The North American Bear Co Inc, Chicago ILL (NABCO) - Muffy VanderBear & VIB (Very Important Bear)
NABCO (The North American Bear Co) began over 30 years ago, in the mid-1970's as a creative business enterprise of a new mother, Barbara Isenberg a hardware columnist with the New York Times, who was seeking a unique, high quality plush bear for her new son. She had her fashion designer friend, Odl Bauer, sew her son a bear from an old sweatshirt. This bear evolved into "Albert the Running Bear", NABCO's very first retail bear!
Advertising Promo Badge for NABCO, massive 6 inches in diameter with a pull out stand in the back to display!
In 1978, after perfecting a variety of sample bear designs, assembling a sales force and locating a small New York factory to produce her bears, she teamed up with brother Paul Levy, a Chicago based lawyer and Real Estate Developer to form The North American Bear Co. Odl Bauer joined them to help with clothing designs for the bears.
NABCO developed VIB (Very Important Bears) of which the first was called "Douglas Bearbanks". Many inventive names for the series, based on movie stars or other famous folks were issued, such as "Elizabear Taylor" and "Bearilyn Monroe".
VIB Theodore Bearington, made from light blonde plush, unjointed, and dressed in a knitted pullover sweater and shorts was a special issue for Christmas of 1984. His neck seam label is pictured, showing his name. By this time, production of the bears had moved to Korea.
One of the most popular series for NABCO is the VanderBear Teddies. The family of bears was introduced in 1983; Father Cornelius at 20 inches tall, Mother Alice 18 inches, Brother Fuzzy 12 inches, Sister Fluffy 12 inches. In 1984 Muffy, the baby, at 7 inches tall, was introduced. The bears are made from blonde plush and are fully jointed.
Fluffy VanderBear, from the Tree Trimming Collection, a Holiday Limited Edition for Fall 1989. She has her Original Hang Tag, her seam tag, and her clothing seam tag. Clothing tag shows the designer as Odl Bauer.
Muffy VanderBear from the Furrier & Ives Collection, the Skating Party, a Holiday Limited Edition for Fall 1988. Muffy is wearing ice skates, has a hand warmer white plush muff and is dressed in a fine red coat with embossed metal buttons. She is missing her plush hat but has her original hang tag.
The Hang Tag shows the other family names and shows some of the other VanderBear Collectible Issues available.
In the Fall of 1990, Muffy's new friend Hoppy VanderHare was introduced in an issue entitled Back To School. She wears cute red plastic shoes, a red felt beret and a numeral printed fabric dress.
Further additions to the VanderBear clan have been Muffy's pony "Oatsie" introduced in the spring of 1991, her new dog "Lulu MacFluff" introduced in the Fall of 1993.
While Muffy VanderBear continues to come out in new collections, her family has been retired for many years.
To view many of the NABCO items shown in this blog, please visit: Mandicrafts The North American Bear Co
Bear Hugs
Mandy
Mandicrafts
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Handy Links:
(just click on any of the names)
Mandicrafts Bears and Collectibles Store
Mandicrafts Website
(just click on any of the names)
Mandicrafts Bears and Collectibles Store
Mandicrafts Website
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