Sonneberger-Straße, Lichte, Thuringia
Hersteller & Malerei / Manufacturer & Decorator
Founded in 1822 by Johann Heinrich Leder. In 1824 the business was inherited by cousins, Wilhelm & Heinrich Liebmann, with Wilhelm buying out Heinrich's shares in 1830. The year 1840 saw the business purchased by the Heubach brothers, Georg Christophe and Philipp Jakob. In 1846, Christoph's son Anton took over Christoph's shares. In turn, in 1868, Philipp's son, Louis took over Philipp's shares. Anton left the company, leaving Louis with sole ownership. Louis then appointed his three eldest sons Philipp, Hermann and Ottokar. Philipp and Ottokar Heubach took over the factory from their father in 1887. Both Philipp and Ottokar died in 1919 and Eduard Heubach, Hermann's son, who had been with the company since 1908, joined the board of directors. In 1910 they started to make bisque doll heads as well as beer steins. In 1919 the expanding firm purchased Porzellanfabrik Ernst Bohne und Söhne of Rudolstadt. In 1937 the company went bankrupt. It was saved by Otto Friedrich III, Prince of Ysenburg and Büdingen but in 1948 East Germany nationalized it. After the reunification of Germany, the factory was returned to the estate of Ysenburg and Büdingen due to the then recent death of Otto Friedrich III. In 1994 it was taken over by former employees.
References: Lichte 1. Lichte 2. Lichte 3.
Side view of the Captain of Köpenick stein
Basemark on the stein above, used from 1976 onward. marked German Democratic Republic, obviouslymade prior to the Reunification of Germany.Decoration Number 33. 
Trink nach der Meister Brauch: In langen tiefen Zügen, aus schönen weissen Krügen % und mit Verstande auch. Drink according to the master's custom: in long deep drafts, out of beautiful white steins % and also with understanding. 
Friedrich Wilhelm Voigt (13 Feb 1849 - 3 Jan 1922) was a German impostor who, in 1906, masqueraded as a Prussian military officer, rounded up a number of soldiers under his "command", and "confiscated" more than 4,000 marks from a municipal treasury. Although he served two years in prison, he became a folk hero as The Captain of Köpenick (Hauptmann von Köpenick) and was pardoned by Kaiser Wilhelm II. Dated in the late 1970's. 
Paper label on stein shown both left and right: VEB (Volkseigener Betrieb) Lichte - BT Porzellanfiguren 6423 Gräfenthal Abt. Gebrauchsporzellan Publicly owned enterprise Lichte (Maker) - BT Porcelain figures 6423 Graefental (address) Division (for) utilitarian porcelain 
Service in the Sea Hydrographic Service 1950 - 1985 
Basemark on the stein above, used from 1976 onward. marked German Democratic Republic, obviouslymade prior to the Reunification of Germany. 
This stein was made in the town of Lichte, Thuringia, East Germany during the Russian occupation. It is described by the maker, Lichte, as very fancy, but in reality not up to the old German standards. The makers label is shown on the base. The verse on the other side has an old German traditional sentiment . 