Washable Teddy Bears Arrived In 1954: Cleaning Tips
Theodore Roosevelt was the inspiration behind the first teddy bears, all because of a comic strip. Word got out that he refused to shoot a bear cub on his hunting travels and a cartoonist drew a picture of him and the bear. A store owner, Mitchom and his wife, saw the cartoon and were inspired. Thus began the journey of the teddy bears.
In 1906 Americans used the word “teddy bear” in an advertisement, instead of “Teddy’ s Bears” and it has remains as such to this day.Want more? Click here/tag
In 1912 Steiff introduced the very first black teddy in honor of those who perished on the Titanic. She made 500 of these teddy bears to give to the families that were mourning the loss of their loved ones.
Ken and Wendy Boston produced the first washable teddy bear in 1954 in South Wales. They concentrated on producing teddy bears that were easy to care for, making them out of washable synthetic fabrics, using rubber foam as the stuffing. This made them so the teddy bears could be washed regularly and safely, making them more hygienic to be handled by children.
Hand made teddy bears are very popular with collectors. Steiff and Mitchom bears are the most valuable because they are rare and do not show up on the market very often. However, there are an abundance of teddy bears on the market to collect, one just needs to do their research.
To clean your teddy bear use a couple of pieces of white terry toweling and slightly warm water. Wet the cloths and hands wring them out. Wipe down the teddy in the direction of the nap being careful not to get the backing too wet. Use the second cloth to go over the teddy again and let dry overnight. Do not put the teddy in the sun or use the hair dryer. Then give the teddy a good brush.
Lastly, teddy bears have come a long way from once being a wooden toy to the soft wonderful things we cuddle with at night.