Hermann Steiner Doll Marks
Dolls manufactured by Hermann Steiner have different variations of his initials as seen in the mark here.
1918 Hermann Steiner Registered
Hermann Steiner announced in the Government Gazette for the Duchy of Coburg (Regierungs-Blatt für das Herzogtum Coburg) in 1918 his commercial registration of his company named after himself, Hermann Steiner in Neustadt.
Back in 1911 Sprechsaal announced, “Hermann Steiner, wholesaler of plate glass and supplies from the mirror glass factories, Weiden. The company was changed to Hermann Steiner & Sohn. The partners are the merchants Hermann and Oskar Steiner.” It is not know if they are the same Hermann Steiner.
Hermann Steiner & Co. 1919
The Coburg Government Gazette or Coburger Regierungs-Blatt on 12. July 1919 made the announcement (translated), “Commercial register. The businessman Viktor Schreppel in Sonneberg S.M. joined the business of the Hermann Steiner company in Neustadt near Coburg on April 15, 1919 as a personally liable partner, thereby converting the previous sole proprietorship into a general partnership. The partners, the businessman Hermann Steiner and Viktor Schreppel, are equally authorized to represent them. The claims and liabilities arising from the operation of the business of the sole proprietorship Hermann Steiner have been transferred to the company. The company is now called Hermann Steiner & Co. Coburg, June 30, 1919. District Court 1.” Click the link to see the German.
Johann Heinrich Kletin & Co
Later in November of 1920 the same gazette published the statement, “Johann Heinrich Kletin & Co., Leipzig, Neustadt branch in Neustadt near Coburg: The merchant Hermann Steiner in Neustadt has sole power of attorney, limited to the business operations of the Neustadt branch; the merchants Ostar Nüchterlein and Walter Gripienski there have joint power of attorney, subject to the same restriction. The following is published as not registered: The commercial power of attorney granted to the merchants Hermann Steiner and Viktor Schreppel as of now has expired. The power of attorney granted has expired.”
German Toy Newspaper 1926
The German Toy Newspaper (Deutsche Spielwaren-Zeitung) in 1926 featured a full page ad for Hermann Steiner. The ad reads (translated), “THE BIG NEWS! The living Steiner eye. The doll’s eye of the future! D. R. P. a. Patents in all civilized countries can be used for all types of doll heads, caricatures and animal heads because it is simple, therefore cheap and therefore a great export novelty. The eye is only available in finished heads or dolls for the time being. Inquiries should be sent to the company with a precise statement of your wishes and will then be forwarded as desired. HERMANN STEINER PORCELAIN FACTORY. Special factory for all types of doll heads, popular models in first baby heads, regular baby, character and crank heads. NEUSTADT near COBURG.”
Later in 1928 a full page ad read,
The Living Steiner Eye. The doll’s eye of the future. D. R. patent and patents in all civilized countries
can be used for all types of doll heads from the smallest to the largest, including caricature and animal heads. It can be used in heads made of any material, whether porcelain, celluloid, cardboard, maché or other cast and embossed items. The latest advancement of the Steiner eye is its brilliant use for all types of card images, advertising signs, factory brands, for any type of imprint on boxes, cards, etc., a truly brilliant use for picture books, photographs and the like. The latest hit is my cast head, which is highly perfect in terms of durability, quality and price, and doll limbs of all kinds are also available in this material.
My Revue doll heads in the latest design made of cast and porcelain are protected by law. New, painted eyes with real eyelashes are in a highly perfect design.
PORCELAIN FACTORY HERMANN STEINER
Special factory for all types of doll heads in department 1. Porcelain doll heads of all kinds,
new department II. Unbreakable cast iron heads with excellent painting, washable.
NEUSTADT near COBURG
Hermann Steiner Patents
Germany’s Patent Gazette (Patentblatt) announced on November 3, 1909 in issue 44, “77f. 395 507. Gelenkige Vierfüßlerstopffigur mit im offenen Rachen angeordnetem menschlichen Geficht. Hermann Steiner, Neustadt b. Coburg. 17. 9. 09. St. 12 287.” Translated as “Articulated quadruped stuffed figure with human face in open mouth. Hermann Steiner, Neustadt near Coburg.” This early record for Hermann Steiner helps to support Cieslik’s claim in the German Doll Encyclopedia that he founded his company around 1910.
The Patent Gazette announced in 1928, “77f, 11. 459 754. Hermann Steiner, Neustadt b. Coburg. Puppenschlafauge; Zus. z. Pat. 451 099. 16. 11. 26. St. 41 811” for doll sleeping eyes.
While the German Toy Newspaper announced in 1928, a patent for “Doll heads of all kinds with natural eyelashes”, Hermann Steiner, Neustadt near Coburg, 17. 1. 28, No. 1020 477.”
In 1929 the United States Patent Office registered patent 1710791 also viewable at the German online DPMA site here.
The Hermann Steiner K.G. company registered 1008627 in 1957 and patent 1107571 in 1955-1961.