History

Johann Ev. Schnötzinger was born in Vienna on the 12.December 1855. He attended to common basic education and graduated from the commercial academy.

As he didn’t want to enter the parental business – the cafè “Rasumovsky” in the 3rd district of Vienna – he went for his first journey and stayed three years in Paris. Short after his return to Vienna he took the eventuality to follow his friends family Eberle to Newsealand. In Newsealand he collected his first experiences in running a business while helping family Eberle to sell “saitlinge”

After four years of residence in newsealand he travelled back to Vienna, over small stops in America and London.

Back in Vienna he married his early love Johanna Wagner and took up a job at the wooden toy producer A.R. Breindl in Germany.

Six years later he moved back to Vienna ultimately, and established his own company in the sixth district Theobaldgasse / Mariahilferstraße.

This was the foundation step for the still in family property operated chief agency presence for quality toys

He started the business by representing the following companies:
A.R. Breindl – wooden toys
Thiehl – watches
Thorens – chimes
Schowanek – wooden toys
Lehmann – metal toys (today LGB – Lehmann Garten Bahn)

In 1907 he took over the distribution for Margarete Steiff’s teddybears. The Steiff-Teddybears are our eldest existing collaboration and we are proud to say that we are already servicing this quality products exclusively for more than 100 years.

In 1934 he passed over the company to his son in law Ing. Oskar Kauffert who expanded the business and changed the name into today’s Ing. Oskar Kauffert Handels-Ges.m.b.H..

The dealing in toys almost stoped during the second world war. Due to deficiency in raw materials, manpower, money and missing importing licenses it was almost impossible to pursue the business.

In 1948 after years of struggeling the company managed to make the comeback due to the well appreciated currency reform.

In 1955, Walter Wagner the son in law, of Mr. Kauffert joined the company. Under his conduct the company arose to new dimensions. His very personal character appealed to his various business contacts. New collaborations with producers of model railroads followed.

In 1983 his son Mag. Wolfgang Wagner took over the management, after graduating from the economical university. Through his initiative today’s company building, in the 12th district, Wurmbstraße 42, was bought which offered enough space to join the commerce agency and the new importer activities of Kauffert Ges.m.b.H. under one roof.

In 2010 his son Christoph Wagner took over the operative management of the company. He implemented the latest economical guidelines into the traditional family business; but kept the company policy to represent only quality toys.

In 2018 we changed the legal form of the company. The Ing.O.Kauffert Handel e.U. took over all contracts, rights and obligations of Ing.O.Kauffert GmbH.