Ernst Plank
The Ernst Plank KG was a Nuremberg factory for metal toys.
It was founded in 1866 by Ernst Plank. Initially, steam engines and the magic lantern were produced. Plank was one of the first companies to produce toy steam engines. Plank was also known for his optical toys. In 1882 the company began to manufacture clockwork locomotives, soon afterwards also alcohol-fired toys - steam locomotives and ships of the same type. From 1890 electric railways were also represented in the delivery program. Rail cars and accessories were added around 1900, some of which were produced by Märklin and obtained in exchange for steam engines. Another specialty were physical teaching aids and experiment kits. In the 1920s, metal construction kits were also manufactured under the name "EP-Modello".
In the economic crisis of the 1920s, the company lost its market importance and in 1930 ran into financial difficulties. The company was finally sold in 1934 to the brothers Hans and Fritz Schaller, who stopped manufacturing toys and produced film projectors under the brand name “Noris”. Plank already had some experience in this area with his cinematograph. From then on, the former "factory for metal toys" operated as a "factory for optical precision devices".
In the decades that followed, the company manufactured film projectors for home use. The company reached its heyday in this sector in the 1960s and 1970s. With the advent of video cameras, sales of home projectors fell, especially for the Super 8 format . There was a first massive break in production in 1980, and production was discontinued in 1985. In 1996 Ernst Plank KG went bankrupt and was wound up.