In 1863 the company is founded by the brothers Ignaz en Adolf Bing in Nuremberg, Germany for selling toys and kitchen gear: Gebrüder Bing. In the first few years they only made metal kitchen gear but in the late 19th century they also began to make enamel- and wind-up toys. They soon were well known for their wind-up toys of good quality.
In 1905 the Gebrüder Bing began to make soft toys as well. The first Bing-bears were based on the Steiff-pattern. They were only different in detail, but after a lawsuit in 1909 they began making their own ‘style’ of Teddy Bears. Soon after Bing began to make Teddy Bears with wind-up mechanisms, which had the turning-key on the front or on the side.
The company went bankrupt in 1932 and the trustee sold all the departments separately.
Characteristics of the Bing-bears from before the 1st World War are: Rough mohair plush, with long lines, like the pointed snout en the broad, smiling mouth. On some early Bing-bears, the ones with the silver button with the GBN-logo, the ears and the head are cut in one piece. The ears were shaped by rolling the edges of the folds inside and stitched.
Trademarks
Click here for an overview of the Gebrüder Bing trademarks.
Teddy bear prices
Click here for prices of old Bing teddy bears.