The founder of the Steiff empire, Margarete Steiff, began making her soft toys in the 1870s, in the small German town of Giengen.

Notably, she owned the town's first sewing machine. This allowed her to make many gifts of soft toys for the children of Giengen. She had learnt sewing skills as a dressmaker, and used felt off-cuts to create animals of many types. Her popularity grew as word spread of her skill and generosity!

She therefore opened her first factory in 1879, called the Felt Toy Factory. She had a good business sense and production continued to grow to meet the growing orders. Three of her nephews helped to run it with her, as managing directors, and who were also clever businessmen.

The business expanded further, and a fourth nephew, Richard, joined the firm in 1897. Using his sketches of bears in the Stuttgart Zoo, a design was made for the first jointed soft toy bear in the world, which was introduced in 1902. In 1903 the first of the shipments to the USA went on sale there, where they were given the name Teddy, after the current President at that time, Theodore Roosevelt.

Other companies attempted to cash in on Steiff's popularity and success. Thus, a metal button was introduced in 1904, to act as a quality control measure. It was attached to the left ear of each animal. Originally blank, these buttons were then embossed 'STEIFF' from 1905.

By 1908, the factories required 2000 employees to meet demand. Most of the work was done by hand, as it still is now. The town was so appreciative of Margarete's work that it named its main street after her!

Steiff is renowned for its quality and range. Old Steiff animals and teddies command high prices. Dating each toy is possible by reference to the type of button in the ear, by using old catalogues and by noting the materials used it its construction.

Key words:EVA Toy ,  Toy 
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