Bill Ding Balancing Clowns ~ Home

The history of Bill Ding started with Stombeck-Becker Manufacturing Company in Moline, Illinois in 1911. The company’s product was wooden tool handles and in 1919 began making wooden toys. By 1922, the focus of the company changed to wooden toys. In 1924, under the brand name Strombecker, the company was producing wooden toy trains, which soon lead to airplanes, ships and toy military weapons. By 1931, toys were the staples of the Strombeck-Becker Company along with games and dollhouses. Bill Ding became one of the all time best sellers for the company. As Strombeck Manufacturing, the company produced Bill Ding Balancing Clowns from 1931 through the 1960’s.

In 1980, Chicago Cutlery bought Strombeck Manufacturing, and in 1985 Ed Stuhr purchased the wood division of Chicago Cutlery including the rights to Bill Ding. Stuhr Products has been manufacturing Bill Ding since 1988. The hand-eye coordination toy has won the Dr. Toy award for classic toys on two separate occasions.

Information gathered from a variety of sources including:
The History of Bill Ding,
www.drtoy.com/awards/5002.html
The Strombeck-Becker Manufacturing Company Story, by Steve Remington, http://www.commercemarketplace.com/home/CollectAir/strombecker.html
Ed and Katherine Stuhr, Stuhr Products


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	The history of Bill Ding started with Stombeck-Becker Manufacturing Company in Moline, Illinois in 1911. The company’s product was wooden tool handles and in 1919 began making wooden toys. By 1922, the focus of the company changed to wooden toys. In 1924, under the brand name Strombecker, the company was producing wooden toy trains, which soon lead to airplanes, ships and toy military weapons. By 1931, toys were the staples of the Strombeck-Becker Company along with games and dollhouses. Bill Ding became one of the all time best sellers for the company. As Strombeck Manufacturing, the company produced Bill Ding Balancing Clowns from 1931 through the 1960’s. In 1980, Chicago Cutlery bought Strombeck Manufacturing, and in 1985 Ed Stuhr purchased the wood division of Chicago Cutlery including the rights to Bill Ding. Stuhr Products has been manufacturing Bill Ding since 1988. The hand-eye coordination toy has won the Dr. Toy award for classic toys on two separate occasions. Information gathered from a variety of sources including: The History of Bill Ding, www.drtoy.com/awards/5002.html The Strombeck-Becker Manufacturing Company Story, by Steve Remington, http://www.commercemarketplace.com/home/CollectAir/strombecker.html Ed and Katherine Stuhr, Stuhr Products