Tipp and Company
59 years in operation (1912–1971)
About Tipp and Company
Tipp & Co. produced lithographed tin toys including military vehicles, aircraft, and ships widely exported before and after WWII. Their postwar tin toys for the American market — buses and delivery vans — are colorful and highly collectible.
Founding
Founded in Nuremberg in 1912 and built up by Philipp Ullmann, who later fled Nazi Germany and founded Mettoy in England.
History of Tipp and Company
Tipp & Co. — marked "TippCo" — was one of the major Nuremberg tinplate makers, producing lithographed cars, buses, delivery vans, aeroplanes and motorcycles to a high standard. Its lithography is bold and its vehicles are among the best-proportioned German tinplate of the interwar period.
The company's history is entangled with the politics of the period in two directions. Its Jewish owner Philipp Ullmann was forced out and left Germany in 1933, going on to found Mettoy in England — which is how Nuremberg manufacturing knowledge reached Northampton and eventually produced Corgi. Under its subsequent ownership Tipp produced military toys for the Nazi-era domestic market, including aircraft and armoured vehicles carrying period insignia, and that material is subject to legal restrictions on sale in several European countries.
Ullmann regained an interest in the firm after the war, and Tipp continued producing tinplate vehicles into the 1970s, closing in 1971.
Timeline
- 1912Tipp & Co. is founded in Nuremberg
- 1919Philipp Ullmann builds the firm into a major tinplate manufacturer
- 1933Ullmann is forced out and leaves Germany, later founding Mettoy in England
- 1936Military toys are produced for the Nazi-era domestic market
- 1948Ullmann regains an interest in the firm; postwar tinplate production resumes
- 1971The company closes
Notable & Best-Selling Toys
- Tipp & Co. tin military truck
- Tipp & Co. tin bus
- Tipp & Co. airplane
- Tipp & Co. tin delivery van
- Tipp & Co. tin race car
Identifying & Dating Tipp and Company Toys
- Look for "TippCo" or a "TC" mark lithographed on the base or body, with "Made in Germany", "US-Zone Germany" or "Made in Western Germany".
- Zone markings bracket early postwar production to 1946–1953.
- Prewar military pieces carry period insignia in the lithography, which dates them and carries legal implications in some jurisdictions.
Collector's Notes
- Large lithographed cars, buses and aeroplanes in original condition with working mechanisms are the strongest sellers, and boxes add heavily.
- Check the law in your jurisdiction before buying or shipping insignia-bearing military tinplate; several countries restrict it regardless of collecting intent.
- Lithography condition is the value driver. Reproduction German military tinplate exists and is a known problem in this specific area.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When was Tipp and Company founded?
Tipp and Company was founded in 1912, based in Nuremberg, Germany.
Is Tipp and Company still in business?
No. Tipp and Company ceased operations in 1971, after 59 years in business.
What is Tipp and Company best known for?
Tipp and Company is best known for Tipp & Co. tin military truck, Tipp & Co. tin bus, Tipp & Co. airplane, among other toys.
Where was Tipp and Company located?
Tipp and Company was based in Nuremberg, Germany.
What kinds of toys did Tipp and Company make?
Tipp and Company is categorized under tin toys, military, vehicles, clockwork.
Who founded Tipp and Company?
Founded in Nuremberg in 1912 and built up by Philipp Ullmann, who later fled Nazi Germany and founded Mettoy in England.
How can you identify genuine Tipp and Company toys?
Look for "TippCo" or a "TC" mark lithographed on the base or body, with "Made in Germany", "US-Zone Germany" or "Made in Western Germany". Zone markings bracket early postwar production to 1946–1953. Prewar military pieces carry period insignia in the lithography, which dates them and carries legal implications in some jurisdictions.
Are Tipp and Company toys valuable?
Large lithographed cars, buses and aeroplanes in original condition with working mechanisms are the strongest sellers, and boxes add heavily. Check the law in your jurisdiction before buying or shipping insignia-bearing military tinplate; several countries restrict it regardless of collecting intent. Lithography condition is the value driver. Reproduction German military tinplate exists and is a known problem in this specific area.