HERMANN Coburg History

The old Max Hermann Teddy Bears – the today’s HERMANNCoburg Bears – belong to those Teddy Bears, with which Thousands of little boys and girls have grown up. Today HERMANNCoburg is one of the oldest, still existing Teddy Bear factories of the world.

October 24^th, 1913

In Neufang, a small mountain village in Thuringia, close to Sonneberg at that time Toy Capital of the world Arthur, Adelheid and Max Hermann start under the name of their father, Johann Hermann – “Johann Hermann Spielwarenfabrik, Spezialität Bessere Genre TeddyBären” – the production of their first HERMANN Teddy Bear

1920

After World War I, and the death of Johann Hermann in 1919, the brothers and sisters separate and Max Hermann found in Neufang, in the birth house of the first Hermann Teddy Bears, his own little Teddy Bear company. Shortly after, he moves his company to Sonneberg, where he develops his company into a wellknown brand name. His Teddy Bears are shipped all over the world.

1933

In order to mark and identify his Teddy Bears Max Hermann develops the famous logo “ The Green Triangle” and the ” The Bear with the Running Dog” . From that day forward all Max Hermann Teddy Bearsare identified with this logo.

1945

After World War II, Germany is separated into East and West. The state of Thuringia with its city of Sonneberg becomes a part of East Germany.

1953

Max Hermann leaves with his family from the hometown of his Teddy Bears and from East to West to the nearby city of Coburg in Bavaria. Here he rebuilds, together with his son, RolfGerhard, his plush animal factory and continues the tradition of his HERMANN Teddy Bears. On September 23 rd , 1955 Max Hermann died. He never has seen again his hometown.

1990

German Unity. 40 years after the iron curtain separation, the HERMANN Teddy Bears are able to visit again the place of their genesis – “A Teddy Bear Comes Home”.

1993

Since 1993, all HERMANNCoburg Teddy Bears are marked with a special “ neck mark” , which is sealed tight on the bear’s neck. In this way, HERMANN Bears are easily identified. Important characteristic of the “neck mark” is the “ Triangle shape” with the imprint of “ the Bear with the Running Dog” . These features have been used since the beginning of the 1930’s. This “neck mark” guarantees the identification of Teddy Bears manufactured by HERMANNCoburg for today and the future.
RolfG. Hermann died on June 19 th , 1995. He left behind a flourishing company for both his children Ulla and Martin.

1996

On August 1 st , 1996, HERMANN Coburg is online with its own home page. With a website containing more than 200 pages and 400 pictures, all HERMANNCoburg
Teddy Bear collectors from around the world can obtain at the web address www.hermann.de valuable information from the HERMANNCoburg company.

Today

Today, in Coburg, the old Max Hermann Teddy Bears are produced in the third generation under the management of the founder’s grandchildren, Dr. Ursula and Martin Hermann. The collection contains more than 400 different teddy bears – all made in Germany and most in limited editions. Several have won internationally recognized awards. Replicas of old Max Hermann Teddy Bears, which are produced in the time honored tradition, belong to the HERMANN Coburg collection along with Teddy Bears from the new generation. Through the experience, knowledge and talent of craftsmen and women from the toy region of Coburg Neustadt Sonneberg, the tradition of quality made Teddy Bears will be preserved in the house of HERMANNCoburg today and for all times.