A Hohm driving school large-scale instructional model car, G...

Estimate

£600 - £800

A Hohm driving school large-scale instructional model car, German, post-War, (1960s), the cutaway model exposing mechanical parts, mounted to a rectangular wooden plinth, 36 cm high x 113 cm x 38 cm. In 1934, Emil Hohm, an Opel dealer in central Germany, and Werner Degener, a driving instruction-manual publisher, recognized the need for an instructional model (modelle) which was portable and could easily demonstrate the mechanical and operation functions of the automobile. A true-to-scale model of an Opel Admiral was produced and shown at the 1939 Automobile Exhibition in Berlin. A hit with the crowds, production soon started with six employees. After World War II, with an upturn in the German economy, there was a period of rapid growth in the automobile industry. Driving schools sprang up everywhere, and the functional model became part of the teaching curriculum. Some schools produced their own instructional chassis. Due to the high quality and low production, Hohm models were never inexpensive, originally costing over 900 DM in 1959. Nonetheless, Hohm produced over 7000 models of all types, capturing almost 70% of the market. Their quality and good name was known all over Europe, and many were exported to Spain, Finland, Indonesia, Greece and other countries. More often than not these models have been restored and re-painted this is in its original factory finish with a pleasing patina. Structurally sound, with moving parts in working order. Some paint wear and light rust appearing in places.