Figure 1.--A HBC reader tells us about a family food store thas has developed over four generations. For the 2009 Christmas Section a short contribution with one recent photo from Germany. No historical clothing, but a historical Christmas toy for children, four generation old, this year again in use for two grand cousins, 7 and 5 years old. A "Kaufladen". My uncles, about 1912, got it the first time ..."

A HBC reader tells us about a family food store thas has developed over four generations. His uncles played ith it beginning 1n 1912, he played with it, his son plsyed with it, and now the grand children are trying to pasy with it. And each generation added a bit to it as time went on. It was seen as a boy toy as girls had their doll houses. It is a delightful piece of social history. A British reader writes, "What a bril toy. Started in 1912 and with additions growing into a super store. Just like a real store. Badge the drinks."

Family Food Store/Kaufladen

A HBC reader tells us about a family food store thas has developed over four generations. "For the 2009 Christmas Section a short contribution with one recent photo from Germany. No historical clothing, but a historical Christmas toy for children, four generation old, this year again in use for two grand cousins, 7 and 5 years old. A "Kaufladen". My uncles, about 1912, got it the first time, a small version, the back part and only one storage bin high. On 1939 or 1940, I can't remember, it was renovated for me, 4 or 5 years old, and in use till about 1948 in my childhood. It was enlarged in the front and a low storage was added. I played with the old little parcels, bottles etc from my uncles which had been maintained. About 1975, for the third generation, my son, 7 years old, I added the balcony and the staircase in the very front. Some new equipment became available, the cash register, a new weighing machine, baskets and a shopping cart. It has always been used by boys. It is a very nice toy to sell and buy in such a shop. First reading and calculating, so also educational for primary school kids. We are still waiting for grand-children. But there are two children, girls, from a nephew. They visit us for Christmas. And so I cleaned the Kaufladen once more, some new parcels, prepared for the forth generation of merchants."

Boy Toy

I asked our reader why this was a boy's toy. He explained, "well, in former days, merchants were male, isn't it? For young boys, thus, it was obvious to prepare them. Of course, in playing, boys and girls were clients of the Kaufladen. Girls got doll houses, two room appartments, three room appartments, with citchen, one floor, two floors. Also to prepare them as housewives. Brothers and boys coming to visit the family were included in playing, certainly. My wife's doll house has been lost, only some old, very fine furniture still exists. I will add a photo of her doll house and citchen in an old photo, 1939, three years old. Because girls got the doll houses, some different toy house was prepared for boys - a possible explanation of the difference! - I don't know. In my case, up to the present forth generation, there were boys playing with it. Certainly my mother had a doll house, it is lost, no photo exists. Her brothers played with the Kaufladen. I had no siblings, my son had no siblings. The two girls now playing with it have a young brother, too young for it; and another cousin not living nearby; thus, at the moment only the girls come."

Reader Coments

A British reader writes, "What a bril toy. Started in 1912 and with additions growing into a super store. Just like a real store. Badge the drinks." {HNC note: This requires a little translation. Our reader explains "To badge something." It is when two or more people are in a situation where they see something they like. One would say " I badge that' In so doing has laid claim to it. Should the item be offered for sale or given away then the person who badged something is given first choice to have it. It tends to be a game children play. When Adults say that they don't really want something but are dawing attention to it. See a magnificent expensive car. 'I badge that'. If the car was to be given away then who ever badged it would have first choise to own it. It is a dream as that would never happen. If I was playing with the shop I'd buy the bottles on the back shelf for a party or something. Thus I badged them. I was of course joking.] I am impressed with the craftsmansip and affection which had been lavished over the years on this wonderful family toy."

Created: 8:00 AM 12/28/2009
Last updated: 9:07 AM 12/30/2009