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Ein Grundsatzurteil des Reichsgerichts Leipzig versetzte vor 100 Jahren die deutsche Spielwarenindustrie in helle Aufregung. Erstmals wurde einem Spielzeug für das Kind, der Käthe-Kruse-Puppe, künstlerischer Urheberschutz gewährt.

Anlässlich des Jubiläums zeigen das Käthe-Kruse-Puppen-Museum Donauwörth und das Bing-Museum in Freinsheim zwei gemeinschaftlich konzipierte Ausstellungen.

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Venue: Multipurpose Hall of TSV Freinsheim, Friedhofstraße 25

Due to a classical concert booking at the preferred Von-Busch-Hof venue, this year’s Bing Collectors’ Meeting will once again take place at the multipurpose hall of TSV Freinsheim.

When the past comes to life and the fascination for historical toys unites generations, it can only mean one thing: The Bing Museum Festival will once again open its doors on October 25 and 26, 2025, in Freinsheim. Enthusiasts of tinplate toys and lovers of cultural history can look forward to the 13th International Bing Collectors’ Meeting, held once again at the TSV Freinsheim Multipurpose Hall on Friedhofstraße 25 and in the adjacent Bing Museum.

The Bing Museum, lovingly built and curated by Marion and Uwe Groll, is more than just a museum – it is a living monument to the Jewish company Bing of Nuremberg, once the world’s largest toy manufacturer. With a permanent exhibition that is unique worldwide and has been steadily expanded over 13 years, the museum celebrates Bing’s cultural significance and invites visitors to immerse themselves in an era when mechanical toys sparked imagination and brought joy to children’s rooms.

A particular highlight this year is the current special exhibition “Kruse vs. Bing – 100 Years of Artistic Copyright in Toys”, which explores the historic copyright dispute between Käthe Kruse and the Bing company. This exhibition sheds light not only on the legal dimensions but also the artistic legacy of German toy design in the early 20th century.

The upcoming festival once again promises to be a landmark event. On more than 320 square meters, the museum now presents around 2,000 exhibits from the pre-1933 era – including meticulously detailed model trains, steam engines, tinplate toys, dolls, teddy bears, and board games. The diversity of the collection reflects the ingenuity and creative spirit of the Bing company.

In the nearby TSV multipurpose hall, over 40 exhibitors will showcase their treasures and themes. All exhibition spaces were already reserved by spring. Visitors can meet with experts, admire rare pieces, and draw inspiration from the living tradition of toy collecting.

A special focus this year is on historical model railway layouts in various gauges, including impressive live steam installations. The lovingly crafted scenes reflect not only the technical sophistication of bygone eras but also the creative passion of today’s collector community. Children and adults alike can look forward to interactive demonstrations, where they’ll have the chance to get hands-on and become part of the magical world of mechanical toys. There will be steam, hissing, and clattering—bringing the fascination of historical technology to life. The program is rounded out by new thematic displays and extraordinary exhibits from the steam engine enthusiasts. And in 2025, visitors can once again look forward to exclusive surprises.

The museum festival is a meeting place for collectors, experts, and families alike. It’s where memories are awakened and new ones created. Curator Uwe Groll, the guardian of this tradition, warmly invites you:

“Experience with us the simplicity and brilliance of the technology behind Bing toys. Immerse yourself in a time when toys were crafted with heart and hand.”

In addition to the exhibition, the event also offers space for expert talks, tips on care, operation, and restoration, as well as the chance to experience rare models in action. It is a feast for the senses, where the clatter of trains, the hiss of steam engines, and the awe of visitors form a symphony of the past.

The Bing Museum Festival 2025 is a tribute to the art of toy-making and an invitation to all who seek something special.
Save the date: October 25–26, 2025 – and become part of this passionate community.

The exciting mediation of German-Jewish cultural and industrial history is an important, socially sustainable contribution. The owner and director of the museum, Marion Groll, relies on the exchange of different generations who discover the museum together. For example, when the steam engine moves and drives something, it exerts an incredible fascination on all visitors. Some grandparents then enthusiastically explain to their grandchildren how the machine works. We opened the toy museum and ice cream parlour in April 2011. This was preceded by the renovation of the old town ensemble, originally consisting of four buildings, which was carried out with a great deal of personal effort and a sure instinct for history. Almost all of the technical equipment is second-hand and was comprehensively checked, repaired and modernised by us for reuse. In the design of the exhibition rooms, upcycling of showcases and lighting is just as important to us as low-energy and low-waste management, as is the use of regional products in the ice cream parlour. For PfalzCard holders, a visit to the Toy Museum is free of charge.
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Choose your desired visit date. Appointments can be ordered 2 weeks in advance via the shop. The number of visitors is currently limited to 15 adults per hour due to hygiene regulations.
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150 years of Gebr. BING, the former largest toy factory in the world. Illustrated with exhibits from the Bing Museum in Freinsheim. 80 pages, 9 euros
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In the catalogs of ... only the train unit in gauge 0 and I with the item number ... is shown, but no complete layout. Bing constructed this layout from proven bridge parts and supports of a level crossing as a basis. The test construction in the museum is currently taking place. Base, decoration and a backdrop made of contemporary cardboard model construction will follow.