| |
 |
History Of The
Steiff Button & Chest Tags |
 96 years of the "Button in Ear"
trademark |
|
| Steiff "Button in Ear"
symbolizes the fascinating development of a trademark that has become a symbol of ultimate
quality for toys. 
This trademark stands for |
high-quality products
good design
perfect workmanship
maximum emotional
intensity
personality
brand prestige / image
increase in value
equally valuable as a
toy, a gift or an ornament
suitable for children
compliance with the most
stringent safety requirements
|
 |
 |
|
| The Steiff "Button in Ear"
trademark is the soul of the product. |
Franz Steiff |
|
Franz Steiff, one
of Margarete's nephews and the company's chief technician, invented the "Button in Ear"
in 1904.
From 1st November 1904 onwards, a metal button embossed with an elephant was attached to
every Steiff product. |
|
| An ingenious idea,
that has essentially remained unchanged right through to the present day and, as well as
being a trademark, is also regarded as being a mark of absolute top quality. |
|
The "first" button |
|
A world-famous trademark
was born - Steiff "Button in Ear".
The term "Button in Ear" was registered as a trademark on 20th December 1904 and patented on
13th May 1905. The "Button in Ear" was then supplemented by a fabric tag with the product number
printed on it in 1908/09.
A trademark allows us to identify the origin of an article. Although only slight changes have
been made to the button over the years, these were sufficient to offer today's Steiff animal
collectors a means of determining the approximate date of a particular animal's manufacture.
The various types of button are shown below, with reference to typical representatives of the
respective periods: |
1904/05 |
|
1904/05 |
|
1908 - 1911 |
This was the first one:
the elephant button
(Ø 6 mm) |
Blank Button (Ø 6 mm), iron,
nickel-plated |
Button (Ø 4 mm), iron, nickel-plated,
with the word Steiff (with the F drawn back as far as the E) |
1910/11 - 1927 |
1925 - 1934/35 |
1933/34 - 1943 |
|
Button (Ø 4 mm), iron, nickel-plated,
with the word Steiff, (with the F drawn back as far as the E) |
Button (Ø 8 mm), iron, nickel-plated,
with the word Steiff |
Button (Ø 6 mm), brass, with
inscription; the final F is only drawn back as far as the preceding letter |
1948 - 1950 |
1948 - 1950 |
1950 |
|
A grey-blue lacquered iron button (Ø
7 mm) was used shortly afterwards |
A blank nickel button
(Ø 5 mm) was also being used at the same time |
Button (Ø 6 mm), with the word Steiff |
1950 |
1950 - 1952 |
1952/53 |
|
Button (Ø 6 mm), with the word Steiff |
Button (Ø 6 mm), iron, nickel-plated,
with the word steiff (the final F is only drawn back as far as the preceding letter) |
Nickel button (Ø 5 mm), with
inscription in script typeface. |
1960 - 1972 |
1967 - 1977 |
1969 - 1977 |
|
Nickel button (Ø 5 mm), with the word
Steiff |
Nickel button in the form of a hollow
rivet |
Nickel button (Ø 5 mm, rounded off),
with very small lettering (recessed where previously raised) |
1977 - 1981 |
1980 - 1982 |
1982 - 1986 |
|
Button, brass, zapon-varnished (Ø 8
mm), recessed script typeface |
Button (Ø 8 mm), brass, zapon-varnished,
with the word Steiff, recessed |
Differs from predecessor: button (Ø 9
mm), brass, zapon-varnished, with slightly convex surface and other connecting elements
that are not visible from outside |
1986 |
1986 - 1999 |
since October 2000 |
|
Button unchanged since 1986 |
The button remains unchanged. |
The front face of the button remains
unchanged. Modern technology is now used for the concealed rivet joint. |
|
|
Note: Blank Buttons are
used for SECONDS (like clothing seconds that have the label cut) rejected in the Quality Control
Program. These can be found on the market so be careful and demand only The Best as seconds will
not retain value.
Note: The exact date of an item cannot be determined with the reference to the button alone,
as the various techniques overlapped. This means, for example, that older buttons were fitted
while others were being produced. The quoted dates must therefore be used as orientation aids
and may not be regarded as being an absolute means of ascertaining the age of an article.
In 1926, pendants, made of card, were also tied round the neck of
all products. These changed in appearance over the years. |
Pendant
(1926 - 1928) |
|
Pendant
(1928 - 1950) |
|
Pendant
(1950 - 1972) |
|
Pendant
(from 1972) |
|
Pendant
(from 1983
for replicas dating back before 1928) |
|
Pendant
(from 1983
for replicas dating back to the 1950s and 1960s) |
|
Pendant
(from 1984 for replicas dating back to 1928-1950) |
|
|
|
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
