Since the middle of the 19th century, the material sheet metal conquered the toy market. Stamping and embossing techniques made it possible to produce the individual parts quickly and in large numbers; nevertheless, assembling, gluing and painting, printing or varnishing required a great deal of time. On the metal, the bright colors came out very well and made the objects extraordinarily attractive toys. Products from Württemberg manufacturers, the Märklin company in Göppingen and the Rock & Graner company in Biberach, were quite common in Basel. However, the products of Nuremberg companies, such as those of the Bing brothers, were also very important.