According to The Most Important Events and Discoveries Russian Digest 15th of February 1903 was the day when the first Teddy Bear, the way we all know it, was sold. The date is quite debatable because different countries celebrate it on different days. 27th of October is Teddy Bear's birthday in the United States, United Kingdom and Scandinavia. They celebrate it on 19th of November in Russia. I am glad to know that because it is my birthday as well hehehehe
Two countries, the United States and Germany still compete for the right to be considered the country of Teddy's origin. The cuddly children’s toy was invented almost simultaneously in the United States and Germany but the United States undoubtedly gave it its name.
In November 1902 Theodore ‘Teddy’ Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States, was hunting in Mississippi. The President failed to make a kill so his hosts caught and tethered a bear, presenting it to the President as a sitting target. Naturally the President refused, uttering the immortal words, ‘Spare the bear! I will not shoot a tethered animal.’ Clifford Berryman drew a cartoon of the scene, which was published in the Washington Post.That same month Brooklyn shopkeepers Morris and Rose Michtom made a soft bear toy, which they named ‘Teddy’s Bear’ and displayed in their window with a copy of the cartoon. America went bear mad almost overnight, the Michtoms went on to make their fortune with the Ideal Novelty and Toy Company and President Roosevelt had found a highly effective political mascot.
Two countries, the United States and Germany still compete for the right to be considered the country of Teddy's origin. The cuddly children’s toy was invented almost simultaneously in the United States and Germany but the United States undoubtedly gave it its name.
In November 1902 Theodore ‘Teddy’ Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States, was hunting in Mississippi. The President failed to make a kill so his hosts caught and tethered a bear, presenting it to the President as a sitting target. Naturally the President refused, uttering the immortal words, ‘Spare the bear! I will not shoot a tethered animal.’ Clifford Berryman drew a cartoon of the scene, which was published in the Washington Post.That same month Brooklyn shopkeepers Morris and Rose Michtom made a soft bear toy, which they named ‘Teddy’s Bear’ and displayed in their window with a copy of the cartoon. America went bear mad almost overnight, the Michtoms went on to make their fortune with the Ideal Novelty and Toy Company and President Roosevelt had found a highly effective political mascot.
Meanwhile, across the ocean in Germany, Richard Steiff was working for his aunt, Margarete Steiff, a disabled German seamstress with a soft toy factory in Giengen. Richard, a former art student, often visited the Stuttgart Zoo to sketch animals, particularly the bear cubs. In 1902, the same year the Michtoms made "Teddy's Bear," the Steiff firm made a prototype of a toy bear based on Richard's designs.
Though both the Michtoms and Steiff were working on bears at the same time, certainly neither knew, at a time of poor transatlantic communication, about the other's creation. Besides, the Michtoms' bear resembled the wide-eyed cub in the Berryman cartoon, while the Steiff bear, with its humped back and long snout, looked more like a real bear cub.
A few months later, in March 1903, at the Leipzig Toy Fair, Steiff introduced its first bear—Baer 55PB. The European buyers showed little interest, but an American toy buyer, who was aware of the growing interest in "Teddy's bears" in the States, ordered 3000. In America, people were beginning to get teddy bear fever, and Steiff was in the right place at the right time.
That is when Teddy-Bear-mania has started. A lot of cartoons, fairy-tales and songs about this famous bear were created since then. American historian Charles Panati, author of "Extraordinary origins of ordinary things", believed that the invention of a teddy bear was the starting point for technological progress. Originally teddy bears were made from fur and expensive fabrics. But the massive demand made manufacturers reduce the cost of raw materials. Therefore already in 1903 manufacturers started using plush fabric for bear skins, before used mainly for furniture upholstery. That prompted to develop special materials designed exclusively on children.
In 1930, after the timers have become relatively cheap, bears became the first large-scale mechanical toys. After the emergence of cheap electric batteries in 1950, the first toy, in which they were used, were also teddy bears. In addition, the teddy bear was the first "talking" toy, which you can bathe (sample appeared in 1956).
It's been over a hundred years as our love affair with teddy bear shows no signs of abating. We don't really care where and when it was made first, sometimes we don't know why we love them so much. But a teddy bear, being kept through years and generations, is a favourite toy in many families. In Russia teddy bears are loved too and tenderly called mishka. Every kid knows the poem about plush mishka. We have our family mishka as well, cherished for years. Although it was born in China hehehe and looks a little worn out, it is still loved. So let me introduce Amelia.
Though both the Michtoms and Steiff were working on bears at the same time, certainly neither knew, at a time of poor transatlantic communication, about the other's creation. Besides, the Michtoms' bear resembled the wide-eyed cub in the Berryman cartoon, while the Steiff bear, with its humped back and long snout, looked more like a real bear cub.
A few months later, in March 1903, at the Leipzig Toy Fair, Steiff introduced its first bear—Baer 55PB. The European buyers showed little interest, but an American toy buyer, who was aware of the growing interest in "Teddy's bears" in the States, ordered 3000. In America, people were beginning to get teddy bear fever, and Steiff was in the right place at the right time.
That is when Teddy-Bear-mania has started. A lot of cartoons, fairy-tales and songs about this famous bear were created since then. American historian Charles Panati, author of "Extraordinary origins of ordinary things", believed that the invention of a teddy bear was the starting point for technological progress. Originally teddy bears were made from fur and expensive fabrics. But the massive demand made manufacturers reduce the cost of raw materials. Therefore already in 1903 manufacturers started using plush fabric for bear skins, before used mainly for furniture upholstery. That prompted to develop special materials designed exclusively on children.
In 1930, after the timers have become relatively cheap, bears became the first large-scale mechanical toys. After the emergence of cheap electric batteries in 1950, the first toy, in which they were used, were also teddy bears. In addition, the teddy bear was the first "talking" toy, which you can bathe (sample appeared in 1956).
It's been over a hundred years as our love affair with teddy bear shows no signs of abating. We don't really care where and when it was made first, sometimes we don't know why we love them so much. But a teddy bear, being kept through years and generations, is a favourite toy in many families. In Russia teddy bears are loved too and tenderly called mishka. Every kid knows the poem about plush mishka. We have our family mishka as well, cherished for years. Although it was born in China hehehe and looks a little worn out, it is still loved. So let me introduce Amelia.
It will be one of my projects for the nearest future. Renovate Amelia! :)Happy Birthday Teddy Bear, Mishka and the bearest hugs to all who loves them :)))
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