Collectible Bears - Merrythought, JK Farnell UK

Collectible Teddy Bears - Merrythought, & J K Farnell - British Soft Toy Makers

J K Farnell was established in 1840 in Notting Hill London by John Kirby Farnell making small textile goods such as tea cosies and pin cushions.  In 1870, his daughter Agnus began making soft toys.  In 1887, after their father's death, the company moved to Acton where Agnus and her brother Henry Farnell set up a soft toy business in a leased 18th century house in The Elms, initially using rabbit skins.  It is believed that they produced their first teddy bear in 1908.

In 1921, J K Farnell became a private limited company and set up the Alpha Works next to the existing factory and produced teddy bears.  In 1925 their Alpha trademark was officially registered, used on all Farnell bears since the 1920's.

From my own personal Teddy Bear Collection, this is a J K Farnell bear c1950's to possibly early 1960's, with the Alpha trademark label on his foot.

  

The now famous Alpha Bears were made from Yorkshire mohair and were sold at most major stores including Harrods in London where the original Alpha bear was purchased for Christopher Robin Milne and went on to become Winnie the Pooh!

Also from my own personal Collection, this is a modern replica of that original Alpha Teddy Bear that went on to become Winnie the Pooh!

In 1934 fire totally destroyed the J K Farnell premises but they were operating again within a year from a new factory.  In 1940, due to extensive bomb damage from the war, they had to rebuild again.  In 1968 J K Farnell was taken over by a finance company and production stopped. In 1996 the name was bought by Merrythought.

A J K Farnell pajama case Teddy Bear.

For more info on this curly synthetic plush teddy bear, please click HERE

Merrythought Ltd was founded in 1930, as an outlet to use their own produced mohair plush fabric. The "Wishbone" trademark was registered in the same year. "Merrythought" is an Olde English 17th century word for "wishbone", a symbol of good luck.  By 1935, Merrythought had the biggest soft toy factory in the United Kingdom.  Their first catalog was issued in 1931, showing their first line of bears, the Magnet Bear.  The first panda bear was made in 1939.  Shortly after production started back up in 1946 (their factory was turned over to the war effort during WWII), the River Severn burst its banks destroying many old samples and work-in-progress items. Production began once again in 1947.

In 1988 Merrythought opened a shop and museum next to their factory. Merrythought is still in operation today, and continues to be family run.

A modern Merrythought hand puppet, a Royal Beefeater teddy bear, made from synthetic plush.

For more info on this Teddy Bear Puppet, please click HERE

A sewn label for Merrythought (Made in England) is on the back of the puppet's hand glove body.  

A close up of the foot label on the Alpha Farnell replica bear (shown in "Winnie" story above) made by Merrythought after their purchase of the Farnell name.  In 1982 Merrythought collaborated with Tide-Rider Inc NY to export new collector lines to the USA.  This replica dates to the 1980's.

Some indications on identifying and dating J K Farnell bears:

Note the unusual stitching of the bear's claws in the photo above.  This webbing stitch was done by J K Farnell on many of their large early bears and was later adopted by Merrythought.  

In the early years Farnell bears were unmarked. A paper label was introduced in 1925. A round card disc that had a metal rim with the words “Alpha Make” attached to a bears chest. In 1926 a white woven embroidered label was attached to a foot, in blue and white, saying ”Farnell Alpha Toy Made in England”. After WWII a printed satin label reads “Alpha” in a shield shape. Between 1959 and 1968 a blue red and white label was used saying “This is a Farnell Quality Soft Toy Made in Hastings England” dropping the "Alpha" portion of the tag name and located in a side seam or tummy centre seam.

Early JK Farnell teddy bears are often confused with Steiff bears due to their shaved snouts, long tapering arms, and pronounced hump.  A Farnell hump is usually rounder in form. Farnell bears can have large cupped ears placed on the corners of their heads but are also found to have large flatter ears placed further down on the sides of their heads.

Some indications on identifying and dating Merrythought bears:

Merrythought traditional bears have no hump and their bodies are stuffed with kapok, a natural fibre that comes from the kapok nut.  Their heads are firmly stuffed with excelsior or wood wool with their flat ears sewn into facial side seams.  Their snouts are squared and noses are stitched with long downward stitches.  

From 1954 through 1980 many Disney cartoon characters such as Lady and the Tramp, Bambi etc were made by Merrythought.

A modern Merrythought synthetic plush Pig.

The pig's label is on his tummy.  For more info on this pig, please click HERE

Happy Treasure Hunting!

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Mandy

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