Conrad Models - From Gescha To Conrad

From Gescha To Conrad

On early German toys the abbreviation "Ges. Gesch." was short for the German for "trademark registered". This may have led to the eventual name of the predecessor toy firm of Gescha which was established in 1923 (Force 1990, p. 91). Gescha specialized in wind-up tin toys similar to Schuco Modell or Gama Toys. The Conrad website says that Conrad started making diecast models in 1956, however it appears that Gescha used the Conrad name as a sub-brand first (Conrad website; Johnson 1998, pp. 44-45). Most diecast truck and heavy equipment models, for which Conrad became most well-known, were marketed as Gescha in the 1960s and 1970s. The name Conrad was increasingly used through the 1970s and by about 1980, the Gescha name was mostly discontinued.

The official website says that since 1987 the company has been run by Gunther Conrad assisted by his wife Gerde and assisted by their son, Michael. Thus the company has remained a family owned business, probably since about 1956 when the Conrad name was introduced when the Conrad family took control of Gescha.