Mobaco – Moubal – RetroBuildingToys

Mobaco consists of thick cardboard base plate with square holes. Wooden columns of various heights could be inserted. With various cardboard like pannels a building structure could be created. Mobaco also used a very efficient building plan system and so having all parts are numbered.

Mobaco came with many different sets (first two sets in 1924). It was produced & sold by Moubal in Zeist and later sold via Jumbo.

For much more game related information, visit mobaco.nl.

History

A picture of the Mobaco-timeline:

Mobaco is originated by simular building game Pulko Bauwkasten. Most likely there was somekind of cooperation between mr. Pulkowisky and Moubal, where Moubal basically provided a better production method.

After the first 7 years of selling the Mobaco game, Moubal started to increase sales by selling a bigger variaty of contructions, adding: windmills, garages & Model-Z.

Moubal also tried to sell different games, including Elba, which uses the same ‘cardboard’ material.

After WW2, Jumbo took over the sales & the boxes were reduced a lot, increasing profit. Finally there was a new toy on the block: Lego, which basically vanished a lot of these building toys.

Today there are still many collectors, at least in The Netherlands, which are collecting & building with/including Mobaco. Some active members are found on the facebook page.

Due to the 100 existance of this toy, there were some exibitions organised.
(See also Mobaco 100 years.)

Specials & rare parts

After investigation all Mobaco related content, it’s always nice to find rare parts/buildings. Why are these parts displayed, but never produced?

One of these special parts (windows) are found already on the first manual (1924) on top side of the big unknown castle building.
Model Z, including many special parts, were already issued in 1931, but never produced: read more in this post: reconstruction of Model Z.
Also during the start of Jumbo sales, a small windmill appreas both on the front cover picture and even as part number inside the lid. But never produced.
There are rare parts found, about be bigger green windmill(?) kind of construction. Might have been a prototype?
Some years back, there was a sale of Mobaco farm house on MP. It’s remarkable, because during the garages & windmills period, Moubal also announced more building types, like farm houses. It’s unknown if these were prototypes or not.
Rare parts ao: Clock #29, Mansard/hip roof panels #150, #151 & #152.
Bigger base plates..
Different windows…

Re-makes

These specials are interesting, when brought to live. So let’s re-make these parts:

It took a lot of time, investigating the right materials to use on the laser cutter. Original Mobaco cardboard is not working for the CO2 laser. Original Mobaco cardboard could be best modified by saw or water cutter.

I’m still selling Model Z special parts and other parts if needed.