The same mold used for the Grum,  “horned” Reisler was also used for other troll versions which wore felt outfits but these versions have NO horns & lack a tail too. It would seem that the Grum troll was probably the first to be introduced or produced, as the horns are chopped off on those Reislers which wear the felt clothing/outfits. Also the Reislers with clothing have no holes for a tail (just a slight dimple where the tail would be).

     According to Debra Clark’s “Troll Identification & Price Guide” book, the early Reisler Grum trolls (those produced in the  mid-1960’s) can be identified by a “blush” on their faces & horns, they also have a spiral (burst-like) plastic type of flat eye which is not found in the later versions.  Turquoise eyes are the most commonly found in these trolls, but as shown in the photos below other uncommon colors like green, yellow or grey eyes have occasionally surfaced. Older horned Reisler’s also have a white/ivory rubber-type of tail which often shows signs of cracking due to age and many of them have fallen off or simply disintegrated. The Grum’s are decorated with rabbit fur trim on the head, lower belly & tail tip. There is a hole in their bodies for the tail. Debra Clark’s book states that the newer Grum’s are about 1/4” smaller than the older ones. Some of the later Grum’s also have a more dome-like plastic eye. 

     VALUE of these GRUM, horned (devil) Reisler trolls can vary anywhere from $20 (USD) up to $35 (USD), depending on the condition with the older ones (from the mid-1960’s) being worth slightly more than the newer ones.

Early  GRUM, “horned” Reisler (a.k.a. devil) troll. White rubber-like tail with age/stress cracks. Flat turquoise  spiral (burst-like) plastic eyes and light blush on lips and nose. Decorated with rabbit fur trim. Bottom of left foot  marked– Reisler Made in Denmark  J.N.

  At some point the Reisler company also produced a few of these trolls in which the horns were removed and they were dressed in various felt clothing with wool hair glued to their heads. One unique couple that I came across for lack of a better term I would describe as an “ethnic” version. To me their felt outfits look Bavarian in nature. The Reisler website identifies these as- tyroler–trolde, I was told that a Tyroler (aka- Tyrolean) is someone from Austria and these trolls are dressed in their native ethnic outfits.

  I found it interesting that the clothing on the pair I obtained was attached to their bodies by short straight pins (definitely a safety hazard and not child-friendly), but others with this similar outfit have their felt clothing glued on. The silver sequins however, were secured with short straight pins. These versions have no horns and lack tails (there’s a dimple in their behind where a tail would normally be positioned, see photos below). I discovered two body types which were used for these trolls. One has a slightly different rounded domed-head (see photos below) in which the area where the horns are located were actually filled in. Strip of wool leather/hair was wrapped around the outside of her head and a hat was glued to the top of her hair. The boy has a slanted head and tufts of wool are inserted into the holes where the horns had been removed. The boy shown in photo (at right) had clothing which was either eaten by moths (or perhaps a mouse). Based on photos of other ethnic boys and what was left of his outfit I was able to salvage the pieces to re-make the outfit. Photo (below) of the boy with the black background is what an original cross-section looked like. So I embroidered a floral cross-section on the re-made suspenders of the boy I have. These  trolls stand about 4 1/4” tall.

   I did come across a horned Reisler who still had a paper tag on his left wrist. One side said “GRUM” and the reverse side “Another Scandia House Exclusive” while the tag band said  “copyright 1967”. GRUM is a “type” of troll from Norwegian folklore. This tag indicates that these trolls were imported from Reisler/Denmark thru Scandia House Enterprises of Florida (a.k.a. S.H.E) during the mid-1960’s.

    Some of these Grum trolls,  can be found with plastic hearts (with Norge written on the front, this is Danish for Norway), these hearts are secured to their neck, and some have chains with suction cups attached to their heads. Many of the later made horned Reisler’s trolls have a plastic black tail which seems to be more durable than the rubber-like tail that was first used on early versions.

  

Large Grum Reisler “keychain” marked back of left arm- © 1990  on right arm- Reisler. This larger version, stands 2 5/8” high to tip of right horn. Made of a solid, heavy vinyl or PVC, with a tuft of black wool hair.  Originally displayed for sale on a card of 12 pieces.

   There is also a Small Grum Reisler “keychain” that is a 2” high version but the horns have been cut off and there is a hole for tail in back and center of body (hole in center was so it could also be used as a pencil topper) marked on back © 1966. Originally displayed for sale on a card of 24 pieces.

 

Mint Reisler pencil topper still on its blue factory card- Minigrum, the Reisler website indicates these were made in 1968. Notice this version has NO horns. A loose Reisler “pencil topper” with red wool tuft & purple felt shorts, does have still have his horns. Pencil topper dressed  in felt as a soldier .  Also some were dressed as Both are marked on back of left arm- © 1966,  on right arm- Reisler and on back- MADE IN DENMARK, also on bottom of left foot- JN. They stand around 1 5/8” high.  Photo at top shows the large GRUM with a  Minigrum re-done to look like his larger brother in red rabbit fur.

 

   Viking Troll Dolls

  There are also some very unique Viking trolls made of vinyl that were designed for the Reisler company by John Nissen. However, only the large Viking is marked on the back of his neck– John Nissen  Denmark. The Reisler website lists the large Viking as being made in 1966. He has rabbit fur trim for beard and back of head, solid blue plastic eyes with anchor securing tips, his outfit consists of belt with gold dome, a felt tunic & cape, his head does turn but his stationary arms are straight. These large Vikings stand 7 inches high to the tip of their horns. Debra Clark’s book has him VALUED at $65 (USD) if he is in original condition with felt outfit & cape and at $35 (USD) if he is nude.

     The smaller Vikings are unmarked and have sheepskin wool trim on their faces, with blue plastic eyes (no moving parts), their hands face outward and have a curl to the fingers. Small guy stands about 3 3/4 inches high to the tip of their horns. Debra Clark’s  book has him VALUED at $30 (USD) if he is in original condition with his felt cape. A photo from the company’s website shows that miniature Vikings were also made into key-chains and sold as souvenirs. Debra Clark’s book indicates these Viking key-chains are more recent (probably from late 1980’s to early 1990’s).

     

Reisler Hippie Troll

 The Reisler Hippie Troll is a fairly uncommon find. This one has wool hair (dreads?), a scruffy matching beard a joint that fits in a hole un his mouth and what I’ve been told is a cock ring on a stripped string around his neck.

  “J.N.Reisler” - TROLL dolls  (made in years- 1966 to 2007)

 

    Trying to locate info on the J.N. Reisler trolls was not an easy task. There is a website on the Reisler company [http://www.tohan.dk/reisler_modelfigurer.htm] but it is in the Danish language and you need to know how to navigate the website to get to where photos are located of the Reisler troll dolls. According to this website the Reisler trolls were made between the years 1966 to 2007. The Kai Reisler Company Ltd. was better known for their model figures that it produced (see 1967 advertisement shown above, this advertisement was obtained from the Danish company’s website). For those who collect the J.N. Reisler Trolls (or Vikings), the GRUM, a horned and tailed (a.k.a. devil) troll is probably the most commonly  recognized. The “J.N.” imprinted on the bottom foot of the horned troll, are the initials of the man (model maker / designer)  John Nissen who designed these trolls for the Reisler company. His name also appears on the back of the large Vikings (the small Vikings however, are unmarked, but were probably designed by him too).

Reisler “Grum” Tailed Troll with WOOL hair

   I am not sure if the severely faded pink wool hair is authentic to this unusual feller or if he was re-done. The interesting metal ring on neck and metal hoops in the ears make me question if it is a factory authentic version. But I thought it was neat so I am posting it in case there might be others out there in the world.

J.N. Reisler Trolls