Hesemans Tours Review Schildkröt en Goebel-Hummel

hesemans-tours-transparant

Travel report bus trip “Hesemans Tours”

Hesemans bus trip Schildkröt-Goebel

Long anticipated and then it was there!

1

The first day with the bus went well and we came in the evening at our beautiful hotel. After we had our dinner was ready and could caracters at the table. This hotel turned out to be good and cozy as expected.

2

The next day to the Schildkröt factory that was a special experience. We were received by Mrs Biemann itself and they gave a tour of her museum. It was a beautiful museum with mainly celluloid dolls, many rare specimens including the prototype of the doll pair from 1995 by Hesemans.

During the tour of the factory was much to see. We first went to the Department where the vinyl parts. The brass molds of heads arms and legs that are attached on a large disk, be filled with liquid raw materials in an oven. After about 8 minutes in hot oven, the liquid mass vinyl and are the molds from the oven and cooled with water. After opening the molds are the dolls parts pulled out. For example, after the dolls heads finished, such as the painting of the eyes and eyelashes and blossen of cheeks.

On a following section they are working on sewing of the hair. On a great hair is the hair in sewing machine model on the poppenkop sewn, which is quite spectacular because this work requires a lot of skill and a lot of sound. The artist dolls get a wig, these are carefully glued on the heads. In another place they are assembling the dolls. For the clothing of the artist dolls is specially appointed, a fashion designer who is only there.

On a following section cutting them with a band saw the patterns from the dust and the clothing is sewn together. Some ladies were busy with dressing of the artist dolls. A long Hall was full of dolls that still had to be dressed, but also full of dresses, shoes, socks, necklaces, pins etc. Also there were the wigs trimmed and styled by real hairdressers.

On the plush Department was also very interesting, here were the bears parts in such a way that the hair stitched together, but not in the stitching of the plush. Stopping the bears with Woodwool is a profession in its own right. You could see that this was done this way for a long time, because the seat of the Stoppers already very old and now still used. Bears were also made of modern fabrics and fillings.

The Schildkröt factory is a company by this time, it was very rewarding and we all went away satisfied. In the Schildkröt hotel we have a delicious lunch in Rauenstein.

In the afternoon we went to the “Museum der Deutsche Spielzeugindustrie. There you could see, how in the past the toy was made.

In the evening when we had good food, we god a small explenation about Goebel and M.I. Hummel.

3

The other morning we went by bus to the Goebel factory, where we were welcomed by an English speaking tour guide After the tour of the factory.

On the first section, which we saw the molds were made. These molds were used to create the components of the figurines. The next thing they showed was the stock molds that they need. If the parts are cast, the wetted parts to each other garnished. That is work that must be done very accurately woerden. If the figurine works, it must be baked, then glazed and baked again.

On the great painter Hall is much to see. The one who has painted the eyes should put his or her initials at the bottom of the figurine. The painting is precision work and it was therefore very friendly to this section. The figurines were painted in stages. Between all those stages were the pieces of fried. There were also women who were in training to the painting. These pupils had artistic figurines or paintings. There was one person who was allowed to mix the paint for the painters, for correct color. The simplest figurine that was made is been hands 50 times before it finishes. It is therefore also very special to be able to see, how these beautiful figurines were made..We were invited to the traditional sauerkraut with sausages to eat. This was very much appreciated.

After that we drove to the city of Coburg, to visit the Coburger doll museum. This museum has one of the most beautiful puppet collections in Europe. A group of our company is to the Veste Coburg. In this castle was also a lot to see as a large collection of art glass, pottery, coaches, harnesses, etc. Our 3rd day ended with a delicious dinner in our hotel.

4

On the last day we travelled via the beautiful Würzburg and Frankfurt and without traffic jams we were early in the evening returned home. It was a beautiful trip and there will also be talked about for a long time. This turned out to be from the many enthusiastic responses of the fellow travellers the following days and weeks later! It was a trip to remember.

Maria Hesemans 2004