Merten Elephant set

During the last couple of months I was lucky to purchase some new Merten models, I believe this completes the O scale elephant set.
These are the larger O scale figures (1:43 scale), the biggest is the African bull measuring 72mm at the tip of the ear.  
They are possibly from the 1950s-1970s, made in Germany and are rare.  The plastic is hard and brittle, the tails can snap easily.

Real world heights
After measuring the figures, based on these being 1:43 scale, the man is 5.9ft tall.
Elephant shoulder heights
African bull=9ft
African cow=8.2ft
African calf=4ft

Indian bull=8ft
Indian cow=7.6ft
Indian calf=3.7ft


African calf, cow and bull.


Indian cow, calf and bull.

Very very nice!!

It's the first time I see the babies, congratulation Andrew

They are awesome !!! So accurate and alive-looking even if they are tiny
In perfect condition, too !

In your fine photos they could be in a book showing how they look, and the difference between the two species
And that little man !!

Thankyou for sharing

Lovely and accurate old models!

Are there more elephants by Merten?

Thank you Andreas, Christophe, Susanne, and Taos for your comments.  
I think having the human there helps to show the scale of the animals well.

widukind wrote:

Are there more elephants by Merten?

After speaking with a fellow collector I missed one elephant in the post, this is the young African bull (Junger Bulle).  
The style looks different from the rest, I think it is an older model that was made by a different sculptor.  
From what I know there are 7 large O scale Merten elephants.

Merten also made animals in the smaller 1:87 scale, there are 6 elephants in that series I believe.

This young African bull is a copy of a small Composition model, I don't know the brand.

Thank you Andrew, i think you answered my question perfect:) Because i think, will look at home, i have this figurine and dont know the brand :)

It is the elephant i have

Kikimalou wrote:

This young African bull is a copy of a small Composition model, I don't know the brand.

That is interesting about a composition version, it could be that mines is a later plastic version of this model.  Speaking with other collectors this elephant is known to be a Merten figure from the 1950s, when I look at the "Germany" stamp on the bottom it matches exactly the same as the other Mertens I have plus the plastic and paint type is the same.

widukind wrote:

Thank you Andrew, i think you answered my question perfect:) Because i think, will look at home, i have this figurine and dont know the brand :)

Glad to help Andreas, your elephant is painted different than mine but in a two color technique similar to my Indian elephants.

Another elephantastic topic! Thanks for providing all that useful information and making us learning more about these wonderful toys and creatures!

Another thread where the OP's images have disappeared.