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Vintage and Antique Steiff Teddy Bears |
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Margarete Steiff, confined to a wheelchair by polio, began by sewing dresses by hand for the local community. She bought a sewing machine and by 1879, at the age of 32 she was running a successfull business sewing dresses, coats and various garments.
A pattern for a felt animal started the toy business. She produced felt elephants and the Steiff stuffed animals were born.
By 1893 14 people were working for her. Her nephew, Richard Fritz, joins the company and helps taking it to the next level.
The famous order for the 3000 jointed bears in 1903 at a Leipzig toy fair, to be sold as Teddy Bears in the US, set the starting point for Steiff's huge success in America.
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