mechanical toy: Susi

In 1881, Ernest Paul Lehmann founded the Lehmann Company in Bradenburg, Germany. The company became renowned for its detailed and brightly lithographed mechanical tin toys. Its great success occurred in the early 20th century when its sophisticated, lightweight tin toys were recognized as innovations next to the iron toys of most other makers. Lehmann also patented a locking mechanism for clockwork motors, which marked a great advance in the field. The company’s products included tin toy sets with human or animal figure and each toy received an individual name. By the 1920s, the firm manufactured more than 100 different toy models and employed more than 800 workers. The process of lithographing the tinplate was replaced with spray painting. Once the toy was spray painted, it baked at 120 degrees to create an even enameled surface. The toys were exported around the world. Despite obstacles encountered following the Soviet occupation of the company, the manufacturer of its products continued for decades.