Teddy Bears by Chad Valley
Teddy Bears by Chad Valley
In 1850, two brothers, Joseph and Alfred Johnson, began a business together in George Street, Birmingham, the business was called Johnson Brothers. The speciality of the business was mainly in stationery. However, in 1897, Joseph Johnson, who by this time was running the business with his son, moved to new premises in the village of Harborne, near Birmingham, at this point the business changed it's name to Johnson Brothers Harborne, at the same time the factory was known as the Chad Valley Works, after the Chad Valley stream which runs through the village.
In 1897, the company trademarked ‘Chad Valley' as their name to market toys and some cardboard games. Not long after, Chad Valley started to produce soft toys.
In 1969, Chad Valley took over the famous soft toy company, Chiltern, another soft toy/teddy bear manufacturer and once again they moved premises, this time to Pontypool in Wales.
Sadly, due to the 1970's soft toy recession, the company was taken over by Pallitoy. In 1988, Woolworths bought the Chad Valley name and they moved their soft toy production to the Far East.
Chad Valley produced some wonderful Teddy Bears and these days there are lots of Chad Valley Teddy Bears living in collections around the world. The first Teddy Bear produced by Chad Valley appeared in their catalogue in 1914 – 1915. This Teddy Bear came in three sizes and came in five different fabrics.
Chad Valley Teddy Bears can be quite easily identified, having some very distinguishable characteristics:
Early Chad Valley Teddy Bears are fully jointed and stuffed with kapok. However, some very early examples are stuffed with cork;
Early Bears have a celluloid ID button in either an ear or in their upper torso;
Very early Teddy Bears have eyes made of large amber and black glass;
Chad Valley Teddy Bears have big ears, often sewn over the facial seams;
Earlier Teddy Bears have triangular shaped noses with vertical stitching while later Teddy Bears (1938 onwards) have a wide rectangular nose (called a ‘bound' nose) with vertical stitching.
A famous Chad Valley Teddy Bear is a little bear from the 1950's called Toffee. Toffee was based on a wonderful character from the famous television series called ‘Listen With Mother.' Toffee wore a little red knitted hat and scarf. Made circa. 1954, the sweet little Toffee Teddy Bear is very collectible and is quite hard to find these days, but beware, as there are a number of fakes on the market. Another British Teddy Bear Company called Farnell also made their own version of Toffee Bear.
At the height of it's success Chad Valley was granted the Royal Warrant of Appointment in 1938, as toy makers to Her Majesty the Queen. Indeed, after 1938, the Chad Valley labels carried the royal coat of arms with the words "Toy Makers to Her Majesty the Queen" written on them. After the coronation of Elizabeth 11 in 1953, the words changed to "Queen Mother."
In addition to Teddy Bears, Chad Valley produced a variety of soft toy animals and felt dolls (which included the ever popular Mabel Lucie-Attwell doll made in the 1920's). Like many other manufacturers, they too, produced pandas after the first Panda was introduced to London Zoo.
Chad Valley also held the rights to produce British comedian Harry Corbett's glove puppet Sooty in 1952. They continued producing it well into the 1980's.
The first Sooty was bought by Harry Corbett from an old lady on Blackpool Pier. Corbett blackened the nose and ears with soot, hence the famous Teddy Bear's name, Sooty.
Gino loves fast cars, especially fast italian cars. Gino also loves anything Italian. Gino also heads an old teddy bear site which is full of adorable old teddy bears and their friends.
Please visit his website at www.ginosbears.co.uk
 TAN FLUFFY TEDDY BEAR ANIMAL ALLEY 16 STUFFED ANIMAL F US $29.99 
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 RALPH LAUREN POLO SWEATER TEDDY BEAR PLUSH TOY POSEABLE LARGE VINTAGE 1997 15 US $12.99
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 Kongs Dr Noys Medium Teddy Bear Dog Toy with Squeaker and Replacement Squeaker US $9.99
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 HALLMARK TEDDY BEAR WINDOW PINK T SHIRT XL NEW US $12.99
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 15pcs Tibetan silver crafted teddy bear pendants H0123 US $.99
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 SIMON BEANSTER Boyds Bears retired teddy bear and rag doll US $18.99
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 WALLACE TY Scottish Beanie Buddy teddy bear US $9.99
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 Lot of 25 Martha Stewart Teddy bear and purple glitter bow punches card making US $1.49
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 Rare Store Display Steiff Teddy Bear Blowing Bubbles Advertising Display US $89.00
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 MR T B SHUTTERBEAR retired 2004 Boyds Bears artist teddy bear US $18.99
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 BROWN TEDDY BEAR BABY BOY QUILT BEDDING CRIB 9pc SET FOR NEWBORN BY JOJO DESIGNS US $109.99
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 Miniature White Plastic Valentine Teddy Bear Cookie Cutter US $4.99
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 Handmade Dream Buddy for a Baby Funny Teddy Bear FREE SHIP US $15.00
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 Talbots kids light blue Onesie with teddy bear Boy 9M US $2.00
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 VINTAGE FULL SIZE ty beanie baby CELEBRATE celebration teddy bear 8 MINT W TAG US $4.99
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 VINTAGE FULL SIZE ty beanie baby CASHEW lovely little 8 teddy bear MINT W TAGS US $4.99
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 Vintage Detailed English Sterling TEDDY BEAR Charm US $34.99
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 Handmade Dream Buddy for a Baby Teddy Bear with a Blanket FREE SHIP US $15.00
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 COLLECTIBLE VALENTINES STUFFED WHITE TEDDY BEAR USED US $3.95
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 APPLAUSE COLLECTIBLE STUFFED TEDDY BEAR USED US $3.95
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Question by skittle: What is the best way to breed teddy-bear hamsters?
I am looking into getting a male teddy bear hamster and a female teddy bear hamster. My friend is an excellent breeder but she lives far away now and I don't talk to her much. I need suggestions and techniques.
Thank you.
Best answer:
Answer by seasis
Well, if you're asking this question, you shouldn't be breeding them, you don't sound like you're ready yet.
Add your own answer in the comments!
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