MARGARETE STEIFF

      Being tied to a wheelchair all of her life, she never let that bother her. She was a great lover of children and loved having them visit her. One day Margarete Steiff made a tiny elephant which she would let her little visitors play with. Since toys were very rare back then and the children loved playing with them, Margarete's mother began giving her orders for copies of the elephant as well as other toy animals.

      As time went by she started to train other women to help her and eventually set up a small factory. Her one nephew, Richard, spent many hours watching the bears at the zoo, when in 1902 had created a toy bear with a moving head and limbs to present to his aunt. When presented to Margarete, she was not at all impressed, this toy was much bigger and it was made out of expensive and rare mohair opposed to the felt that was currently being used. However she allowed the toy to be shipped to the USA But it was laughed at and rejected.

      The bear was brought to the Leipzig Fair the following year, but kept in the background. While they were packing up they were approached by a representative of a New York import house. He was looking for something soft and cuddly and had found the fair disappointing. At which point the little bear was presented to him, the New York rep. was so delighted that he placed an order for 3,000 pcs. Before long they had received another 3,000 pc order from a factory in Giengen. Now the bear was truly launched.

Some examples of Steiff Bears