The Bing firm was established in about 1866 by Gebruder Bing and started life by selling toys. The firm moved on to its own toy production by 1879. However, the toy steam range seems to have only started about 1898.
Bing became one of the largest ever toy steam manufacturers and at its height employed about 5000 people. The firm seem to have changed their company logo a few times (at least 5) over the years and these marks and the Bing Cataloging system can help identify models and years of production.
Unfortunately, the firm ran into difficulties in the early 1930's and was sold off. Parts of the company seem to have been brought by Bub, Falk and Krauss who continued to make some of the Bing steam toys. |