Teddy is 100 Years Old!


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Most "manufactured" bears in the first 25 years were, nonetheless, handmade. Gradually, the bears became more child-friendly with glass eyes and softer stuffing. Although World War I briefly stunted the flow of bears from Germany, it wasn't until the Depression years that U.S. companies felt a real economic crisis. Many companies were forced to cease production or find cheaper ways to produce the bears. Mass production overcame the handmade bears' higher costs.

The outbreak of war in Europe in 1939 was the final blow for many of the remaining Teddy bear companies. Factories turned production over to the making of war materiél, and workers became soldiers.

After the war's end, the public began to demand washable bears as safer and more sanitary toys. Natural fibers were replaced by synthetics like nylon and acrylic, with plastic eyes and foam rubber stuffing. For a while, American and European manufacturers were able to adapt to this change. However, by the 1970s cheap and poorly made bears from Eastern Asia began to flood the markets.

Amazingly, the re-birth of demand for high quality, handmade bears was initiated in 1969 by a television program and a British actor, Peter Bull. On television, he expressed his devotion to the teddy bear and its importance to adults. The public's response was so warm and immediate, Bull wrote a book about his lifelong affection for teddy bears. The teddy bear emerged as more than a child's toy but as a highly regarded collectible for adults.

By the mid-1970s and early 1980s, both vintage and collectible bears were being sold at toy auctions, high-end antique shows, and specialized toy expos. There are many wonderful collectible Teddy Bear manufacturers today, such as Boyd, while the older companies such as Steiff and Gund continue to create distinctive and lovable examples of our dear friend, Teddy.

Thanks to: Marianne Clay, author, at Teddy Bear and Friends magazine.

All photos are of the author's own bears, Vermont Bear, Mr. Potter Bear, and Lady Jane Bear. Permission is granted to use these photos, with acknowledgment to the author and Suite101.com.

Also check out:

The Boyds' Collection

Gotta Getta Gund

Steiff USA

The Vermont Teddy Bear Company

The copyright of the article Teddy is 100 Years Old! in Antiques & Collectibles is owned by Barbara Bell. Permission to republish Teddy is 100 Years Old! in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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