According to the essential but incomplete Tiki King's Ukulele Database plus some others sources, there had been at least some seventy plastic ukuleles models (we mean full plastic ukes, excluding half-wood half-plastic ones) to be produced. And this to be obviously multiplied by color and gizmos options. Among them, a third were by Mario Maccaferri in the 1950's. In their majority made in the USA, some models came from UK or Australia, and seven of them are still produced in Japan. Here is a (probably uncomplete) list :
 
Aloha (made in USA, circa 1960's)
Band Stand (made by Emenee, circa 1950's)
Beat Guitar (made in Hong Kong, ca. 1964-65)
Beatles Jr Guitar (created by Mario Maccaferri, manufactured by Mastro Plastics)
Beatles Four Pop Guitar (created by Mario Maccaferri, 1964)
Black Jack (by Greco, made in Japon, contemporary)
Carnival (numerous models, with great graphics. Made in USA)
Carnival Combo Guitar (made in USA)
Carnival MouseGetar (crank getar)
Carnival Ukette (made in USA)
Crank Getar (made in USA by Mattel, 1948-51)
Daniel Boone (made in USA. Under Walt Disney licence ?)
Davy Crockett (Made by Reliable for Disney one)
Davy Crockett (Made by Mattel)
Davy Crockett (Made by Mastro, under licence of Disney)
Donald Duck (Made by Selcol)
Elvis Presley (soprano made by Selcol ?)
Elvis Presley (baritone made by Emenee)
Elvis Presley (baritone made by Selcol)
Fin-der Diamond Head (created by A. Finder, dev. by Nino Marcelli, circa 1950's)
Flamingo (made by Emenee and endorsed by Arthur Godfrey)
Happy Tune (made by Lapin Products, circa 1950's)
Harry Owens (manuf. by Royal Hawaiian, USA, and indorsed by Harry Owens)
Hootenanny (made by Emenee)
Howdy Doody (made by Emenee)
Hula Girl & Sunset (current prod.)
Islander (created by Mario Maccaferri)
Islander Deluxe (created by Mario Maccaferri, manufactured by Mastro Plastics)
Islander Semi-deluxe (created by Mario Maccaferri)
Islander Ukette (created by Mario Maccaferri, manufactured by Mastro Plastics)
Islander Xmas (special packaging for Christmas)
Jimmy Durante Hot Cha-cha (made in USA by Emenee)
Jimmy Durante Hot Cha-cha (made in USA by Intersphere)
Jungle Emperor Leo (by Greco, made in Japon, contemporary)
Kona Isle (circa 1950's)
Letoys (made by Letoys Plastic Toys Factory, Shanghai, China)
Lil' Cowboy (made by Superior Toy Co., 1988)
Lisa (manufactured by Custombuilt Plastic Molding Co., circa 1950-60's)
Loha (made in USA)
Mastro Bari (created by Mario Maccaferri, manufactured by Mastro Plastics)
Mattel Uke (made in USA)
Mattel Crank Ge-tars (very numerous models, with a music box inside)
Magma Taishi (by Greco, made in Japon, contemporary)
Maui Hawaiian Uke (made in USA by G.P.Co.)
Mauna Loa (made in USA by B.W. Molded Plastics, 1950's)
Mickey Mouse (made by Emenee)
Mickey Mouse (made by Japan in 1970s)
Midget uke (made by Maccaferri)
Mighty Atom (by Greco, made in Japon, contemporary)
Modern Bali Uke (lustrex ukulele sold by Harmony)
Monkees (made by Selcol, 1966)
Moon Glow (Fluorescent plastic, 1965?)
Mousegetar Jr. (made by Mattel, 1955)
Mousegetar (made by Reliable)
Peace (produced in Japan by Kazuyuki Sekiguchi. Modern)
Pineapple (produced in Japan by Kazuyuki Sekiguchi. Modern)
Playtune Junior (created by Mario Maccaferri, manufactured by Mastro Plastics)
Playtune Senior (created by Mario Maccaferri, manufactured by Mastro Plastics)
Popeye (crank getar made by Selcol)
Popsy (created by Toho Plastics Co, Japan, 1960's)
Romper Room (made by Mastro)
Roy Rogers (made by reliable, 1957)
Singing Cowboy Guitarette (Uke-a-Tune deluxe ?)
Skiffle Junior (made by Mattel)
Snoopy (lucite uke from Japan)
Sooty Guitar (made by Selcol)
Sparkle Plenty (« Dick Tracy » version of the Islander Ukette)
Strummin' Smurf (made by Ohio Art in 1982)
Surfrider (made in USA)
Teaser Hula Uke
The Beatles Jnr. (made by Selcol)
The Columbian (made by Selcol, UK, circa 1960's)
The Hawaiian (no info)
Tommy Steele (made by Selcol, UK, 1958)
Three Muskateers
Tijuana (made by Domenech, Mexico? current prod.)
TV Pal (created by Mario Maccaferri, manufactured by Mastro Plastics)
TV Pal (created by Mario Maccaferri, manufactured Carnival Toy)
TV Pal Deluxe (created by Mario Maccaferri, manufactured by Mastro Plastics)
TV Pal Baritone (created by Mario Maccaferri, manufactured by Mastro Plastics)
TV Pal The Twist (created by Mario Maccaferri, manufactured by Mastro Plastics)
TV Pal ukette (created by Mario Maccaferri, manufactured by Mastro Plastics)
Uke a Doodle (made by Mattel)
Uke a Tune (made in USA during the 1940's)
Uke a Tune Deluxe (made in USA)
Uku-Doodle (made in Australia, circa 1950's)
Ukulele Ike (1950)
Ukulelia (produced in Japan by Kazuyuki Sekiguchi. Modern)
Waikiki (made in USA, 50-60's)
Wai-ki-ki (made by Emenee)
Xu Dong ukette (made by Xu Dong, China, contemp.)
Zorro (made by Emenee under licence of Disney, circa 1950's)
Zorro (baritone made by Emenee under licence of Disney, circa 1950's)

To which list, one should add the banjolele shapes :
 
Carnival (several models and shapes, with nice graphics)
Country and Western (manufactured by Carnival)
Cowboy Banjo (manufactured by Carnival, 1953)
Do-Si-Do (manufactured by Carnival, early 80s)
Golden Banjo (manufactured by Emenee)
Magic Electric Banjo (electronic product, by Emenee)
Mastro Banjo (several models, with graphics, by Mastro Plastics)
Melody Maker (banjolele made in the UK by Selcol, circa 1950's)
Mickey's Hi Kickin' Banjo (made in USA)
Mister Banjo (manufactured by Emenee)
Swing your partner (manufactured by Emenee, 1973)
TV Pal banjolele (manufactured by Mastro Plastics)


For a very interesting and well-documented history of Maccaferri's plastic ukuleles, take the time to read the complete Ukulele Occasional writing by Michael Simmons, Clothespins, Castanets and Nine Million Ukuleles, available in full length on chordmaster.org by courtesy and generosity of its author.


François Demont's numerous family. Picture : © François Demont.
 



Maccaferri® production
 
                                   
Islander Islander
Semi-Deluxe
TV Pal TV Pal TV Pal
Baritone
Playtune
Senior
Playtune
Senior
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Beatles
Jr Guitar
Beatles
4Pop
Islander
Baritone
Islander
Baritone
Islander
Baritone
TV Pal Ukette
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TV Pal
Twist
TV Pal
baritone
Islander
Yellow back
Islander
Semi-Deluxe
Mastro
Sopranino
TV Pal Islander
green/pink back
Islander Ukette
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Islander Ukette Islander
Islander
Islander
Mastro Banjo TV Pal Ukette TV Pal
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Sparkle Plenty
Dick Tracy Ukette
Islander
Semi-deluxe
Islander
Semi-deluxe
Islanders
TV Pal TV Pal Mastro
Beatles broach
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Davy Crockett
Mastro for Disney
Davy Crockett
Mastro for Disney
River Show Boat
Mastro
TV Pal Ukette Islander
Mastro
Islander
Mastro
TV Pal
Paramount distr.
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Romper Room
Mastro
Rare blue Islander Islander Baritone
Electric!
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Emenee® production
 
                                   
Flamingo
w/ tuning pipes
Flamingo Flamingo Flamingo Flamingo Flamingo Flamingo
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Howdy Doody Howdy Doody Hootenanny Hootenanny Hootenanny Hootenanny Hootenanny
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Jimmy Durante
Howdy Doody
Ukette
Howdy Doody
Sopranino
Golden Banjo
Hootenanny Uke Wai Ki Ki Howdy Doody
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Zorro Guitar
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Other plastic ukuleles
 
                                   
Carnival Fin-Der
Diamond Head
Lisa Lisa Kona Isle Aloha Aloha
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Uke a Doodle
by Mattel
Modern Bali Uke
by Harmony
Elvis Presley
by Selcol
Mattel ukes H. Owens
R. Hawaiian
Carnival Carnival Cowboy Getar
by Mattel
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Crank Ge-tar
by Mattel
Carnival
Sopranino
Carnival Carnivals Carnival Ukette Fin-der Strum'n'Fun
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Mauna Loa Studio 100 Uke-a-Tune Lisa Lisa Fin-Der Surfrider
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Surfrider Carnival
Sopranino
Carnival Carnival
Banjo
Modern Bali Uke
Harmony
Selcol Ukette Fin-Der
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Greco ukuleles Mighty Atom
by Greco
Country & Western
Carnival Banjo
Toy guitars
various
Uke-a-Tune Deluxe Big Beat
by Selcol
Beatles Jr.
by Selcol
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Elvis Presley
by Selcol
Banjolele
by Carnival
Banjolele
by Carnival
Pineapple
by Amuse
Mauna Loa Mauna Loa
Mauna Loa
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Bundle
by Carnival
Ukette
by Carnival
Jimmy Durante
by Intesphere
Letoys Letoys Letoys Letoys
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Aloha Mousegetar
by Carnival
Unknown
Chinese
Lil'
Cowboy
Unknown
Rubber Band Gr
Strummin' Smurf
by Ohio Art
The Hawaiian
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Peace & Ukulelia
by Amuse
Fin-Der
Fin-Der
(blue back)
Grecos
Jungle Emp. Leo
by Greco
J.E.Leo
by Greco
Melody Maker
by Selcol
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Flipbook crank Gr
unknown
Mickey Mouse
unkn. japanese
Carnival
soprano
Popsy
by Toho
Popsy
by Toho
Carnival ukette
Home on the range
Carnival
Soprano
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Swanee River
Carnival
Carnival Banjo TV Pal
by Carnival
Mousegetar
by Reliable
Uke-a-Doodle
by Mattel
Mighty Atom
by Greco
Mother Goose
Carnival
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Auto chorders Boxes Crank Getars
by Mattel
Porn ! Porn ! Porn ! Porn !
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Royal Hawaiian
"Harry Owens"
Mouse Getar
Reliable
Mauna Loa Cowboy getar
Mattel
The Columbian
Selcol
Uke-a-Doodle
Mattel
Happy Tune
Lapin Prod.
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Carnival heads Amuse ukes Sanz Baltasar
Argentina
Beat Guitar
Hong Kong
Calypso
by Carnival
Combo Gr
Carnival
Chine ukes
current prod.
Chine ukes
current prod.
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Davy Crockett
by Reliable
Donald Duck
by Selcol
Disney ukes Tijuana by
Domenech
Elvis uke
Teaser HulaUke
Lisa MouseGetar
Reliable
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No name Unknown Popeye
Guitarette
Strum'n'Fun
by Mattel
Strum'n'Fun
by Mattel
Sooty Guitar
by Selcol
Tommy Steele
by Selcol
ukette
by Xu Dong
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Collections
 
                                   
Ukisociety Stamford Museum François Demont My own coll. Ukulelezaza Krabbers UkesterBrown
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Sampsoneh Andy Andrews
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Crashes and Wounds
 
                                   
TV Pal
Crash reconst.
Harry Owens
Painful burn
Harry Owens
Painful burn
Lisa
Glue attack
Islander
Broken neck
Islander
Broken neck
Islander
Light scratch
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Flamingo
ouch!
Carnival Banjo
Sea pollution
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If you own good pics of plastic ukes, please send them, we'll be pleased to publish them with your mention.

 
 
 
 
© 2010, Antoine Carolus.         This site has been made with a head, two hands and a computer but no webdesign or HTML editing software (fatto a mano).


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    All rights reserved. Do not reproduce or
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