Heckhausen turned the old Ampelmännchen figures into lamps and fashion accessories. A campaign, called Save the Ampelmännchen, was launched by the public and Ampelmännchen enthusiasts, resulting in the preservation of Peglau's Ampelmännchen in 1997.
Ampelmännchen enthusiast Heckhausen repurposed old figures into decorative lamps and fashion accessories. A grassroots movement, dubbed Save the Ampelmännchen, was launched by enthusiasts, ultimately resulting in the protection of Peglau's Ampelmännchen in 1997.