Rokus van Blokland
Corry van Blokland Mobach

Garages, industrial modular prefab
With the rise of toy cars like Corgi Toys and Dinky Toys a market emerges for toy garages. In the late 40's and early 50's Sio produces a number of garages which are made of wood and plywood with plastic windows and doors. The elements are painted and sometimes silkscreened.

Rokus van Blokland developes a modular system of poles, floor plates and added elements such as elevator, driveway, windows and petrol stations. Floor plates have notches that slide into each other and thus locking other parts during the assembly which needs only a few nails.

1966 Production garages

Baseplates are ready for assembly.

New series of garages are designed by varying within the system.
The shapes and sizes of the base plates, intermediate floors and roofs have been designed in such a way that they fit into each other in an efficient manner where there is minimal loss of material at the cut-out in the factory.

Thanks to the far-reaching standardization of building elements and the simplification of the manufacturing process, the costs could be greatly reduced.

The garages have always been an important part of the Sio collection. At the annual Toy Fair in Nuremberg in february, the new models are presented which will be around Santa Claus and Christmas in the shop.

This page shows a selection of the around 300 designs.

1953 Garage no 1

First design garage. The wooden parts were glued and fixed with nails. The garage had a silkscreened background.
Size: 15 × 11 × 9 cm

1953 Garage no 2

Garage with wooden filling station and silkscreened background.
Size: 28 × 10 × 11 cm

1953 Garage no 3

Wooden garage with round verticals and bulbs on the roof which fixed the components.
Size: 34 × 20 × 11 cm

1957 Garage no 1926

Garage with elevator and lettering garage. Basic sizes grid of 10 x 10 cm.
The vertical white surfaces at the front and back have the same size. The cut out rectangles are used at the left side and at the right with 'garage'.
Size Ground; 20 x 40 cm, yellow floor 20 x 40 cm, red roof 30 x 30 cm.

1967 Garage with driveway and show window

Size: 45 × 20 × 23 cm

1969 Garage

The brand names varied from time to time.
Size: 52 × 30 × 23,5 cm

1966 Assemblage garages in factory at Vroomshoop
1968 Toddlergarage

Garage for larger toy cars.
Size: 24 × 24 × 11 cm

1973 Toddlergarage

Garage with firm multiplex sides and screenprinted drawings.
Size: 45 × 35 × 15 cm

1974 Illustrations for a garage
1974 toddler garage with solid plywood

Size: 24 × 24 × 11 cm

1974 Larger Toddler garage with solid plywood

SIze: 45 × 35 × 21 cm

1971 Sio Garage

Round garage with grease bridge, parking and driveway.
Size: 40 × 40 × 21 cm

1974 Sio garage

Cars drive continuous down to the exit.
Size: 50 × 35 × 34 cm

1967 Sio Stand Paris

The garages were always prominently exhibited in the stands.

1967 Sio stand Nuremberg

At the yearly Toy Fair in Nuremberg the new models were presented.

1972 Sio Garage with second floor, lift and driveway.

Silk-screened workshop in the background.
Size: 50 × 27 × 21 cm

1971 Sio Garage with ramp and parking.

SIze: 40 × 30 × 21 cm

1974 Folding Garage

The folded garage took less space during transport. This made export possible to distant countries such as Australia and the USA.
Size: 50 × 31 × 28 cm, folded: 52 × 50 × 5 cm

1974 Garage with 4 floors

SIze: 60 × 35 × 38 cm

1975 Atelier

Corry and Rokus at work in the atelier. Erik in the background.
Photo: Piet Mobach

1977 Sio Garage

Garage with printed cardboard backside. The open form is used as a clock.
Size: 40 × 27 × 26,5 cm

1977 Box for new garages
1980 Sio Garages

Garages with flashing light and landing for ambulance helicopter.

2018 Rokus with Garage No. 1926