The Steiff Sommer 2014 The big parade Stories worth sharing

The magazine for Steiff Club members
VenueS
neWS
FaVourIte
The Steiff Sommer 2014
The big parade
Stories worth sharing
– Issue Three 2014
2
EDITORIAL
Dear Steiff friends,
The Steiff event of the year, the ninth Steiff Sommer, is over, and Giengen has been
restored to (relative) calm and tranquillity. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all
Club members for attending this event. Many of you were happy to travel long distances
to get here, and in fact arrived several days in advance to watch the preparations for the
Steiff Festival, and also to look around the Teddy bear capital and surrounding area. Some
of you have been doing so for many years, and it is always a pleasure and a delight to see
so many familiar faces again as well as to meet new Club members who share with us
their enthusiasm for the brand. As you would expect, this issue of the magazine contains
a detailed report on the Steiff Sommer and this year’s highlights. You will find it on pages
18 to 21.
The limited new items for Autumn/Winter were presented on the Steiff Club stand during
the Steiff Sommer. This has become a popular tradition, and as a consequence some of
you had a certain amount of “prior knowledge”. However, we are offering all of you a look
at the new Steiff creations in this issue (pages 7 to 9). We are also enclosing the current
brochure with our latest novelties.
The other topics in this magazine include new special items, plus we’ll be taking a closer
look at various historic products, and also
reporting on the most diverse venues. I do
hope there is plenty here that is of interest
IMPRINT
to you.
PUBLISHER: Margarete Steiff GmbH
Richard-Steiff-Straße 4,
89537 Giengen an der Brenz, Germany
tel.: + 49 (0) 7322 131555
EDITORS: Rick Emerson, Inge Zinnecker
CONTRIBUTOR: Rebekah Kaufman
DESIGN AND PRINT:
Hess GmbH - Medien, www.hess-medien.de
FREQUENCY OF PUBLICATION: four times a year
www.steiff.com
Subject to changes. Reprinting and copying, even in
part, only with the express permission of the publisher.
By submitting manuscripts you consent to their
publication in the Club magazine. We must reserve
the right to edit or abridge letters or articles.
Printed colours may deviate from the original.
All rights reserved.
Printed in Germany 07/2014 e – Item No. 913716
Happy reading, and have a lovely summer!
YOURS,
INGE ZINNECKER
Steiff Club Manager
CO N T ENTS
NEWS
Special items
4 DISCOV ERIES
The name of the game
14
NEWS
The big parade
7 CLUB MAIL
Readers’ service
16
COLLECT IN G
Nuts for squirrels
The Steiff Sommer 2014 ... and more
18
C ULT URE
E-mail from the Iberian peninsula 13 FAVOURIT E
Stories worth sharing
26
10 V ENUES
3
NEWS
Special items
Germany
TEDDY BEAR
PRETZEL SELLER
It’s August. And what
does every true Bavarian
(and everyone else as well)
start to look forward to now?
Why – the Oktoberfest,
of course, the famous beer
festival, because it’ll soon be
that time of the year again! Just
like Steiff collectors everywhere look forward
to a new Oktoberfest Teddy bear that is dedicated
to another attraction at the “Wiesn”: the pretzel seller. The
pretzel – Breze, Brezel and Bretzg are just a few of the
German names for it – is known and loved by all.
Many Club members and
collectors in Germany will
know Manfred Feurer, both
the name and the man. Until
his sudden death in the autumn
of 2013, he was a dedicated Steiff
Club retailer, no less so a Teddy
bear fan, and an active and successful businessman
in Rothenburg ob der Tauber. The Rothenburg Germany
Bear that we present to you here was something he helped
us to bring to fruition. The project was completed by his
son Julian, who has also taken over and will continue to
run the business in Rothenburg.
The German Wikipedia contains some extremely interesting
information on the pretzel. It tells us, “On 21 February
2014, the European Commission approved the addition
of the Bavarian lye pastry, the ‘Bayerische Breze’ (Bavarian
pretzel), to its register of ‘protected designations of origin
(PDOs)’. The protected terms include ‘Bayerische Brezn’,
‘Bayerische Brez’n’ and ‘Bayerische Brezel’”. According
to Markus Ferber, Bavarian Member of the European
Parliament: “The Bayerische Breze is recognised by the
taste and not by the spelling.”
The Rothenburg Germany Bear is 25 cm tall. He is lovingly
made by hand of exclusive mohair, and has glass eyes. The
German flag adorns the sole of his right foot, and the
municipal coat of arms of Rothenburg ob der Tauber is on
the left one. A lovely satin bow is tied around the bear’s
neck. Visitors will love this delightful Teddy bear as the
most wonderful memento of their visit to the Franconian
city. And to many collectors, he will also be a charming
reminder of Manfred Feurer.
And we believe our pretzel seller is of the same opinion.
All he wants is for himself and his tasty pretzels to sell
well. Which, with his amusing charm and smart outfit, he
is certain to do. The Steiff Pretzel Seller is 25 cm tall and
made of curly, dark grey mohair. In his right hand he has
a wicker basket, lined with a red-and-white check cloth,
full of pretzels, and a single pretzel in his left one. He is
wearing a blue-and-white check neckerchief. And finally,
his white handlebar moustache is further proof of the fact
that he is indeed a “genuine Bavarian pretzel seller”.
The pretzel seller is available exclusively from
Oberpollinger, Neuhauser Str. 18 in D-80331 Munich, tel.
+49 (0) 89 2902 5968, fax +49 (0) 89 2902 5768, email:
stefan.marder@oberpollinger.de
(Item no. 673924, 25 cm,
Limited edition of 1,000 pieces, RRP € 119)
4
Germany
THE ROTHENBURG
GERMANY BEAR
The Rothenburg Germany Teddy bear is available
exclusively from:
Teddys Rothenburg
Obere Schmiedgasse 1
D-91541 Rothenburg
Tel. +49 (0) 9861 933444
info@teddys-rothenburg.de
www.teddys-rothenburg.de
(Item no. 673849, 25 cm,
Limited edition of 1,500 pieces, RRP € 139)
NEWS
UK/USA
WINNIPEG
The UK and USA are proud to pay
tribute to one of the most famous
bears of all time – “Winnipeg”.
In 1914, a small bear was born
in Ontario, Canada. She was
purchased for $20 by Lt.
Harry Colebourn of The Fort
Garry Horse, a Canadian cavalry
regiment headed to the Western Front
during World War I. Lt. Colebourn smuggled the bear into
Great Britain as his regiment’s unofficial mascot. Here, the
regiment’s veterinarian named her “Winnipeg” after his
hometown of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Before the regiment
left for the front lines, the future of this particularly gentle
cub had to be decided, and so she was given to the care of
London Zoo. It was at London Zoo where a certain young
boy fell in love with her – Christopher Robin, son to the
English author A.A. Milne. Born from love and inspiration
of “Winnipeg”, Christopher Robin named his own Teddy
bear “Winnie”.
(Item No. 664700, 36 cm, Limited Edition of 1,500 pieces)
USA
GRAND OLD BEAR
A decade ago, a Steiff retailer arrived
at her shop to find a large vintage
Teddy sitting at the front door. It
was accompanied by a note which
explained that the original owner
was no longer able to care for the
beloved bear; “I know you’ll find him
a good home,” read the note. It was this
touching story that inspired us to create
our “Grand Old Bear” – a recreation of the Teddy left
on the doorstep. For extra authenticity, our artisans
have airbrushed subtle signs of age on his snout and paw
pads. “Grand Old Bear” captures all the charm and appeal
of the original while keeping his heartwarming history
alive for generations to come.
(Item No. 682728, 50 cm, Limited Edition of 1,000 pieces)
USA
“LET
IT
SNOW” TEDDY
”Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” was written in sunny California on one of the hottest
days on record. It was first recorded in 1945 and reached No. 1 on the Billboard charts during
the following year. In the decades since, it has become one of the best-selling songs of all
time. As a tribute to this timeless tune, Steiff is pleased to present the “Let It Snow!” Teddy
bear. Her coat is a specially milled mohair that will remind you of a fresh snowfall. Her
powder blue paw pads are sewn from finest wool. Delicate embroidered snowflakes adorn
her feet. Wind her up and hear the immortal Christmas classic.
(Item No. 682667, 29 cm, Limited Edition of 1,500 pieces)
HOW TO REACH THE STEIFF CLUB IN NORTH AMERICA:
Steiff North America, Carolyn Smith, Club Administrator tel.: +1 401 312-0080, e-mail: carolyn@steiffusa.com
HOW TO REACH THE STEIFF CLUB IN THE UK:
Leyla Maniera, Margarete Steiff UK, Astra House, The Common, Cranleigh, Surrey GU6 8RZ,
tel.: +44 (0) 1483 266643, fax: +44 (0) 1483 266650, e-mail: leyla.maniera@steiff.com
5
NEWS
Paddington
Arriving 2014
For over 55 years, British-born writer Michael Bond has
been entertaining children and families all over the world
with his stories of Paddington Bear: the marmaladeloving, duffel coat-wearing, Wellington-booted bear from
darkest Peru.
Paddington BearTM ©
Paddington and
Company Ltd/
Studiocanal S.A. 2014
Licensed on behalf of
Studiocanal S.A. by
Copyrights Group.
6
Since the first book, A Bear Called Paddington, was
published by HarperCollins in 1958, a further 13 full-length
novels and countless other formats have been published.
Paddington’s adventures have been adapted several times
for the small screen, in collaboration with Ivor Wood and
FilmFair, for BBC and HBO. Today, with over 150 book
titles in more than 100 countries (over 70 of those titles
are offered in 40 languages), book sales are in excess of 35
million units. Now Paddington is coming to the big screen
in his first-ever feature film. Produced by David Heyman
of Harry Potter fame the film is a mixture of live-action
and CGI animation, it tells the story of a naive and polite
young bear from Peru with an endearing talent for comic
chaos.
The award winning cast includes Nicole Kidman, Hugh
Bonneville, Julie Walters and Peter Capaldi, with Colin
Firth as the voice of Paddington.
UK
P A D D I N G T O N B E A R TM
Cuddle up to the big screen
star in your very own home,
and “Please look after this
bear!”
(Item No. 664632, 28 cm,
Limited Edition of 2,000 pieces)
NNEEW
WSS
The big parade
A procession of memorable characters is headed your way this fall.
Can you hear the drumbeat in the distance? Lukas Teddy bear
There’s a parade coming to cities, towns, (Item No. 034060).
and villages around the globe this fall.
But there’s already excitement in the air.
The Steiff autumn collection is headed your
way – and there are plenty of reasons to join the
celebration!
Leading the procession is Lukas, the drummer
boy, with his little tin drum. In his smart
white mohair coat, he sets the pace for a cast of
characters that’s sure to bring you joy. There are
rare treasures, unique replicas, and lovable animals.
Fall marks the return of the coveted
Margarete Steiff edition. This blacktag series represents the very best of
Steiff design and craftsmanship.
Each piece is meticulously
handmade by our most skilled
artisans and produced in strictly
low quantities. This special edition
pays tribute to Franz Steiff who
developed the famous “Button in
Ear” trademark exactly 110 years
ago. The bear comes with a copy
of the original button patent and a
sealing wax kit that lets you show
your pride in your favourite brand
on all your correspondence.
Franz Teddy bear
(Item No. 034091).
...
7
NEWS
Holly Teddy bear Our Big Parade also includes characters designed
(Item No. 034282). to help you celebrate the upcoming holiday
season. There’s a musical bear that plays “Last
Christmas,” a little girl Teddy in a snowflake
gown, and a pair of festive ornaments.
There are also plenty of ideas for giftgiving. Wouldn’t Teddy with Matryoshka
make a wonderful Christmas surprise?
And who wouldn’t appreciate the gift of
adventure with our Marco and Niccolo
Teddy bears?
Replicas also have their place in the
festivities. There’s a 1908 Teddy
that looks amazingly like a
vintage bear. And leading
the tail end of the parade?
A donkey replica on wheels
from 1929, complete with
squeaker.
Donkey on wheels
1929 replica
(Item No. 403194).
8
This fall, you won’t want to miss
a minute of the fun as the Big Parade
comes to your town. Get ready for big fun
this autumn – exclusively from Steiff!
NEWS
Matryoschka Teddy
bear (Item No. 034190).
9
CO LLE CT I N G
Nuts for squirrels
Collectors have loved these playful creatures since Steiff’s early days.
Squirrels of the 1950’s.
A squirrel as a
pin cushion,
produced as
of 1903 (left)
and a velvet squirrel
as of 1901 (right).
10
Squirrels are as much a part of early autumn as colourful Like several popular turn of last century Steiff designs, this
leaves, cooler nights, and the back to school season! They velvet squirrel was also manufactured as a baby’s rattle.
are also an important and beloved legacy item in the Steiff This was accomplished by inserting a small hollow tube
catalogue, having been a part of the company’s offering or pouch filled with beads into the torso of the animal.
since before the turn of last century. Let’s take a look at Steiff created rattles from the smaller or smallest versions
of standard line items,
some of these fall favourites
including Teddy bears, cats,
and see what makes them so
Squirrels are an important and
and rabbits. The rattle was
interesting from the design
beloved legacy item in
very soft and gentle sounding
and historical perspectives.
the Steiff catalogue.
when shaken about.
The first squirrel debuted in the Steiff line in 1897; he was Starting in 1909, Steiff began producing squirrels in fully
begging, unjointed, and made from brown felt. Around in mohair. What makes these early items particularly
1901, this design was also produced in velvet. These early interesting is that they were fully six ways jointed –
velvet squirrels were unjointed and made from tan velvet meaning that the squirrel’s head, arms, leg, and tail were
that was carefully highlighted with brown on their backs, flexible and poseable. This is
limbs, and heads. Their bushy tails were made from different than a tail-movesmatching brown mohair and their faces were detailed with head mechanism, where the
small black wooden shoe-button eyes, a very simple tan tail and head are connected
coloured hand embroidered nose and mouth, and clear mechanically and adjusting
monofilament whiskers. This the tail turns the head left
velvet pattern was produced in and right. Very few early
5, 10, 12, and 17 cm from 1901 Steiff items were six
through 1920, and also used ways jointed; this
to create additional squirrel was usually seen on
early
themed items including higher-end
pincushions; a model with dogs and cats. The
a basket on her back and a first version of the six
model on a leaf were ways jointed squirrel was
produced in the designed in either reddish1902
through brown and white or grey
and white mohair. He was
1917 time frame.
CO LLE CT I N G
produced overall in 17, 22, 28, and 35 cm through 1919. This
pattern was updated slightly with a plumper body and
limbs, as well as felt backed black shoe button eyes, and
was manufactured in 17 and 22 cm over the 1925 through
1934 time frame.
Steiff went “nuts” with its next new squirrel pattern, which
was launched in 1934. This model was begging, and made
from grey and white or reddish brown and white mohair.
This design had a chubby belly and thighs, extra long
mohair ears and tail, and carried a velvet nut. Their tails were
lined in wire and were poseable. Their faces were detailed
with big black eyes, and a hand embroidered
nose, mouth, and
claws. Overall, this squirrel appeared in the line through
1942 in 20 and 25 cm. Steiff also produced a 17 cm “Punch
Squirrel” or squirrel hand puppet based on this design
from 1937 through 1938.
From left to right:
mohair squirrel grey/
white and
red brown/white, 1909.
squirrel with velvet
nut, 1934.
Squirrels were one of the very first items manufactured Kecki squirrel, 1978.
post war when the factory reopened for business in the
late 1940s. Its beloved pre-war mohair model holding a
velvet nut in 20 cm was brought back into the catalogue
from 1949 through 1956. The company also introduced
a 10 cm brown or grey velvet squirrel with a matching
mohair tail into the line in 1950; this little, old fashioned
looking fellow appeared through 1956. Then, as was typical
during that time frame, the company updated their mohair
squirrel design in 1957 and named their new pattern Possy. Perri squirrel from 1959.
Possy was begging, unjointed, and made from either brown
and white or grey and white mohair. Like her forebearers,
Possy also had extra long mohair on her ear tips and wirelined tail. Possy appeared in the line from 1957 through
1976 and was manufactured in 10, 14, and 22 cm. She
was also produced as a 17 cm hand puppet from 1957
through 1961.
Steiff created another beloved squirrel pattern
in the late 1950’s, inspired by a Walt Disney
documentary entitled True Life Adventures.
This film, released in 1957, “starred” a squirrel
named Perri who faced many challenges and
adventures. Steiff and Disney have always had a
close relationship so it is no surprise that Steiff
produced their very own licensed version of Perri.
11
CO LLE CT I N G
felt backed eyes. Perry was made in 12, 17, and 22 cm from
1959 through 1983. The 17 and 22 cm versions came with a
beautifully airbrushed velvet pinecone, about 2.5 cm long.
Possy squirrel, 1986.
Squirrels have never gone into hibernation in the Steiff
line. From the 1960’s through today, they have appeared
in many forms, including woollen miniatures and soft
play animals. In 2005, Steiff replicated its early 1901 era
velvet squirrel as a limited edition Christmas ornament for
the North American market, and today the company has
updated and brought back its Possy pattern in the form
of a russet and white mohair and alpaca yellow tagged
squirrel, item No. 072147.
It is clear that these bushy tailed beauties will always have a
special place in the hearts of Steiff collectors.
This pattern was made from brown tipped mohair, had a
great shaggy tail, and feet and hands made out of thick
felt. One of Perri’s most distinctive features was his white
Kecki squirrel,
2009 and Nag y
squirrel, 2005.
12
CU LT U R E
E-mail from the Iberian peninsula
Dear Steiff friends,
I am writing to you today
with an urgent message.
There are very few of my kind left. In
fact, we may even be the first felines to go extinct within the last 2,000 years. The World
Wildlife Fund lists us as “critically endangered.” So I hope you’ll take the time to learn
more about me and give your support for efforts to preserve my family.
As you might suspect, I am a carnivore, requiring about one rabbit a day to survive. In the
wild, I live only on a remote peninsula in Spain, where the lynx population continues to
dwindle. At full maturity, I can reach up to 54 pounds and be three feet long, not including
my tail. The female of my species will give birth to two to three young after a nine week
gestation period each year. We are mostly solitary creatures, except when raising cubs. The
greatest threat we face is destruction of our habitat.
Just by purchasing my Steiff counterpart and sharing my story, you can make a difference
in the life of my family and me. The more people become aware of my plight, the more
likely we are to survive. Can we count on you?
Sincerely yours,
Mizzy Lynx
13
D I S CO V E R I E S
Above:
Bear skittle set, 1892
Appropriately, the
“king” pin in skittle sets
wore a crown (centre).
The name of the game
Steiff skittles are special trophies for vintage collectors.
Although most turn of last century Steiff items were made for fun and
interaction, there are a few that truly exemplify this! The company’s early
skittle, or bowling sets, were truly designed and constructed for competitive
play. Today, these items are quite rare and for many reasons - including
their distinct shape – are trophies for most vintage Steiff collectors.
The origin of the game of skittles is unclear, but it has roots in similar games
played in ancient Egypt, Greece, Italian, and southern Turkey. Skittles was
particularly popular in Great Britain, where the game was played over
several centuries in public houses or clubs. There were variations in rules
and scoring over time and location, but in most cases the game involved
bowling a ball about 6.5 meters at nine pins set in a diamond pattern.
Whoever knocked down all the pins in the fewest tosses was the winner.
Skittles appeared in Steiff’s very first catalogue of 1892. The sets produced
for the European market had nine total skittles, while those for America
had ten total (as in tenpin bowling). Each set consisted of a series of pins
14
D I S CO V E R I E S
and one kingpin. The company produced skittles both as
standard looking felt bowling pins, as well as in the form
of felt, early plush, or velvet animals perched on wooden
plinths. For the sets with animals, Steiff made the sets with
hens, monkeys, elephants, pigs, rabbits, poodles, pointers,
cats, chicks, dachshunds, elephants, pointers, cats, and
bears, among others. The animals appearing on the pins
or as kingpins were usually 10 to 15 cm tall, standing or
begging, and were otherwise standard line catalogue
items. In all cases the kingpin wore a felt jacket and crown,
and was mounted on a slightly taller plinth. Each skittle set
came with two multicoloured felt covered balls.
However, after 1904, all items,
including each skittle in a skittle
set – would have left the factory in
Giengen with a Steiff button-in-ear.
To satisfy collector’s demand
and interest in these
delightful antique treasures,
Steiff created a replica 1897
Skittle game, EAN #411502 in
an edition size of 1,000 sets in
2005. Today, it is quite unusual to
find a full or partial set of vintage
Steiff skittles. This is probably the
case because most sets were actually
used for competitive gaming and
have been lost to time and wear.
Also, most collectors who have them
really don’t move them along given
their rarity and appeal. Notably, two sets of skittles sold
at the October, 2010 Steiff Auction at Christies: a set of
nine felt hen skittles for close to $28,000 and a set of nine
assorted skittles for close to $9,500.
Left: Extract from the
1908 catalogue.
Above: Extracts from
the 1898 and 1902/03
catalogues.
Below: 2005 skittle set.
Steiff began branding its items from 1904 onward with
a button-in-ear. Thus, it is sometimes possible to
find a skittle or even an entire skittle
set without the company’s
famous trademark, given
they were produced
starting in the
very late 1800’s!
15
CLU B M A I L
Readers’ service
Do you have a question about a Steiff item in your collection? Find out more here!
Question:
I have an old Teddy bear. What I would like to
know is whether it would be possible to work out
roughly how old it is, what it would have been
worth when new, and what it is worth now?
J.L., Hanover
Answer:
Your beautifully preserved blond Steiff
Teddy bear dates back to the period
between 1933 and 1939. What is left of the
yellow ear tag indicates the earlier period
of manufacture. After 1939, almost all
Teddy bears were made of the substitute
material artificial silk plush. Unfortunately,
you do not provide any measurements with your question,
so we cannot say whether your version is a 5365.2 with a
standing height of 65 cm or a 5375.2 of 75 cm. As children
rarely played with the large Teddy bears, they do appear
quite regularly despite the low production quantities of
the time. However, it is rare to find one in this excellent
condition, and they are highly sought after by collectors.
Expert information:
The head with the short F-arch that was used for small and
medium-sized Teddy bears after 1936 was not used on bears of this
size, which is why it would have been made into 1939.
Catalogue reference:
Large Teddy bears were often the cover page heroes of the Steiff catalogues. Here, an elaborate arrangement with one of the larger Teddy
bears adorns the cover page of the 1938 catalogue.
16
Question:
I recently acquired a Steiff doll at an
auction, but sadly was unable to find
it in the book “Steiff Sortiment”. It‘s
a Steiff chef called Lucky with the tag
number 7670/20. Was he an exclusive
for a particular company? Do the
wooden spoons belong to him? When
was he made, and what could he be
worth?
K. W., Groß-Umstadt
Answer:
Chef Lucky, item no. 7670/20,
was part of a series of eight
professionals that was available in
1978. These very detailed figures
were made of synthetic velvet and
had PVC heads. It is very rare to
find one today, and they are only
listed in the catalogues of 1978.
Most of the 20-cm high items were given tiny accessories at
the factory. Chef Lucky originally had a red plastic cooking
spoon. It was not unusual for this accessory to be replaced,
as has been the case here. Armed with a cooking spoon,
dough scraper or miniature whisk, the chef could also be a
lucky mascot for bakers. The Steiff “professionals” are now
extremely popular, but you’ll need to be really patient if
you hope to collect a full set of all the figures.
CLU B M A I L
Expert information:
The new series of professional figures actually also includes Vincenz
the shepherd. Although he is not shown with the other eight figures,
he did appear on his own in the 1978 catalogue, and is the only one
of these figures to be manufactured until 1981. His item no. 7690/20
blends seamlessly with the series of other figures.
Catalogue reference:
Extract from the main catalogue of 1978. Spot Chef Lucky’s original
red cooking spoon.
Question:
Could you provide me with any further information on this German
shepherd dog on wheels? I rescued him several years ago from a
rubbish skip. The dog measures about 35 cm at the shoulder, barks
when you pull the ring, and he still has the button in his ear (but only
the button).
Thank you very much and best wishes,
R. J., Basel
The original retail price for the 43 cm version of a young
German shepherd was DM 48 in the first year of production. Originally, the dogs – which were made of mohair
plush – on wheels had a red leather collar and a red felt
tongue. They were pulled by a red-and-white cord with a
round wooden handle. During the short period of its production the 43 cm Riding Arco was made both with and
without the handle.
Expert information:
Steiff has a long tradition of making animals on wheels. Back in
May 1892, the company applied to patent a steel frame that provided the special weight-bearing capacity of these toys. The patent
was registered in February 1893. The “Process for manufacturing
animals and other figures to serve as toys” is still the base for the
unmatched stability of larger Steiff animals.
Catalogue reference:
Extract from the main catalogue of 1961 showing the complete
original version.
Answer:
Steiff has a long tradition of making German shepherds as
ride-on toys. These popular herd dogs have been available
as toys on wheels since 1923. The designs were constantly adjusted to match changes in breeding standards. The
model shown here is from the series that was made from
1957. The size of the wheels and the handle tell us that it is
catalogue size 43 cm. This size of the Riding Arco was only
listed in the catalogues until 1961; the item numbers were
6343,2 (1957/58) and 6343,20 (1959/61).
17
V E N UE S
A Sommer to remember
Around 40,000 visitors gather for ninth annual festival in Giengen.
Although the skies sometimes turned cloudy and rainy,
nothing could dampen the spirits of participants in the
ninth annual “Steiff Sommer” held on the factory’s grounds
this past June.
Thousands of Steiff fans made their yearly pilgrimage
to Giengen an der Brenz for the big event. It took two
friends from the USA three plane rides and four train rides
over three long and exhausting days to finally arrive in
Giengen – a trip that should have taken less than a day.
One commented, “Despite our bad luck with travel and
connections, it was still totally worth it to attend these
special days at Steiff. There is nothing more magical that
18
being surrounded by fellow collectors at the birthplace of
the Teddy bear. Of course, finding a few special treasures
is just the icing on the cake!”
One of the “special treasures” discovered by many at the
event was the lovable little “Ottifant” created by renowned
German comedian Otto Waalkes. The “Ottifant” appeared
on the cover of Waalke’s first record album, all the way back
in 1973. He was brought to life in 2014 by the designers at
Steiff especially for the Sommer event. “Ottifant” which
can be ordered on www.ottifantenwelt.de was a delight to
“Sommer” participants – many of whom waited patiently in
line to get their little elephant signed by the star, who made
a special appearance in Giengen to the delight of the crowd.
V E N UE S
Star guest Otto
Waalkes showed himself
very interested and
enthusiastic. So did the
numerous fans who
gathered around him
to get their Ottifants
signed by him.
The photo above left
pictures Otto Waalkes
and the Managing
Director of Margarete
Steiff GmbH,
Daniel Barth, as well
as Simone Pürckhauer,
the Steiff museum
Manager.
...
19
V E N UE S
Above and below
left: Plenty of treasures at the tent and
the International
sales market.
Above right:
Novice bear makers
try their hand at
making their very
own Steiff.
Below right:
Ever-popular
Japanese mascot
Kumamon danced
for the thrilled
crowd.
A much-anticipated annual feature of Steiff Sommer is the
company’s Teddy bear workshop programme. A collector
from the UK proudly shared that she had been a participant
at every workshop since the company began offering them.
She said, “I simply love the feeling of bringing a bear to
life. I have all of my bears from past workshops lined up
in my home, and even have a special place set aside for
this year’s edition. I would not miss this workshop for the
world!”
20
V E N UE S
Likewise, many would not miss the annual auction held
by TeddyDorado. The highlight of this year’s sale was
undoubtedly “Black Jack,” the fascinating Teddy bear
discovery highlighted in the last edition of the Club
magazine. “Black Jack” fetched an impressive 15,000 €
in the auction. Other notable lots included an owl that
belonged to Eva Steiff, a white bear on a green mohair
mat, and an unusual set of uncatalogued woollen miniature
hedgehogs from 1970.
Of course, Steiff Sommer is not just for collectors - it is
a celebration of the Teddy bear for kids of all ages. And
families visiting in 2014 seemed to agree. A father, with
two 10 year olds in tow said, “My children just love this
special weekend. The celebration is perfect for families,
with carousels, kid’s games, exhibits, and musical
entertainment. My daughters really enjoyed having their
picture taken with Knopf and Kumamon!”
Of course, this is only a partial sampling of the schedule
for Steiff Sommer. To get the full experience, you really
have to be there. Keen to attend in 2015? Then mark the
dates 3 to 5 July in your calendar!
A spectacular
fireworks display
capped off Saturday
evening.
Above left:
The new Fall/Winter
items had their first
appearance at the
Club stand.
Above right:
As always, the Teddy
Dorado auction at
the Schranne was
very well accepted.
21
V E N UE S
Anniversary celebration at Kaufhof Bonn
Gerlinde Schotanus honoured for many years of service.
Show us your Steiff
animals! Five Club
members chose the right
scratch card and were
lucky enough to win a
wonderful prize from
the Steiff range.
Above right:
30 years with Steiff.
Congratulations,
Gerlinde Schotanus!
(on the right: Club
speaker Petra May.)
In these days of constant change, it is considered as
something very special if someone spends several – even
many – years working for the same company and brand.
Gerlinde Schotanus is one of those people. For more than
30 years she has devoted herself to the Steiff range with
passion and enthusiasm, and for 25 years she has been a
Steiff consultant at Galeria Kaufhof in Bonn. To her Steiff
Club members, she is both contact and advisor. The events
and their regular meetings have become a much-loved
tradition for many of the Bonn Club members. They meet
to learn new things and share their hobby with each other.
Once again, in the spring
of this year, on 28 March
to be precise, the members
of Galeria Kaufhof were
invited to an event under
the theme of “Magic”. Club
speaker Petra May came
from Stuttgart especially for
the occasion, and welcomed
the approximately 60
guests. Apart from the
presentation of Steiff
novelties and inspection of
same, plus a scratch ticket
competition with an “enchanting” raffle, the other main
event was, of course, to honour and acknowledge Gerlinde
and her achievements. In his speech, Kaufhof CEO Martin
Suilmann spoke of Gerlinde Schotanus’s activities, while
Steiff regional sales director Christian Rocholz and Petra
May expressed their thanks with a bouquet of flowers, a
concert voucher – and, of course, a Teddy bear.
All that remains is to wish Gerlinde Schotanus and her
Bonn Club association many more years of sharing their
interest in and passion for Steiff, and continuing to
exchange thoughts and ideas together in such an exemplary
way.
News from the Steiff Museum
Warm welcome for the millionth visitor.
On 30 April, Pamela and Daniel Schebesta from Landshut
decided to visit Giengen and the Steiff Museum with
their daughter Mara. What they didn’t expect: they were
welcomed as the millionth visitors, and staff at the Steiff
museum presented them with a bouquet and a terrific
prize of a five-day cruise on the MS EUROPA from Kiel to
Hamburg worth in the region of € 4,500! The highlights
of this trip with Hapag-Lloyd Kreuzfahrten include the
Hanseatic cities and the UNESCO World Heritage Site
Wismar and Stralsund as well as Copenhagen’s most
famous landmark, the Little Mermaid.
Our photo shows the happy winners: the Schebesta family
with Carola Stocker (left) and Monika Taglang (right) of
the Steiff Museum.
22
The Steiff Museum was opened in 2005 to mark the
company’s 125th anniversary, and is delighted with the
steady increase in visitor numbers.
V E N UE S
Club event at the “Spielzeugparadies”
Bochum’s Club store delights with a sparkling idea.
On 22 March, the “Spielzeugparadies” in Bochum invited
its Club members to a Club event. As befitted the theme,
guests were welcomed by staff member Bettina Jerch, who
was wearing an original street hawker’s costume complete
with tray, and handed out popcorn. A large Steiff studio
bear dressed to suit the theme of “Magic” was available as a
motif for fabulous snapshots that guests were able to take
home with them at the end of the event.
Guests with a lucky
touch: they won a highquality Steiff item in
the raffle to take home
with them.
Club speaker Bettina Meyer welcomed the approximately
60 participants. She had with her a large number of
novelties that were received with much interest. After a
buffet to satisfy the appetite, there was much information
on the subject of “110 Years of ‘Button in Ear’”, and a
number of members enjoyed additional good luck in a
scratch card competition: their scratch cards revealed a
little “Elefäntle” (elephant) after scratching. Each of them
received a lovely prize.
„Walk right up!“
– the magical
outfit of the
„welcoming committee“
at the Club event at
Spielzeug paradies
Bochum.
Club event in La Baule, France
Happy reunion at the Calin l’Ours.
The ocean, the sun, some cakes and of course Champagne,
old friends and newcomers rejoicing together: such were
the ingredients of an unforgettable day in La Baule, on
Saturday May 3rd, at Mr. and Mrs. Duneau’s store, Calin
l’Ours.
Steiff Teddy Bears were the
guests of honour, as it has
been the case for some years
now. Coming from different
countries, showcased in a
wonderful fashion by a team
of passionate salespeople,
they have raised interest,
amusement, desire for
the visitors present. Many
have found a new home!
The famous «Button in
Ear» 110’s anniversary was
introduced by Christophe
Micolet, Sales Manager for
France, and everyone agreed
to be there once again next
year ...
Thanks to all who participated!
23
FAV
V EONUUREIST E
Events
Club events, new introductions and other dates.
Other dates
Saturday, 6 September 2014
Bamberger Teddybär-Festival
Welcome Kongress Hotel,
Mußstraße 7, 96047 Bamberg
Contact:
Christine Spies,
Max-Fremery-Straße 3a, 50827 Köln
tel.: +49 (0)221 530 63 53
fax: +49 (0)221 530 56 89
E-Mail: neumann@baerreport.de
www.bamberger-teddybaerfestival.de
Saturday, 11 and Sunday, 12 October 2014
(10 - 18 / 10 - 17 hrs)
Euro Teddy 2014
Messe Essen/Congress Center Süd
Contact:
Christine Spies (see above)
Friday, 24 October 2014
18.00 - 20.00 hrs
Steiff free datings and appraisals
Stadthalle Bad Godesberg
Contact:
TeddyDorado GmbH,
Marienstraße 2 53343 Wachtberg
tel.: +49 (0)228 20 76 758
fax: +49 (0)228 20 76 759
www.teddydorado.de
Saturday, 25 October 2014
Auction StuffedToys and TeddyBears
Stadthalle Bad Godesberg,
Koblenzer Straße 80, 53177 Bonn a. Rhein
Contact:
TeddyDorado GmbH (see above)
Sunday, 26 October 2014
Dolls and Teddy bear fair
Nallemässa Malmö
Contact:
Margarethas Dockskap
Margaretha Södergren
tel.: +46 (0) 709287769
24
GERMANY
03/09
04/09
06/09
09/09
19/09
26/09
27/09
02/10
07/10
10/10
16/10
18/10
22/10
24/10
01/11
06/11
06/11 (NI)
07/11
07/11
14/11
17/11
21/11
28/11
28/11
Galeria Kaufhof GmbH , Siegburg, tel.: +49 (0)2241 9930
Karstadt Warenhaus GmbH , Dortmund, tel.: +49 (0)231 54394221
ANTHEUM, Cologne, tel.: +49 (0)221 27726660
Mayersche Buchhandlung KG , Aachen, tel.: +49 (0)241 4777385
Mukk GmbH, Münster, tel.: +49 (0)251 45232
Karstadt Warenhaus GmbH , Hamburg, tel.: +49 (0)40 3094
Teddyland Matthias Unger e.K., Rothenburg, tel.: +49 (0)9861 8904
Galeria Kaufhof GmbH , Oberhausen, tel.: +49 (0)208 8230378
Galeria Kaufhof GmbH , Munich, tel.: +49 (0)89 23185733
Karstadt Warenhaus GmbH , Rosenheim, tel.: +49 (0)8031 302468
Karstadt Warenhaus GmbH , Munich, tel.: +49 (0)89 55121480
Spielwaren Kurtz GmbH, Stuttgart, tel.: +49 (0)711 238520
Willy Mueller & Soehne OHG , Wuppertal, tel.: +49 (0)202 248020
Karstadt Warenhaus GmbH , Mülheim, tel.: +49 (0)208 4951468
SammlerKontor OHG, Wehrheim, tel.: +49 (0)6081 9285497
Galeria Kaufhof GmbH, Mönchengladbach, tel.: +49 (0)2161 2780
Karstadt Warenhaus GmbH , Augsburg, tel.: +49 (0)821 3153568
Galeria Kaufhof GmbH , Bonn, tel.: +49 (0)228 5160
Silvias Baerenstube, Kerpen, tel.: +49 (0)2237 921701
Karstadt Warenhaus GmbH, Bielefeld, tel.: +49 (0)521 5288468
Teewelt Ronnefeldt, Traunstein,
Tel.: +49 (0)8031 8073963 or 0861 70696593
Karstadt, Cologne, tel.: +49 (0)221 2039591
Galeria Kaufhof GmbH, Mannheim, tel.: +49 (0)621 380450
Karstadt Warenhaus GmbH, Frankfurt, tel.: +49 (0)69 929050
SWITZERLAND
13/11
Steiff Galerie / Pegasus, Zurich, tel. +41 (0)44.2124642
FRANCE
18/09
Il Était Une Fois, Paris, tel. +33 (0)1.45482110
NETHERLANDS
20/09
Hesemans, Breda, tel. +31 (0)76.5212310
22/11
Berelijn, Dordrecht, tel. +31 (0)78.6318028
AUSTRIA
10/10
11/10
Steiff in Wien, Vienna, tel. +43 (0)1.533601874
Elfis Puppenstube, Vienna, tel. +43 (0)1.8656589
SWEDEN
25/10
Margarethas Dockskap, Kosta, tel. +46 (0)709287769
GREAT BRITAIN
17/9
Ashwood Nurseries, West Midlands, tel. +44 (0)1384 275955
25/10
Harrods, London, tel. +44 (0)207730-1234 ext 3222
(NI = New introductions)
Subject to change. Please contact the Club stores for further information.
You will find further dates and addresses of Club stores at www.steiff.com (column Club/Club events).
In loving memory
Steiff collectors pay tribute to a special friend.
The Steiff community lost a wonderful and special friend on February 13, 2014. Georgette
Thomas, beloved owner of The Hugging Bear Inn & Shoppe in Chester, Vermont passed
away peacefully after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Georgie, as she was known to her
friends, customers, and fellow Steiff enthusiasts, held two special Steiff collector’s events
each year - one in the spring, and one in the fall. Many regulars would make a weekend trip
out of these events by staying overnight at the inn and enjoying the restaurants, antiquing,
vistas, and shopping offered by her charming southern Vermont town.
To keep the tradition alive, Georgie’s daughter Laura opened the doors of the Inn to
the Steiff community this spring to honour her mother. On Saturday, April 26th, Steiff
collectors from all over New England – and even a few from Canada – once again gathered
in the cozy living room of the Hugging Bear Inn & Shoppe to view the new 2014 line, talk
about their recent finds and treasures, have their vintage items identified and valued, and
of course, enjoy a generous offering of delicious snacks and refreshments.
Some of the new and
old Steiff treasures
used to tell the story
of Georgette‘s life
during the Hugging
Bear Inn event.
The highlight of this spring event for most attendees was a tribute presentation to Georgie
made by Steiff North America’s Marketing and Club Manager Carolyn Smith and her
colleague Rebekah Kaufman, Steiff North America’s Consultant Archivist. For many years,
Carolyn and Rebekah presented together to collectors at the Inn, but this time it was
different. To remember Georgie’s warmth, spirit, and lifelong love of the Steiff brand,
Carolyn and Rebekah created a brief programme based on Georgette’s eulogy that her
family had written. Carolyn read a few sentences of the eulogy. Rebekah then held up,
and briefly discussed, a vintage Steiff item that had ties to the peaceful and loving words
Carolyn just shared. This went back and forth until the end of the eulogy. Overall, Rebekah
and Carolyn shared 11 vintage Steiff treasures with the attendees; by the end of the reading
there wasn’t a dry eye in the room.
The community officially said goodbye to Georgie at a town wide celebration of life a
few weeks later. The Thomas family will continue to run the Inn, which has always been a
wonderful destination for Steiff and Teddy bear lovers alike.
For more information on The Hugging Bear Inn & Shoppe in Chester, Vermont,
please see www.huggingbear.com.
25
FAV O U R I T E
Stories worth sharing
Like beloved Steiff treasures, some tales stand the test of time.
“Grandpa, when you were a little boy, what was your
favourite bedtime story?” asked five-year-old Little Ted.
“Well, when I was your age, many years ago, my Grandpa
used to read me fairy tales about talking animals and giants
and trees that came to life at night. I loved that book and
wrote my name on the inside cover, and kept it beside my
bed. After a few years, the book all but fell apart out after
so many readings, and your Mom gave it away. She said I
was a big boy and too old for such stories,” said Grandpa.
“Oh Grandpa, I would like to hear those magical stories,
too! All of my books are about racing cars and rocket ships
and dinosaurs. Can you tell me your childhood fairy tales?”
said Little Ted. “Well, I am old and cannot remember all
the details. But I will find a book that has these old stories
and read them to you, just like my Grandpa read to me,”
said Grandpa.
The very next day, Grandpa began his search for a book
that had fairy tales from his childhood for his grandson.
The first place he went was the library. But the library did
not have any older books, only modern books with big
colour pictures. Grandpa’s book was small and had only
simple black ink drawings to illustrate the story.
Grandpa next went to the bookstore in his town square.
He asked the shopkeeper to show him where the children’s
books were located. Grandpa searched and searched,
and pulled many books off the shelves, but none had
an old fashioned feel to them, or told the stories that
Grandpa remembered. He put everything back in its place,
thanked the shopkeeper, and left the store feeling a little
disappointed.
That night, around the dinner table, Little Ted asked
Grandpa if he had any success in finding a fairy tale book
they could share together. Grandpa said, “No, not yet,
but I tried today, and will try again soon. I need to go to
London for a doctor’s appointment tomorrow, but when I
am back I will continue to look.” And Little Ted thanked
him, and gave him a big hug.
So the next day, Grandpa took the subway to London where
his doctor had his office. As he climbed the stairs out of the
underground station, he could hear the delightful sounds
of Big Ben’s chimes. He walked past a few restaurants and
stores on his way to his appointment. He arrived on time
26
and had a good check up. As he was leaving the doctor’s
office, he looked up at Big Ben to see what time it was, and
noticed large, ominous black clouds on the horizon.
Grandpa quickly started his return walk to the underground
station, hoping to miss the rain. But he was not so lucky,
and all of a sudden, the sky opened up! He ducked under
a large green awning over the door of an antique shop to
protect himself from the bad weather. To pass the time, he
started to look at the display of old books and papers in
the window. Then something really caught his eye there
– a small, worn children’s book of fairy tales! He quickly
entered the store and requested to see the little book.
The shopkeeper was happy to help, and took the book out
of the window display for Grandpa to see. The book looked
to be very old, and very loved, and Grandpa handled it
gently. From the outside, it looked surprisingly like the
one he remembered he read with his Grandpa. He carefully
flipped through the stories and simple illustrations, which
were drawn in black ink. Then something remarkable
happened. He opened the book to the inside cover, and
there in black letters, in a child’s handwriting, was the
name “Theodore” – Grandpa’s name! Yes, indeed, he had
found his very own beloved book from childhood! His
heart skipped a beat in happiness.
By the time he paid for the book, and had it bagged
up, the rain had stopped and he headed straight for the
underground station. On the return journey on the
subway, he read the book cover to cover several times and
remembered all the joy and love associated with it. He
could not wait to share this treasure with Little Ted!
When he arrived home early evening at suppertime, he
presented Little Ted with this remarkable gift. Little Ted
could not believe his eyes. Then he looked up at Grandpa
and said, “Just for once, can I eat dinner in bed? In that
way, I don’t have to wait a second longer to have you read
to me tonight!” And Grandpa smiled and said, “Yes, of
course – even my Grandfather would have thought that
was a great idea!”
FAV O U R I T E
Waldi dachshund
Item No. 078712
27
Margarete Steiff GmbH, Richard-Steiff-Straße 4, 89537 Giengen an der Brenz
913716
www.steiff.com
Renew your Club membership for 2014
now to take advantage of this special offer!
Elephant (EAN 682568)
AND
Giraffe (EAN 682551)
Everyone loves FAO Schwarz exclusives from Steiff.
Now, we’re pleased to offer you two sets of FAO miniature
animals at very special savings – exclusively for our Club
members. Choose either the elephant and giraffe for just
$99 (a $160 value) or the monkey and panda for only
$119 (a $180 value). Naturally, with prices like these, the
quantities are very limited. Here’s your chance to add a
whole FAO circus to your collection at an unprecedented
discount. Order now to avoid disappointment.
For Club members who are new or renewed for 2014 only!
$99* FOR THE PAIR!
Monkey (EAN 682575)
AND
Panda (EAN 682582)
$119* FOR
THE PAIR!
COLLECTIBLES ARE NOT TOYS, INTENDED FOR ADULT COLLECTORS
*Plus tax where applicable
Please indicate
which set you
choose:
NameMember Number
Address
m Elephant &
Giraffe
City / State / Zip Code
Phone Number
m Monkey &
Panda
Email Address
PAYMENT TYPE:
m Check (payable to Steiff Club)
Complete this order form
and return to the Steiff Club;
limited quantities, offer
available while supplies last.
Credit Card: m MasterCard
m Visa
m Discover
Card NumberExpiration DateSecurity Code
Signature
Steiff North America, Inc., 24 Albion Road, Suite 220, Lincoln, RI 02865
Phone: 401-312-0080 • Fax: 401-475-2147 • www.steiffusa.com