The Ernst Heubach of Köppelsdorf began his doll manufacturing business in 1887. His factory made both socket heads with jointed bodies and shoulder heads on stuffed cloth / kid leather bodies.
1890 Ernst Heubach of Köppelsdorf Factory Announcement
In 1890 an announcement appears regarding Ernst Heubach’s plans to financially assist workers of his factory in Koppelsforf: (translated) “Factory owner Ernst Heubach in Köppelsdorf (Thuringia) has a savings book of 50 mk for each of his workers- hand over. The founder also wants to transfer 50 million every three years to every worker up to the 10th year of employment, from then on up to the 20th year every 2 years and from 20 years onwards 50 million every year” (Der Arbeiterfreund. Berlin: Central-Vereins für das Wohl der arbeitenden Klassen. 1890).
1897 Leipzig Trade Fair
In the addressbook for the 1897 Leipzig Trade Fair the Heubach listing reads, “Ernst Heubach, Köppelsdorf near Sonneberg (Thuringia), porcelain factory. O.-V. Peters Str. 24, II. 250 workers.”
1906 Ad for Ernst Heubach of Köppelsdorf
In 1906 Ernst Heubach advertised his porcelain factory and steam mass mill in Köppelsdorf-Sonneberg The listing claimed they made fine bisque doll heads and arms for manufacture and export. The factory at that time employed 250 workers but they worked with more than just doll heads. They also worked with porcelain manufacturing machinery or tools and porcelain brick making.
The trademark image in the 1906 listing shows a horseshoe with the letters EHK with a backwards E as found in the German addressbook of the Ceramic Industry (Adressbuch Der Keramischen Industrie.)
1907 Inflation
In 1907 a group of doll makers announced an increase of 10% in the price of their goods due to the inflation in the price of raw materials and the cost of labor. Among the group were Ernst Heubach, Armand Marseille, Julius Hering, Gebruder Kuouch, Eichhorn, Schoenau & Hoffmeister, Gebruder Kuhnlenz, and Theodor Recknagel.
Ernst Heubach Patents
Ernst Heubach of Koppelsdorf registered a patent for a type of porcelain eyes for toy animals in 1912.
Heubach registers different items under the name “Hans Heubach.” One registration is for for doll heads marked 260 and 261 with glass or porcelain eyes, with hair painted or glued on. This is seen in a 1914 issue German magazine for the ceramic industry “Sprechsaal für Keramik, Glas, Email, Silikate” (v.47 pt.1). Another registration is for a patent was for a machine related to electrical engineering purposes (v.47 pt.2).
In September 1915 Heubach registers doll head molds 281/5, 282/14, and 283/14.
Ernst Jr. Marries a Marseille
According to the Cieslik’s German Doll Encyclopedia, Ernst Heubach (junior) married Beatrice, the daughter of Armand Marseille in 1915.
1916 Certificates of Honor
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Sonneberg, Germany awarded six certificates of honor for loyal employees in 1916. All six employees worked for Heubach of Koppelsdorf.
1918 Hired a Distillery Supervisor
Heubach advertised a job opening for a competent distillery superviser in 1918 to lead a small staff with care and understanding for his porcelain factory Koeppelsdorf, Thuringia. (Keramische Rundschau Berlin : Verlag keramische Rundschau, January 3, 1918).
1919 Heubach and Marseille
In 1919 an announcement of a merger in the porcelain industry appeared in the German Cerman Overview publication or Keramische Rundschau. It announced (translated) Hermann Marseille jr. and Ernst Heubach Jr. with the fact that they have taken over the works previously operated under the companies Armand Marseille, Porzellanfabrik, Koppelsdorf and Ernst Heubach, Koppelsdorfer Porzellanfabrik, excluding receivables and liabilities, and have previously operated them jointly under the company Vereinigte Koppelsdorfer Porzellanfabriken. Armand Marseille and Ernst Heubach continued.”
The German publication Berichte der Deutschen Keramischen Gesellschaft (Reports from the German Ceramic Society) mentions this union in the April 1923 edition on page 91 with a listing that reads, “Vereinigte Koppelsdorfer Porzellanfabriken vorm. Armand Marseille und Ernst Heubach (Betrieb Heubach) Koppelsdorf (S.-M.)” (translated: United Koppelsdorf Porcelain Factories before. Armand Marseille and Ernst Heubach (Heubach company) Koppelsdorf (S.-M.)) Notice it names Ernst Heubach’s wife Betrieb, whom Cieslik’s encyclopedia calls “Beatrice” in English.
1922 United Köppelsdorf Porcelain Factories
Sprechsal in 1922 mentions this union in an announcement that reads (translated), “United Köppelsdorf Porcelain Factories, formerly Armand Marseille and Ernst Heubach;, Köppelsdorf. Factory director Dr. Robert Flohr and the merchants Georg Bauer and Oskar Baaersachs have general power of attorney. The last two only individually in association with one of the two partners, Mr. Marseille Jr. and Ernst Heubach; Jan. or with director Dr. Robert Flohr.”
In 1925 their factory is referred to as a “machine factory” in Berichte der Deutschen Keramischen Gesellschaft Bd. According to Cieslik they focused on electro porcelain at that time.
1929 Factory Accident
The German newspaper Coburg Zeitung reported in 1929 an accident at the Heubach Koppelsdorf doll factory. One of the workers Hilmar Weber of Huttensteinac suffered a fractured skull when a heavy transformer failed.
See more on other antique Germany dolls here.
Read about Gebruder Heubach (Brothers Heubach) here.