Figure 1.-- Here is the Kaufladen when I got it about 1940. I was 5 yeas old atthe time. I loved the trucks. The original part in the back/ The additions for me were the front: the office, the window, the ground floor with the garage for the truck.

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."

Created: 9:21 AM 12/30/2009
Last updated: 9:21 AM 12/30/2009