Mattel GmbH Spielzeug

Mattel made an extensive investment in MMM for the German-speaking market. Many playsets and figures were available in German packaging beginning in 1968. The items appear to have been packaged in Germany as both the cardboard used (uncoated back stock) and the bubbles on blister cards were different, using a thinner plastic that appears to yellow/darken quite a bit with time.

There's also a bit of a haphazard nature to the German carded products, first evinced by the reversed placement of figures on Cat Trac Cards (my thought is that this was a reflection of the Right Hand drive but I have no verification). The reversed placement appears to be more common on the German cards than not but figures facing either direction have been found. Second in what was used to attach figures to Cat Tracs - if a twist-tie was used it could be pretty much any random color and sometimes a pipe-cleaner is found instead of a twist-tie. The lack of consistency implies that there was a more casual attitude towards the packaging of MMM toys in Germany than elsewhere.

 

Here's a complete stock list of Mattel GmbH playsets made available for the German Market.

Mattel GmbH Spielzeug Logo

Mattel GmbH Spielzeug is Mattel's German subsidiary for importing & distributing products in Germany and associated markets (Austria, Switzerland).

GmbH stands for "Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung" which means "company with limited liability"; Spielzeug means "Toys"

Mattel GmbH Neuheiten 1968

This German-language 8-page catalog features Zaüber-Blüten® on the cover (Thingmaker Magic Flowers), with various dolls, Hot Wheels, and two pages of Major Matt Mason! Also included were four pages of multi-copy order-forms. This probably predates the Mattel 1968 Spielzeug Catalog.

Mattel GmbH Spielzeug 1968 Catalog

This is the first German Mattel catalog to feature Major Matt Mason, with a rehash of the cover of the 1967 Mattel Fall catalog.

Mattel GmbH Neuheiten 1969 Catalog

This 4-page catalog is similar to the 8-page from 1968. The cover is of an extensive Heisse Räder set-up (Hot Wheels) About three-quarters of one page features Major Matt Mason!

Mattel GmbH Spielzeug 1969 Catalog

Utilizing the cover of the US 1968 Catalog, Mattel continues in the German marketplaces, offering their usual fare, and in particular Major Matt Mason!

Mattel GmbH Spielzeug 70 Catalog

Interesting catalog with a plastic, spiral binding - not sure if this is "as issued" or a later fix for a loose binding. Date has been shortened to just "70" instead of 1970.

Mattel GmbH Art Nr. 6302-1110 Major Matt Mason Mattel's Mann Im Weltraum Insert Catalog Front

Paul Vreede sent in these scans of the German-language version of the 6-page insert folder. Click the image at left. | Catalog Back.

Mattel GmbH Spielzeug Products

Here's a list of Mattel GmbH items that I either possess or have been given permission to include on the site. Some have translations, some do not but hopefully at some point they will all have translations to English. The literal translations can be quite amusing.

As an aside, based on the Mattel GmbH catalogs above, Germany did not get some of the more common US play sets, like the Space Station Space Crawler Super Action Set or the MMM with Power Suit card.

Mattel GmbH Art.Nr. 6300 Major Matt Mason (with Flight Pak)

The Mattel GmbH Spielzeug release of the Major Matt Mason Flight Pak.

Mattel GmbH Art.Nr. 6301 Mondanzug (Moon Suit Pak)

The Mattel GmbH Spielzeug release of the Moon Suit Pak.

Mattel GmbH Art.Nr. 6303 Major Matt Mason mit Mondanzug (with Moon Suit)

The Mattel GmbH Spielzeug release of Major Matt Mason with Moon Suit.

Mattel GmbH Art.Nr. 1-6306 Satelliten-Abschussrampe (Satellite Launch Pak)

The Mattel GmbH Spielzeug release of the Satellite Launch Pak.

Mattel GmbH Art.Nr. 1-6307 Weltraum-Sonden-Abschuss-Basis (Space Probe Pak)

The Mattel GmbH Spielzeug release of the Space Probe Pak.

Mattel GmbH Art.Nr. 1-6308 Weltraum-Station (Space Station)

The Mattel GmbH Spielzeug release of the Space Station.

Mattel GmbH Art.Nr. 6317 Sgt Storm (with Flight Pak)

The Mattel GmbH Spielzeug release of the Sgt. Storm Flight Pak.

Mattel GmbH Art.Nr. 6318 Major Matt Mason mit Raupenfahrzeug (with Cat Trac)

The Mattel GmbH Spielzeug release of the Major Matt Mason with Cat Trac.

Mattel GmbH Art.Nr. 6319 Sgt. Storm mit Raupenfahrzeug (with Cat Trac)

The Mattel GmbH Spielzeug release of the Sgt Storm with Cat Trac.

Mattel GmbH Art.Nr. 1-6320 Düsen-Aufklärer (Reconojet Pak)

The Mattel GmbH Spielzeug release of the Reconojet Pak.

Mattel GmbH Art.Nr. 1-6321 Weltraum-Zelt (Space Shelter Pak)

The Mattel GmbH Spielzeug release of the Space Shelter Pak.

Mattel GmbH Art.Nr. 1-6330 Captain Laser

The Mattel GmbH Spielzeug release of Captain Lazer. Note the name change... click on the image for the explanation of the change from Lazer to Laser.

Mattel GmbH Art.Nr. 1-6331 Callisto

The Mattel GmbH Spielzeug release of Callisto.

Mattel GmbH Art.Nr. 1-6332 Jeff Long (with Cat Trac)

The Mattel GmbH Spielzeug release of the Major Jeff Long with Cat Trac.

Mattel GmbH Art.Nr. 1-6342 Gamma-Strahlen Abwehrkanone (Gamma Ray-Gard)

The Mattel GmbH Spielzeug release of the Gamma Ray-Gard Pak.

Mattel GmbH Art.Nr. 1-6343 Weltraum-Stelzen (Supernaut Power Limbs Pak)

The Mattel GmbH Spielzeug release of the Supernaut Power Limbs Pak.

Mattel GmbH Art.Nr. 1-6344 Strahlen-Schutzanzug (Space Power Suit Pak)

The Mattel GmbH Spielzeug release of the Space Power Suit Pak.

Mattel GmbH Art.Nr. 1-6346 Weltraum Transporter (Uni-Tred Space Hauler)

The Mattel GmbH Spielzeug release of the Unitred. Basically the same vehicle, with German-language box and instructions. Most notable is the white insert, instead of the usual brown cardboard and the Avery labels. Click the thumbnail at left for details.

Mattel GbmH Art.Nr. 1-6347 Flug In's All (Space Travel Pak)

The Mattel GmbH Spielzeug release of the Space Travel Pak.

All Mattel images and captions are copyright Mattel and used without permission. All other content, including images and editorial, is Copyright © 1997-2024 John Eaton and/or contributors unless otherwise stated. If there are any comments or objections, please contact John Eaton or Paul Vreede.