FAo Poppy

[lancsdave]

From reading through some posts you seem to have some knowledge of bears. Do you have expertise in old bears ?

[Poppy]

limited, but I have an encyclopedia of old bears, if you are trying to find out what make a particular bear is, I may be able to look it up for you.
Or were you needing an old bear repaired or something. Ask and if I don't know the answer someone on one of the bear forums might.

[lancsdave]

Originally Posted by Poppy

limited, but I have an encyclopedia of old bears, if you are trying to find out what make a particular bear is, I may be able to look it up for you.
Or were you needing an old bear repaired or something. Ask and if I don't know the answer someone on one of the bear forums might.

I have an old bear which I am told belonged to my Mum when she was little and was passed on by her grandma. That would date it to early forties but I would like to clarify that. I think it may be beyond repair, in some ways it's such a scruffy little thing it might be better left unrepaired lol. I will post a picture up in a few days when I find my camera lead to see if there's anything you can tell me. I have tried looking at some bear sites before but not found anything like it. Thanks for the reply.

[Poppy]

If it is a top make it is often better not to have them restored, collectors like them in their original state even if that means tattered and stuffing falling out.
Post picture I shall see what I can tell you about it.

[Jason]

Has it got a button in it's ear?.......It could be Steiff.
This happened from 1st November 1904.

If not then it won't be worth many pounds unless it has unusual features.....like an unusual snout.

[lancsdave]

Poppy sent you some pictures direct but thought I would put one up here in case anyone else can help.

Scruffy little Herbert isn't he

[accymel2006]

No he's cute altho he looks soft & furrier in photo than in person but still has big careful huggable appeal more so with one eye - bless :becky:

[Poppy]

I am almost certain it is a Chiltern musical bear 1958/60, it would have a music box inside. a plastic nose amber and black eyes and velveteen paws and pads.
I think I should do a little more research, can you tell me the size and can you tell what the original colour was, maybe you could see under the arm close to the joint. If it is, one sold two years ago at Bonhams for over £400 pounds I think it was £480 but I am not sure, and it was probably in good condition but I don't know that either.
If you can give me the size etc: I may be able to tell you more.
Chiltern went out of production in 1960 and their bears are very collectable now, and increasing in value so look after him while we find out for sure.

[accymel2006]

Could they of been made earlier or something simular done in the 1920's - 1940's poppy??

Like your ted in your avatar aww:D I have my mini collection of Garfields not for money but for love as well as a fair few teds tho too modern im a sucker for cute cuddley things hehehehe

[lancsdave]

The bear is 16" tall. Can't really tell it's real colour, I'm guessing at a biege or light tan. All the joints are moveable so it's not really left any part of it uncovered over the years. Even it's head rotates 360 degrees.

If you are right then it's not as old as I was led to believe but there could also be a logic, especially if it could be dated a year earlier in 1957.

Your help is appreciated.

[lancsdave]

Originally Posted by accymel2006

Could they of been made earlier or something simular done in the 1920's - 1940's poppy??

If it is a Chiltern bear then Poppy would be right about the late-fifties. Thats when they started using the plastic nose apparently.

http://www.bourtonbears.com/bears-chiltern.php


Getting quite interesting now :bounce:

[accymel2006]

Originally Posted by lancsdave

If it is a Chiltern bear then Poppy would be right about the late-fifties. Thats when they started using the plastic nose apparently.

http://www.bourtonbears.com/bears-chiltern.php


Getting quite interesting now :bounce:

MMm it is, so he's your bear bought for you:becky:

[lancsdave]

Originally Posted by accymel2006

MMm it is, so he's your bear bought for you:becky:

I'm beginning to think it was bought for the birth of a special child :madgrin: