When I was very little, I got a teddy bear. I was so young, I have no recollection of not having it. I still have it. I loved that teddy to death and even played hairdressers on it when I was about 6, giving it a bit of a haircut! (Update 2017: I’ve been scanning some old photos and have found a picture of me aged about a year old with my bear.)
I’ve never seen another bear like it, and had no idea where or when it was made. I figured it wasn’t a Steiff bear, but its identity eluded me. Then two weeks ago on ‘The Collectors’, they did a segment on a doll hospital and at the end of the segment the panel discussed the value of several bears — including a bear that looked just like mine! I was so excited!
Thanks to ‘The Collectors’, I’ve now found out that my teddy is a Berlex Bear, made in Melbourne from the 1930s to the 1970s, and the value is around $300. Value is irrelevant as I’d never get rid of my ‘Ted’.
‘The Collectors’ episode that featured ‘my’ bear is Episode 4, 28 February 2010 and you can view it here: http://www.abc.net.au/tv/collectors/segments/s2824604.htm. The segment discussing the bears starts around 5 minutes 10 seconds in, and goes to 7 minutes 48 seconds.
Here’s a screen shot from the video, showing ‘my’ bear:
Berlex bear
And here’s *my* bear:
And me with my Ted way back when:
Update October 2020: I’ve now had Ted restored back to his handsome self: https://rhondabracey.com/2020/10/21/my-teddy-went-to-the-teddy-bear-doctor/
Rhonda Bracey: At Random 