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Traditional Teddy Bears Prepared Ahead of Festive Season

A teddy bear is completed at the Steiff stuffed toy factory on November 23, 2012 in Giengen an der Brenz, Germany. Founded by seamstress Margarethe Steiff in 1880, Steiff has been making stuffed teddy bears since the early 20th century ever since her nephew Richard Steiff exhibited the first commercially produced teddy bear in Europe in 1903. Teddy bears are among the most popular children’s toys and the company is hoping for a strong Christmas season. In photographs by Thomas Niedermueller. Continue reading »

Steaming Ahead, the 180-Year-Old Toy Train that’s the Oldest in the World

A rudimentary model of Stephenson’s Rocket that was made by a father for his son after seeing it chug past their home has emerged as the oldest toy train in the world. The simple wooden toy was hand-crafted out of scraps of wood by the loving dad who whittled them into the shape of the legendary steam locomotive.

Made from sight in the late 1820s or early 1830s, the model is almost as old as the first real locomotives. The ten-inch long toy has four wheels attached to a block of wood, a cylindrical piece that may have been a stair banister for the boiler and a chair leg for the iconic blast pipe. (Daily Mail Reporter)

Rare Pictures, Artifacts of Titanic Exhibited Ahead of 100th Year of its Sinking

Old photographs, reconstructed suites, letters from victims and many original artifacts from the sunken Titanic are on display at Hans Christian Andersen Castle of Tivoli Gardens amusement park in Copenhagen. “Titanic – The Exhibition” was opened to visitors in Denmark on April 10, 2011 and will run until Dec. 30.

A 1912 advert for the Titanic. (© Claes-Göran Wetterholms) Continue reading »