FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Why are they called wooden toy soldier nutcrackers?

We call them this because the first nutcrackers were made as replicas of soldiers and other figures of authority.  The common folk took great enjoyment in having the ruling people working for them, cracking their “hard nuts of life”.  The term “wooden toy soldier” differentiates this type of nutcracker from the other types.   We call it a nutcracker if it has a handle in the back that opens the mouth, even if is too small to actually crack a nut.  Parts for the wooden toy soldiers are turned on a lathe, as versus the intricately hand carved designs.

Who made the first wooden toy soldier nutcrackers?

Although Seiffen in the Erzgebirge region of Germany is generally considered the birthplace of the wooden toy soldier nutcracker, many authorities believe it first appeared in Sonneberg in the Thuringia region of Germany.  In 1872, Wilhelm Füchtner of Seiffen, known as “the father of the nutcrackers”, began the first commercial production of nutcrackers making multiple figures from the same basic design.

Why are the nutcrackers so expensive?

It takes over 130 steps to make a nutcracker from the cutting of the wood to the finished product.  Read about “How to Make A Nutcracker” and watch the slide show.  You will gain an insight into the complexity involved.  German nutcrackers are made from quality products, and by skilled workers who have trained several years in the craft.

Do the wooden toy soldier nutcrackers actually crack nuts?

The wooden toy soldier nutcrackers were initially made to crack nuts, and since they did crack  nuts for the family, it is very difficult to find an old nutcracker in good condition.  It was only after people started collecting the wooden toy soldiers that the makers began creating them solely as a decoration.  Several makers still make them sturdy enough to crack a small nut, but usually people do not want to have the paint damaged so will use a mechanical cracker to do the work.

Where can I get parts to repair my broken nutcracker?

  Go back to the store where you purchased the nutcracker and see if they can help you.  Legitimate stores will usually help their customers.  If you purchased a broken nutcracker at a garage sale, flea market, etc. fixing the piece is your responsibility alone.  Try a craft store or hardware for wooden dowels, balls, paints and trims.

Arlene Wagner, The Nutcracker Lady