Crämer

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Company History

Date	Event
*1858*	Eduard Cramer born, he was the son of a tailor
1885	Eduard takes over his father-in-law, Paul Schwabacher's, toy factory in Sonneberg, Germany
*1896*	Company founded by Eduard Crämer
*1901*	Hermann Crämer (Eduard's son) joined the Company
*1906*	Large order of 6,000 bears was received for the export market, the proceeds allowed a factory to be built
*1915*	EDUCA trademark established
*1920*	A limited partnership was created by Eduard and Hermann Crämer and Eduard's sons in-law Walter Macheleidt and Heinrich Löhr
*1945*	Eduard Crämer died
*1952*	Hermann Crämer left the company and it was rented to Hans Löhr and Erich Schubert
	A license agreement with Schildkröt-Puppen GmbH set up allowing them to manufacture existing Crämer products and to develop replica's of earlier Crämer products.

Crämer Bears

Eduard Crämer trained as a tailor and due to a surfeit of tailors was then encouraged to design soft toys. One of the first he produced was an elephant. He went on to design quality teddy bears too including many novelties: brightly coloured bears, mechanical and musical bears and clown bears that would play music when the head was moved back and forwards. One of the better known, yet rare, Crämer bears is Bearkin; made in the 1930's for F.A.O. Schwarz, this series of 20cm (8") bears might be dressed in, for example, felt jacket and trousers. "Scotch Bearkin" wore a plaid cap, velvet top, kilt and sporran and red leather shoes!

Crämer Bearkin circa 1938	1930's masked Crämer bear	1930's Crämer bear

Visit our Vintage Bears where, depending upon availability, you may see more Crämer teddy bears

Crämer Bear Identification

Crämer did not affix permanent labels or buttons to their bears. A triangular swing tag was used, which was usually attached to the chest. The swing tag showed "Eduard Crämer" or "E/C" during the 1920's. The "Educa" trademark, with the drawing of a monkey, was briefly used next, then "Educa, Made in Germany" appeared in the 1930's. Bears with these original card tags remaining are rare.
Muzzle: clipped/shaved mohair on the nose and surrounding area, usually to the outside edge of the eyes to form a heart or shield shape.
Mouths: could be open with felt lining or closed. The closed mouth bear's sometimes have a small embroidered red tongue.
Feet: tended to be quite large.

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