Steiff

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Company History

Date	Event
*1877*	A Felt mail order company opened in Giengen, Germany to make felt garments
*1880*	The success of a small felt elephant pin-cushion leads to animal toy production
*1892*	The first Steiff catalogue is produced. Bears on iron wheels introduced
*1893*	Business registered as the "Felt Toy Co."
*1897*	Richard Steiff joins to develop the soft toy animal range
*1902*	First jointed bear produced (Bär 55 PB)
*1904*	Margarete and Richard Steiff awarded Gold Medals for industry and effort. Franz Steiff creates the "button in ear" concept
*1905*	In May the "button in ear" trademark confirmed.
*1906*	In July Steiff became a private limited company and re-registered as Margarete Steiff GmbH. Three nephews i.e. Paul, Richard and Franz-Josef appointed as managing directors
*1907*	A record 974,000 bears produced
*1909*	9 May: Margarete Steiff died, aged 61
*1914-18*	Paul, Richard and Franz-Josef enlisted. The factory is used to make war supplies
*1920*	A conveyor belt system is introduced to improve production
*1943*	Factory makes ammunition for war effort
*1950*	Production fully resumed after lifting of war-time restrictions
*1953*	50th anniversary of Steiff teddy bear
*1965*	The Steiff Toy Company is founded in Grieskirchen, Austria to improve export facilities
*1980*	The first replica bear is made leading to expansion throughout the 80's.
*1992*	90 years of Steiff bears. Steiff Collectors Club begins on 1 April

Steiff Bears

1905/6	early 1920's	Teddy Baby	55PB replica

These are just a few examples, visit our Vintage Bears where, depending on availability, you will see more Steiff bears.

Some of the earliest Steiff bears appeared in 1892, they stood on their hind legs or on all fours - wheels were introduced later. The limbs of these early bears were rigid and it was the development of moving joints that led to the development of the teddy bear that we know today.

Steiff's first jointed teddy bear was the Bär 55 PB. The number indicated the bear was 55 cm, "P" = plush; "B" = beweglich (jointed). This bear resembled a real bear, it's arms and legs were attached to the body by twine that was fastened with a knot just under the plush. . This bear was introduced at the Leipzig Trade Fair in 1903 but attracted little attention. However, later that year an American, Hermann Berg, ordered 3,000. There are no examples in existence ............. unless you know otherwise!

Neither Richard Steiff nor his aunt were happy with the 55 PB so Richard set upon improving the design. In 1904 he produced the smaller Bär 35 PB, it's arms and legs were attached with strong string. It didn't take long for the limbs to become loose. Then twisted wires and rods were used. In 1905 disc joints were introduced. The head and limbs were attached used cardboard discs and metal pins - a very similar system is still used today.

Steiff have made so many famous bears since then it is very difficult to know which to mention, here are a few, most of which have had replica's produced since 1980:

1907 Hot Water Bottle Bear; only 90 were produced. A metal hot water bottle was concealed in the bears tummy, the opening could be closed by strong ribbon lacing around hooks. 50cm tall.
1908-17 Muzzle Bears: produced in white and light to dark brown in ten sizes
1908 - click here to read about Alfonzo
1910-18 Pantom Bear: attached to 6 wires, just over 6000 produced in two sizes i.e. 35cm and 40cm
1912 Mourning Bear: in memory of the Titanic that sank on 14 April 1912. One such bear, in excellent condition, fetched £80,000 PLUS buyers premium at an auction at Christies in December 2000.
1926-30 Teddy Clown: a bear with a felt clown hat and neck ruff.
1929-50 Teddy Baby: produced in twelve sizes, the largest being 51cm and made in mohair, artificial and wool plush. Teddy Babies were mainly produced in dark brown or creamy coloured mohair but some were white and these are now very collectable. Teddy Baby was produced with a "laughing" open mouth and closed mouth. Replica's were introduced in 1985.
1930-36 Dicky Bear: made of white or blond with a brown stitched nose or gold with black stitched nose. Characterised by a smiling mouth. A brown Dicky Bear was also made between 1935 and 1941.
1951 onwards Zotty: the majority of Zotty bears were produced using a caramel coloured mohair tipped with white. They have a peach coloured mohair chest. There was also a less popular Sleeping or Floppy Zotty, positioned lying down with closed eyes.

Steiff Bear Identification

The table below shows some of the ways to identify a Steiff bear. However, the shape of the muzzle, head, arms, legs and that famous hump on the back must also be considered.

Year	Button (in left ear)	Tags	Material	Stuffing	Eyes	Pads/Claws
1904	Nickel-plated button. Elephant and S-shaped trunk (6mm).		Mohair	Wood-wool or wood-wool and Kapok Squeeze type voice box	Shoe button	Felt pads Five claws
1905	Blank, nickel-plated with two prong attachment (6mm)
1906	Nickel button. Raised "STEIFF" - with final'F' underscored and drawn back to the 'E' (4mm)	Ear tag: white with article number and "Steiff Original"				Four claws
1908		Ear tag: white paper; number indicates posture, covering and height		Tilt-type voice box	Glass available to special order
1910		White paper; now also shows "made in Germany"
1920			Nettle plant derivative or paper plush		Clear glass painted on back with metal loop
1925	Larger nickel-plated button (8mm) used until 1934	Ear tag: red paper showing printed article number and "Made in Germany"
1926		Chest tag: white paper circle, with black print and metal edge
1928		Beige paper circle with red outer rim, yellow bears head at bottom. Used until 1950
1934	Brass button: the final 'F' now only drawn back as far as preceding letter (6mm)	Ear tag: yellow paper, showing article number and "Made in Germany".. Used until 1950
1947		Extra white woven label "made in US-Zone Germany" sewn into body seam until 1953	Synthetic plush
1948	Blank iron button, sometimes painted blue (greys with age), used (7mm). Also blank nickel button used.
1950	The word "STEIFF" is in block capitals (6mm) Also, the underscore button, with fhe final F drawn back to the preceding letter used (6mm)
1952/3	Silver-coloured, nickel, button. Steiff" in raised script (5mm)	Chest tag: beige paper circle with red outer rim, yellow smiling bears head. Used until 1972
1955			Dralon	Foam rubber
1960		Ear tag: yellow coated linen label		Foam rubber and foam flakes	Plastic attached with thread or star lock-disc
1968	The cursive script "Steiff" becomes smaller (5mm). This button is used until 1977.	Ear tag: id number changed: comma replaced by slash e.g. 0209/15
1970	A rounder nickel button is riveted. Incised "Steiff" in script (5mm)			Soft, synthetic		Rippled woven velvet pads
1972		Chest tag circular, top half in yellow and bottom in red
1976	Brass button with incised Steiff in script, riveted in ear (8mm)					Jersey knit pads
1980		Ear tag: white woven label used for ltd editions until 1982
1982		Ear tag: yellow cloth weave used until 1987
1986	Larger brass button (9mm)	Ear tag: white printed ribbon used for ltd editions, a yellow printed ribbon for classic bears
2001	Gold-plated button, riveted in ear for special limited editions

If you would like to know more about Steiff visit our bookshop where you will find a selection of books packed with information about Steiff bears, dolls and their other soft toys and numerous colour photographs.

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