All parts have an 8-digit part number (7 digits until 1993), usually in the form 30 nn nnnn, (missing out the spaces also works on PlaymoDB and Playmobil websites). The part number or ETN (German: Ersatzteilnummer) is unique to a given shape and colour part.
7-digit part numbers were used until 1993; when searching for these it sometimes helps to add a zero as the 8th digit, to help the software identify it.
Sometimes a part number will refer to several different parts; this is often when all the parts come from one sprue (plastic framework used in the moulding process).
In a few cases, the mold used to create a part has been changed, but the part number has not been changed. For example, the two “ponytail hair” parts below have number 30 08 8680. The two swords have part number 30 07 6420. The later version of the part is on the right in both cases.
Some part numbers (e.g 30 67 nnnn) refer to composite parts made up of two of more sub-parts.
Here are some known patterns in part numbers
- 30 00 nnnn Male klicky
- 30 10 nnnn Male child klicky
- 30 11 nnnn Female child klicky
- 30 12 nnnn Babies
- 30 13 nnnn Male fat body klicky
- 30 14 nnnn Female klicky
- 30 79 nnnn A small group of parts, such as a klicky and accessories or a small set, often a keychain or the enclosure with a magazine. See here.
- 40 nn nnnn Possibly used for parts manufactured in China.
For a fuller list, see PlaymoDB, here.
Playmodb is the best place to find part numbers; many parts have unknown numbers and Heather has given them a ‘place-holder’ number pnnnn (knnnn for klickies).
Many parts have a mold number embossed on them. This is NOT a part number. Nor is the year shown on some parts the year of manufacture, but the year the mold was first used.
Part numbers are extremely useful to collectors. Knowing the part number for a missing part in a discontinued, older set can help when trying to replace it because sometimes parts are re-used in current sets and are then available from DS. Or another set may have the part you need.
Known part numbers come from Geobra via Building Instructions, ‘scraping’ data from websites, online parts ordering, mistakes in DS parts orders (sometimes the ‘wrong’ part is supplied and its number is listed on the invoice), etc., but direct requests for part numbers to the manufacturer are politely refused (I know, I once made such a request). What is ironic is that we know that DS operatives (Geobra employees) often use PlaymoDB (which is not run by Geobra) to look up part numbers themselves! Geobra almost certainly have a database listing every part ever produced, but for some reason they are reluctant to share this with collectors.