European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 17, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Tis the season a amp. 7going to the source traditional Christmas gifts straight from the factory by Crystal Laureano staff writer a Diamond in the rough can be found just a few mites from the army base in Crafe Wohr Germany. It s a one Stop Christmas store that should fulfil your wildest dreams of nutcrackers and everything Christmas. The Walter h. Hirschmann pkg Nutcracker factory in Eschenbach has a huge showroom and store that Sells Christmas ornaments easter decorations and a variety of porcelain Crystal ceramics and steins. There Are the wooden Candle pyramids Balsa Wood decorations and music boxes. Nutcrackers can be found in any size and Price from a 12-Inch Nutcracker for about $25 to a 3-foot-tall one for Between $70 and $200. There is also a Large selection of traditional German incense burners called smokers ranging from about $15 for a roughly carved Man with a pipe to $50 for an intricate Farmer with his tools. Candles and artificial Flowers can be found for every occasion in addition to Standard ornamental bulbs lights and Christmas tree tops. Employees speak English and the store accepts payment in Marks dollars and major credit cards. The Mark to Dollar Exchange rate that the store offers is usually slightly higher than what is offered at military Money outlets. Recently the store offered an Exchange rate of 1.57 to the Dollar when military finance offices and Banks were giving 1.5-1 Marks to the Dollar also Lake along the forms to have the German value added tax discounted to save even More Money. The store is open monday through Friday from 8 30 . To 5 . And saturdays from 8 . To 2 . From now until Christmas the store will be open until 4 . On saturdays. This is also a popular tour bus Stop so be prepared for midday crowds. To get to Hirschmann from Nurnberg take autobahn 9 toward Bayreuth. Take the Crafe Wohr exit and follow Highway 470 into Eschenbach at the first major intersection turn right onto . Then take the first left. The Road goes up a Hill and to the outskirts of town about a mile. Hirschmann will be on the left. There Are Many White directional signs along the Way with the Hirschmann name and a Snowflake in Green. Rows and rows of German smokers a used to Burn incense a Are available at the store. Giant nutcrackers Greet the store s customers. A amps Crystal Laureano it Crystal Laure amp no German tourists laugh at the Quot Barking Quot dog and Quot screeching Quot Monkey at the stuffed animal factory. Stuffed animal factory keeps youngsters smiling do your Little ones always complain that they never get anything out of your shopping trips or has someone in your Home asked for a Teddy Bear this year either Way Well Worth your time is a Stop at the Hugo Koch stuffed animal factory in Eschenbach. All types and sizes of cuddly creatures Are made in this Small factory on the main Road through the town. These Aren t the High priced collectible stuffed animals that Are popular in Germany. Koch Sells Well crafted sturdy stuffed animals a the practical gift for a child. You la be Able to find just about anything from a Small elephant for 8 Marks or about $5, to a big Pink stuffed pig for 48 Marks or about $30. All toys Are handmade. A really really Large elephant will run about 64 Marks or about $40. It is a Low tech family business and customers walk through the work area to get to the modest showroom a mainly a room of cardboard boxes filled with finished stuffed animals. The staff Speaks limited English and Only Marks Are accepted. The factory store is open monday through Friday from 8 . To 4  and on saturday from 8 . To noon. When leaving Hirschmann s Nutcracker factory turn left at the Bottom of the Hill onto . Hugo Koch is the second House on the right with a rocking horse painted on the Side Wall. A Crystal Laureano 4 stripes Magazine december 17, 1992