European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 28, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Neighbors itt shopping tour lures americans with Strong dollars Ted at the in the forge telling secrets Hummel Story and photos by Christine Donnelly staff writer forty four women and three men spent 17 hours shopping one Day last and they had a Good the group spent Only about five hours shopping combat the other 12 hours were whiled away mostly on a comparing bargains and hoping they would make it to the next factory on the Marathon buying tour was the Darmstadt areas Tours and travel offices first shopping expedition to the Corbel factory in for a the Busload of shoppers had been promised stops at the Goebel where they could buy Hummel and visits to factories where they could Purchase Kaiser Dresden Wicker products and toys at a a big they looking a Little the group gathered before 6 outside the Cambra Fritsch Post huddled together for they crowded under an awning to avoid lightly falling the bus was at it arrived and the group trooped once on the modern tour most of the group settled Down to catch up of the sleep they had but not a group in the they chatted and wondering aloud whether they had brought enough Many of the tourists seemed to be professional on the they talked about their French Crystal and wine and they traded secrets telling each other How to get to great discount factories in other being stationed you can get a lot a great said Debbie who lives in especially with the Dollar so if you dont take advantage of it youre missing out on a super its a Nice trip away from if you Start Christmas shopping everyone Back Home gets a Nice gift from said Wilma who lives in Lincoln the drive to the first the Hummel was longer than expected because of bad weather and an Accident on the at about the group arrived at the Goebel factory in though the guide at the factory was Friendly and the tourists were treated to a look at How the Hummel figurines Are everything is done by and some figurines require 47 Coats of paint Many of the shoppers were disappointed by this part of there was no discount on the artwork sold from the and Goebel Sells no flawed figurines Are at a Only to employees of the the sales area was Small and there were Only two Saleswoman to serve almost 50 it took More than an hour for everyone to be customers could not carefully inspect the but had to select from about 10 feet people shoppers were limited to three hummels but some managed to buy More by using the allotment of those that did not Purchase prices for the Hummel figurines and other less Well known Goebes pieces ranged from about 20 German Marks to almost most of the shoppers bought hummels that Cost from 100 to 200 Many of the other Goebel Knickknacks were considerably less expensive than the the address of the Goebel Worzella Fabrik porcelain factory is Postrach the Telephone number is the showroom of the factory is open from to noon and from 1 to 4 monday through on its open from to the factory is closed on saturday and after a delicious and reasonably albeit lunch the tour headed to nearby staf Lestein to buy Kaiser it was a stripes Magazine March