Dux (Merzig Toy Co.)
59 years in operation (1913–1972)
About Dux (Merzig Toy Co.)
Dux produced German construction toys and tin novelties. Their Astroplast construction kit — an early flexible plastic rod-and-socket building system — anticipated later construction toy systems and was popular in postwar Europe.
History of Dux (Merzig Toy Co.)
Dux is remembered for one toy above all others: the Dux-Astroman, a large robot of the late 1950s built in clear and coloured plastic over a visible mechanical chassis, driven through a wired hand controller. Unlike the Japanese tinplate robots of the same years, which hid their works behind lithographed panels, the Astroman displayed its gearing through a transparent torso — which is exactly why it has become one of the most recognisable European robot toys of the period.
The wider Dux range covered metal and plastic construction sets and mechanical toys, aimed at the same constructional-play market that Meccano and Trix served, and produced in the German toy trade over a long period. Company documentation is thinner than for the Nuremberg names, and the Dux brand has been applied across enough different owners and product types that attribution of individual pieces needs care.
Timeline
- 1913The firm begins producing toys in Germany
- 1950Metal and plastic construction sets form the core of the postwar range
- 1958The Dux-Astroman robot is introduced with a transparent body and wired remote control
- 1972Production ends
Notable & Best-Selling Toys
- Dux Astroplast construction kit
- Dux tin vehicles
- Dux building sets
Identifying & Dating Dux (Merzig Toy Co.) Toys
- Look for "DUX" moulded, stamped or printed on the toy or its base, usually with a German country-of-origin mark.
- The Astroman is marked on the body or base and came with a wired controller and a printed box; the controller is the component most often missing.
- Construction sets carry the Dux name on the box and on printed instruction sheets rather than on individual parts.
Collector's Notes
- The Astroman is the piece the market wants, and it needs to be complete: controller, cable, arms, antenna and the clear body panels, none of which survive well. Boxed examples are scarce and expensive.
- The clear plastic yellows and becomes brittle with light exposure, and cracks around the arm sockets are common. This is difficult to repair invisibly.
- Construction sets are worth much less and should be assessed on completeness against the parts list on the box lid.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When was Dux (Merzig Toy Co.) founded?
Dux (Merzig Toy Co.) was founded in 1913, based in Merzig, Germany.
Is Dux (Merzig Toy Co.) still in business?
No. Dux (Merzig Toy Co.) ceased operations in 1972, after 59 years in business.
What is Dux (Merzig Toy Co.) best known for?
Dux (Merzig Toy Co.) is best known for Dux Astroplast construction kit, Dux tin vehicles, Dux building sets.
Where was Dux (Merzig Toy Co.) located?
Dux (Merzig Toy Co.) was based in Merzig, Germany.
What kinds of toys did Dux (Merzig Toy Co.) make?
Dux (Merzig Toy Co.) is categorized under building toys, tin toys, educational.
How can you identify genuine Dux (Merzig Toy Co.) toys?
Look for "DUX" moulded, stamped or printed on the toy or its base, usually with a German country-of-origin mark. The Astroman is marked on the body or base and came with a wired controller and a printed box; the controller is the component most often missing. Construction sets carry the Dux name on the box and on printed instruction sheets rather than on individual parts.
Are Dux (Merzig Toy Co.) toys valuable?
The Astroman is the piece the market wants, and it needs to be complete: controller, cable, arms, antenna and the clear body panels, none of which survive well. Boxed examples are scarce and expensive. The clear plastic yellows and becomes brittle with light exposure, and cracks around the arm sockets are common. This is difficult to repair invisibly. Construction sets are worth much less and should be assessed on completeness against the parts list on the box lid.