This is the general section so i figured id let you all know about well known Playmobil's German inventor Hans Beck has died at 79year old. (Guardian Article)
Kate Connolly in Berlin guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 3 February 2009 13.43 GMT
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• Created in 1974 in response to high plastic prices from oil crisis
• More than 2bn of the 7.5cm-tall dolls have been sold worldwide
The German inventor of Playmobil toys, which became an instant success when they hit the market 35 years ago, has died at the age of 79.
Hans Beck, a furniture maker and model enthusiast, came up with the toy in 1974 after being asked to create a new and collectible play concept. It was initially suggested he might work on a range of cars. Instead Beck came up with the dolls and earned himself a place in toy history.
He worked according to his motto "no horror, no superficial violence, no short-lived trends", the Brandstätter Group, owners of Playmobil, said in a short statement.
Beck created a whole fantasy world of figures with moving arms and legs that bend at the hip, wear snap on clothes, and continue to capture the imagination of children all over the world.
More than 2.2bn figures have been produced and sold in over 70 countries. At 7.5cm tall, and promoted as "ideal for a child's grip", the figures are meant to represent real life average adult height of 175cm (5ft 7ins).
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