New Zealand DAM trolls

It is true, that in the 1960’s Thomas DAM gave license to a factory in Tauranga, New Zealand to make trolls. Trolls from this factory are very rare and hard to find. Many of these trolls are probably still in New Zealand. I do not have a lot of history on the original factory most of what I know has come to me by folks who live in that area. The DAM trolls were made during the 1960’s under license to Danish born Kristian Nyboe Pasgaard who immigrated to New Zealand around 1949 with his wife and two children. He exported some of the DAM trolls to Australia through the 1960’s (which might explain why some of the NZ trolls are stamped MADE IN DENMARK). Thomas Dam granted him license to produce some of these trolls in New Zealand. The factory made both standard DAM trolls and DAM animal trolls many have unique body colors or outfits specific to this NZ location only. I was told that the reason for the unusual colors was because they used whatever vinyl color they could find.

Kristian passed away in 1969, but his sons continued to run the business until the trolls fell out of favor in the 1980’s. The factory was not in business very long, therefore ANY of the DAM trolls made in New Zealand are a rarity prized by many collectors. One of the telling features of & base of horns these NZ trolls is they use short wool hair native to the sheep raised in New Zealand and Australia, not the longer Icelandic wool hair found on DAM trolls from other parts of the world.

New Zealand ELEPHANTS– are a true delight. They came in very “unusual” vinyl colors- light peach, blue, pink , cream and a rare white elephant. These New Zealand elephants are distinguished by their dark toes and are marked with the Thomas DAM stamp on their front left foot. They also have a cut out “coin” slot in the middle of their back. They have short thick wool hair and dark colored amber glass eyes. These unusual vinyl colors are rare and very hard to find, depending on condition, you can expect to pay anywhere from $200 (USD) and higher for them. RARE unusual colors will demand higher prices.

New Zealand LIONS—are the “rarest of the RARE” like the giraffe the lion has NO bank slot in it. Short thick wool hair on head and tail. The hardest thing is to prove any lion was actually made in NZ as “most” have NO markings or stamp. Photo shown below is the first time I’ve seen a genuine DAM lion with a NZ stamp. Some NZ lions have airbrushing along the back of his spine, his tail is in an upright position like his American made DAM lion cousin. But unlike his American made DAM lion cousin the glass eyes are darker and body is squishy (see photo showing how easy it is to compress his body).

Any animal trolls from New Zealand are very hard to find and you can expect to pay a higher price for them, anywhere from $200 (USD) and up.

(photos posted with permission from original owners)

Unusual “blue” and “pink” elephant banks made in New Zealand. Notice the black toe nails and dark amber colored glass eyes. Grey elephant has two holes on his back where a bank slot could be made if desired. Most NZ elephants are marked DAM Made in Denmark on bottom front left foot. It is the vinyl body color and bank slot that help identify them as made in New Zealand. Please note that these are NOT painted colors on top of the vinyl bodies, they are a solid vinyl color.

(photos posted with permission from current owners)

New Zealand GIRAFFES— some are marked Thomas DAM on left rear foot, however some have the MADE IN DENMARK visible around the perimeter (see photos below). These giraffes have NO bank slot in them. They all have short thick wool hair and dark amber glass eyes. Their airbrushed spots are similar to their European giraffe cousins– almost diamond shaped but usually bold and darker. Photo at the right shows one with extremely light (faded or worn) spots. Starting prices on these NZ giraffes depending on condition, can be anywhere from $275 (USD) and up.

The regular 8 inch and 5 inch DAM troll boy and girl trolls are stamped on their LEFT foot with the NZ mark– COPYRIGHT REG. DES MADE IN NEW ZEALAND NZ 8437 AUST 40884 (see photos below). They are also stamped on their back– Thomas DAM in a circle. Photos shown are of New Zealand boy & girl trolls in their original felt outfits. Notice that BOTH sexes have big ears (same mold was probably used). They are made of a more squishy vinyl the head turns. The clothing on the boy is unique to the New Zealand DAM troll, also notice that “buttons” are used on the outfit of the girl instead of the rivits/snaps used on the trolls that were made elsewhere. Glass eyes and genuine wool hair were also used. Some smaller 3 inch trolls were even made in “colored” vinyl check out the BLUE troll made WAY before the “TROLLZ” movie . . . No other DAM factory produced trolls of unique colors. You can expect to pay a premium price on these vintage DAM NZ trolls made of unusual colors. Even the normal boy & girl NZ trolls will fetch a higher price than their American or European made cousins.

Any of the DAM trolls from New Zealand are very hard to find and depending on condition & if they have their original clothing, you can expect to pay anywhere from $ 75 (USD) and up for them.

Trolls from down under . . . . a photo of DAM Trolls from 1960’s made by the factory in Tauranga, New Zealand (photo posted with permission from original owner)

DAM– New Zealand made Trolls

New Zealand made Boy & Girl Trolls

Another “unique” DAM troll that is only found in New Zealand is affectionately known as the yeti troll. The standard 5” NZ troll is used wool sheepskin hair and it is given a matching sheepskin outfit (dress) that is glued to the body. Only found in New Zealand & Australia. NZ stamp on LEFT foot– NZ mark– COPYRIGHT REG. DES MADE IN NEW ZEALAND NZ 8437 AUST 40884 COPYRIGHT REG. DES MADE IN NEW ZEALAND NZ 8437 AUST 40884

Fairly rare to find outside of New Zealand & Australia depending on condition & if they have original tags, you can expect to pay anywhere from $ 100 (USD) and up for them.

New Zealand made DAM animal trolls;

MOST New Zealand COWS- are not marked, occasionally you “might” find a marked one or one with its original tag, these are highly desirable and RARE. Like the elephants these NZ cow trolls came in both light and darker vinyl colors. You will also find a few unusual colors (like the yellow or white vinyl). Some NZ cows have a darker air-brushed stripe down the backbone or front chest (see photos below). Muzzles were air brushed either white, brown or black. They also they have air brushing on ears and base of horns. Majority of these cows have a cut out “coin” slot in the middle of their back so that they could be used as banks, occasionally you can find one with NO slot. They have short thick wool hair and dark colored amber glass eyes. You can expect to pay more for these NZ cows than DAM cows made in Europe or America. Starting prices on these NZ cows depending on condition, can be anywhere from $200 (USD) and up for RARE unusual colors.

Most NZ Cows are NOT marked. Here is very RARE one that was actually found with a stamp.

This herd of elephants in photo below- is testament to some of the unusual vinyl colors used in the NZ animal trolls- light blue, turquoise blue, white, pink, peach yellow and grey.

(photo posted with permission from current owner)

One NZ collector suggested that there is a mold defect (raised bubble) on NZ made giraffes right inner ear

New Zealand DAM lions (unmarked) original short bushy wool hair on faded and black haired lions.

(posted with permission from original owners)

This awesome NZ grey elephant- not only has its original NZ hang tag, but the bottom of the right front foot has an “ink” stamp that is faint it looks like it reads– Reg. Design Aust. No _ _ _ _ _ NZ No. _ _ _ _ _ ELEPHANT

The left foot has the standard DAM stamp (shown in photos) but it has been defaced.

He is also unique because it has NO coin slot on the back & he lacks the black painted toe nails.

(photos posted with permission from current owner)

NO “bank” slot on these two NZ cows

New Zealand DAM 3 inch small NZ’s can be found in different body colors– flesh, pink, brown, white, yellow and blue. They wear felt thongs. There are TWO types of stamps that might be found on them-

1) version of small NZ’s are stamped on BACK– with a circular stamp, the top portion of the writing is hard to identify what it says. The bottom of the stamp you can read MADE IN N.Z. The center looks like– N.Z. a number (8437?) then AUST 40884. These group of trolls have NO stamps on the feet but at one time may have had a paper foil stamp that said– Mini Lucky troll (as shown in photo).

2) other version od small NZ’s have a stamp on their back in a circle it says- MINI LUCKY TROLL. Also stamped on bottom of right foot– REGD DESIGN N.Z. 8437 MADE IN NEW ZEALAND and on left foot– REGD. DESIGN AUST 40884.

(photo posted with permission from original owners)

1960’s Article from New Zealand-

TROLLS from Tauranga

“According to World Book Encyclopedia– trolls were a type of dwarf in Scandinavian folk tales. They lived in caves or under hills in fine houses of crystal or gold. They had many magical powers, they could tell the future and make people rich and seldom planned any harm.

These quaint little creatures are the subject of a flourishing export business built up over the last 4 years by Mr. K. Pasgaard in his Sulphur Point Factory. The parent company in Denmark has factories producing trolls under license in England, America and South Africa. Mr. Pasgaard holds the Australasian rights and 80% of his production is exported to Australia, earning £20,000 in annual overseas currency. Present production is around 350 per day but the plant is capable of working at greater capacity.

Photos from the article show glass eyes being inserted and states they are imported from Japan or Germany, it says these eyes are the only parts not made in New Zealand. Hair is Australian wool. Photo shows Mr. Pasgaard himself applying blush to the cheeks.

Other photos show the bodies of the trolls are dressed before heads are put on. Felt clothing is stamped out by machinery and hand stitched by part-time workers from their homes.