[2] Born in Giengen, Kingdom of Württemberg, Margarete contracted polio as a child, leaving her with both legs paralyzed and pain in her right arm.

After training as a seamstress, she was able to raise enough money to purchase a sewing machine by teaching people to play the zither.

In 1902, the company began making a toy bear with moveable joints based on a design by her nephew, Richard Steiff.

At eighteen months, Margarete contracted a high fever that left her legs paralyzed and right arm difficult to raise.

[5] Margarete regularly attended school throughout her childhood and in spite of the pain in her right hand, went to the needlework classes of Frau Schelling where she completed her training as a seamstress at the age of 17.

Her savings allowed her to buy a sewing machine, the first owned in the town of Giengen, and this led to another opportunity to earn income.

In 1892, Margarete's small company applied for a patent "for making of animals and other figures to serve as playthings".

Margarete's brother Fritz realised that there was an opportunity to sell large numbers of these toy animals and he took some samples to the market in Heidenheim, coming away with many orders.

From then on, "Bear 55 PB" became a bestseller in the United States - a remarkable achievement for a small German business from the Swabian Albs.

Originally from a small town in southern Germany and living with a life-long physical disability, she founded and grew a business that continues to be recognized around the world.

[15] Vintage Steiff toys have become valuable collectibles, with auctions fetching prices that regularly make the news.