Schuco (Germany) – In 1912 partners Heinrich Muller and Heinrich Schreyer began their own business under the trading name of Schuco. This company was mostly famous for it's magnificent tin toys which were of super high quality and design. The war years hampered this company's production and at the war's end Schreyer left the company and Muller started again with a new partner, Adolph Kahn. By the mid 1920's their most enduring fabrications emerged. Their famous teddy bear was called ‘Tricky' whose head nodded yes/no, being operated by a tail leverage.
Schuco was one of the very first companies to produce teddy bears for the adult market and this was done by producing teddy bear perfume bottles and teddy bear compacts. These teddy bear items are hugely sought after today. Schuco also produced the famous Bellhop Bear in 1923. The Bellhop Teddy Bear is fully jointed and wears the clothes of a hotel Bellhop Boy, once again the bear's tail operates his moving head. This bear also has a squeaker in his chest.
Bing (Germany) - Gebruder Bing had been making domestic tinware items since 1865 and later they produced enamelled and clockwork toys. Bing produced their first Teddy Bear in 1906, so they started Teddy production not long after he was created by Steiff. As well as producing some wonderful Teddy Bears, this firm also produced some very high quality clockwork and mechanical toys. Initially Bing Teddy Bears had a metal clip in their ear which was imprinted with the initials G.B.N. (Gebr. Bing Nurnberg), however, in 1909 Steiff took action to prevent the then, probably largest toy manufacturer in the world, from using a button-in-ear trademark. Steiff did allow Bing to use a button on the side under the arm, this button was also marked G.B.N. until 1919. From 1919 until the company finished production in 1932 the initials were simply B.W. (Bing Werke).
In 1915, Bing produced a Skating Teddy Bear and a Walking Teddy Bear. The Walking Bear had a large key in his belly that operated his walking mechanism. Bing also produced a tumbling teddy bear as did Schuco and Steiff.
Gebr. Hermann K.G. (Germany) - The Hermann Family have been making wonderful Teddy Bears since 1913. Bernard Hermann started the industry in Sonnenberg, Thuringia. In 1948, two of his four sons, Artur and Werner, started a new Hermann enterprise in Hirschaid (a small town by Bamberg). To this day Hermann still produce wonderful Teddy Bears of great quality. One of their highest priorities is that of customer/company relations and this company is always very willing to talk about and answer all questions on their company or their products. Hermann Teddy Bears are extremely appealing.
Hermann Spielwaren GMBH (Germany) - This company is an offspring of the original Hermann Company. This firm has only been in business since 1979 and care must be taken not to confuse the two. Recently, Hermann Spielwaren has made some great teddy bears who are themed such as Captain Smith of the Titanic and a Malcolm Campbell Bear, their quality and desirability is extremely high, if you are looking for this kind of Teddy Bear.
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