Ernst Abt and Karl Franke
Ernst Abt and Karl Franke founded their doll, mask, toy and papiermach factory in the area of Hannover, Germany in 1865. There exist discrepancies on the year of their founding. Some will say 1869. The factories sometimes were listed separately in tradebooks.
Abt & Franke Advertisement from 1873
Then on page 130 as the above listing suggests one finds a large half page ad that reads (translated), “ABT & FRANKE in HANNOVER. Doll, mask and toy factory. Dressed dolls in every genre, from the ordinary to the finest, as well as all items related to dolls. Articles for dolls’ toiletries. Trousseaux (suitcases) with dolls and rich wardrobe. Woolen knitted dolls and animals. Masks, rich assortment, with many specialties and new items. Toys.”
(Cieslik’s Encyclopedia of German Dolls displays an advertisement for Abt & Franke dated from 1911 found in the German “Wegweiser für die Keramische” (Berlin). There are no digital copies of this online unfortunately. One might view the advertisement in the book itself if you visit the library at Germany’s National Museum.)
Addresses for Abt & Franke
Book of All Countries
A papiermache factory advertisement listing for the firm appears in the 1871 edition of “Adressbuch aller Länder der Erde der Kaufleute, Fabrikanten, Gewerbtreibenden, Gutsbesitze,” (Address Book of All Countries in the World of Merchants, Manufacturers, Traders, Landowners). They also advertise the manufacturing of toys and dolls in another listing of the same publication that year for the province of Hanover as well as a doll factory with someone named Hohnbaum, B. R. as a representative.
The “Adressbuch aller Länder der Erde der Kaufleute, Fabrikanten, Gewerbtreibenden, Gutsbesitzer” advertised in 1884 a papiermache factory for Abt & Franke.
Then in 1872 the German publication, “Address Book, City and Business Guide of the Royal Residence City of Hanover” provided a listing, “Abt & Franke; doll, toy and mask manufacturer, owner: Ernst Abt and Karl Franke, at Taubenfelde 1.” The same book has separate listings for the mask and papiermache and toy factories.
Christoph Sandler’s Handbook
In 1873 Christoph Sandler’s “Handbook of the Performance of the Entire Industry in Germany, Austria, Alsace-Lorraine and Switzerland” (Handbuch der Leistungsfähigkeit der gesammten Industrie Deutschlands, Oesterreichs Elsass-Lothringens und der Schweiz) provided the listing for the province of Hannover: “doll, mask and toy factory. Founder (1869) and owner: E. Abt and C. Franke. Address book page 130.”
Leipzig Listings
The Leipzig Monthly Magazine for Textile Industry listed them in 1893 as a doll factory in Hannover.
In 1897 the listing read (translated), “ABT & FRANKE, HANNOVER, factory for dressed dolls. – O. -V. Peters-Str. 6, II. Founded in 1865.” In 1900 the address moves slightly to Peters-Str. 8, II. The Mädler House.
Other Listings
Similar listings appear again in 1875 and between 1884-1887 with a listing in the 1884-87 edition advertising a Toy Company selling dressed dolls. The toy factory continues to list even in the 1889-92 edition giving an address of Theodorstr 9.