Model Maker was a theme of sets manufactured by Samsonite starting in 1968 until 1971. There were nineteen sets produced for this theme, many of these sets were duplications of sets released with-in the LEGOLAND theme that were originally produced by LEGO for European markets.
1970 LEGO Sets
1970 marked a period of transition and consolidation for LEGO. The company began reclaiming U.S. market rights from Samsonite following founder Jesse Shwayder’s death, leading to full control by 1973. In Italy, LEGO responded to import restrictions by launching Minitalia, a localized line produced from 1970 to 1975. The long-running Town Plan theme was discontinued as LEGO moved toward standardized scale and unified play systems. While largely a structural year, these shifts laid the groundwork for the innovations of the mid-1970s.