year. These were the first gas powered vehicles ever produced. Also made were an 1897 taxi, an 1896 firewagon, and the 1911 Blitzen Benz race car (Sinclair's 1977).

Some collectors are critical of plastic for collector's automobiles, but those in the know realize that companies like Cursor, Minialuxe of France and Brumm and RIO Models of Italy all have done their earlier 'bicycle' tire vehicles in plastic because the spidery detail necessary for realistic portrayal of wire wheels and roof ties is not possible with zamac (Sinclair's 1976).

Diecast Promotionals

About 1978, Cursor started to go in different directions. First, models of trucks, mostly Mercedes-Benzes, started to appear. Secondly, these were now often diecast in zamac. Then, similar to NZG Models and Conrad Models three or four Mercedes-Benz sedans (the 230, 200, and 190), began to appear in 1:35 scale! (Force 1990, 124-127). This marked Cursor's production of miniatures for more purely promotional purposes. Apparently all three companies were taking similar marching orders from Mercedes-Benz on how the company wanted its promotional models standardized. A BMW 3 series coupe also was made by Cursor in the 1:35 scale.

The truck models were accompanied by tractors, bulldozers, Unimogs, at least four buses, a frontloader, a backhoe and some antique trucks and tractors - one of a 1903 Bussing flatbed truck and a 1930s Fendt tractor. Apart from these last two, the trucks and heavy construction equipment were very similar to NZG and Conrad, but Cursor never matched the dizzying productivity of these model makers. In fact, after producing about 40 different models over 18 years, Cursor seems to have produced nothing more after about 1987.

References

Edward Force. 1990. Classic Miniature Vehicles Made in Germany. Schiffer Publications.

Sinclair's Auto Miniatures. 1974. Exact Scale Sales Magazine. Erie, Pennsylvania.

Sinclair's Auto Miniatures. 1976. Typewritten sales catalog / flyer. Erie, Pennsylvania.

Sinclair's Auto Miniatures. 1977. Typewritten single page flyer focusing on Cursor. Erie, Pennsylvania.