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  • April 19, 2018

“KEYS” to Collecting

October 1, 2007 by Ken Yenke

Ken Yenke provides tips on becoming an expert and efficient collector.


The late Jorg Juninger, great-grandnephew of Margarete Steiff, is shown signing some Steiff bears at the Steiff Festival in Toledo, Ohio. Any verified family signature, such as this, or even an original artists’ signature for newer bears, makes bears more interesting and valuable to collectors.It has been many years ago, but I distinctly remember one day when my wife, Brenda, and I drove nearly three hours to attend an auction in Lancaster, Ohio. There was one 20-inch-tall Schuco yes/no teddy bear (the tail is moved up or down to make the teddy nod yes or no) pictured in the auction flyer. It appeared in the flyer to be one from the US Zone period (1948–1953), and that was one size and year we did not have in our teddy bear collection.

 

Upon our arrival, we quickly did a pre-auction tour of the items for sale. The 20-inch Schuco was just perfect! His long cinnamon mohair and great face spoke to us even without moving his yes/no tail. Bidding was just starting and the bear was up first. It quickly went up to $1,000, which is what I was hoping to pay for it. After a moment of silence, the only other competitive bidder on the bear continued to top my bid prices. Finally, after it went over $1,500, the bidding stopped and we had won the bear. I figured we had already driven three hours and it was worth it to fill a spot in our collection.

 

I approached the other bidder and exchanged hellos. I asked if he had a collection of Schuco bears and he said, “Oh, no. I recognized you as the bear expert, so my wife and I decided if you would go that high in bidding the bear must be worth a whole lot more as an investment. He is kind of cute.”

 

Then, my friends, I realized how much respect there is for knowledge and experience. It is powerful, even though in this case my knowledge probably cost me a little more for the bear! I was paying a “collector’s” price, while the competitive bidder was bidding as though it were an investment. (By the way, you may be interested to know the other bidder was a Lancaster resident named Dr. Payne. He and his wife have since become great friends as well as very well educated collectors.)

 

So, then, how do we become experts and efficient collectors? There are many ways to reach that state, but I would like to concentrate on four simple “KEYS” that have helped Brenda and I build our own treasured collection over the years.

Provenance in any collection puts it on a higher level. Here is a 1905 Christmas photo with a little boy and his bear. If you have the bear’s history, with a photo like this, the value is enhanced greatly.K = What Should We Keep?

There is a tremendous difference between accumulating and actually collecting. We accumulate by simply keeping everything we either receive as gifts or buy for ourselves randomly. A true collection is created by keeping or finding things that complement our scheme or design.

 

A great collection often begins with a special teddy bear or even a photograph that has been passed along to us. This can be our own personal childhood toy or simply the memory of a toy that stimulates us. I have seen wonderful collections that have only a few items, but they are all unique. On the other hand, I have evaluated accumulations that have hundreds of teddy bears in them and they are indeed just accumulations. Numbers are not important. Be selective and create a collection around something special to you or a loved one. Try not to ask, “How many do you have?” but instead, “What is your favorite?”

E = Education

Farnell’s super rare 1920s mint aqua-teal teddy bear makes a perfect companion for its 1990 limited-edition replica. A great way to collect: Have the original and its reproduction.The single most important aspect to collecting is education. My first advice to anyone who wants to become a collector is to read a good prescribed set of books. Always start by researching. As you collect items, your expertise will develop as a pure result of the research you do before and after each item you acquire. This is most true if you collect vintage and/or antique items. Education also is gained from attending trade shows, consulting with other collectors and subscribing to magazines like the one you are reading right now. Get a reading list from someone you respect who collects what you desire. Knowledge will help you make fewer bad choices.

 

No two teddy bears are exactly alike, and the more of the differences you can discern, the more qualified you are to efficiently collect. Once you master “characteristics” of what you love, you will be much more comfortable expanding your collection by expending bigger dollars. Don’t neglect peripherals! Bear-related items complement any teddy bear collection.

Yearly checkups of your display cases with help keep your treasures safe. Dust, check for critters and replace your cedar blocks or bags. Y = Yearly Inspection

Inspection of your precious collection is an absolute. Although you can do it daily, you should revisit each and every special piece you own at least once a year. The best reason I can think of is that you get to relive the moment you first found your favorite things—a feeling that will always stay with you.

 

You also get to check for “critters” and anything that may have disturbed the sacred areas where you keep your special items. Remember, inventory and inspection yearly will help you maintain the special feeling you experienced when you purchased each piece in your collection.

S = Share Your Collection

Here is a perfect 20-inch white Steiff teddy bear from 1912. Always try to collect what you love, and if your bear has a universal appeal, he is even more special.Sharing with anyone who may appreciate it is very important. Help others learn from your own research, which may include joining a local teddy bear or collecting club. Talk, write or simply “show and tell” whenever you can find the opportunity.

 

In essence, we are all simply the caretakers of whatever we have acquired. We can help prepare someone else for the eventual responsibility that will be passed along to him or her. We have been able to acquire some very special teddy bears over the years, and in many cases it was because the original owners wanted their bears to “go on living, and be seen by others who will appreciate them.”

 

This final key is the one we can all do more of. Sharing joy is double joy! Brenda and I attend every show we can and speak to groups 25 to 50 times a year. Collecting truly is better when you share.

Rescue 411

June 1, 2007 by Terry and Doris Michaud

Should you restore an old teddy bear? Absolutely! (Or maybe not…)


This early American bear suffered a severe dog attack. Missing both arms and an ear, the teddy was sent to Laura Boeck-Singers. The restorationist dye-matched the mohair to reconstruct the bear’s arms and missing ear.There are relatively few subjects in the teddy bear world that are considered somewhat controversial. Buying an old bear for investment is one (a topic for another day), and whether to repair or restore a vintage teddy bear is another. The latter is the subject we’ll deal with today. Unfortunately, there is no simple “yes” or “no” answer. It depends on the bear, the age, the condition and several other factors. Some problems are easy to correct and others may require the services of a professional. Let’s look first at some of the things you can do yourself, if you choose to.

This early American bear suffered a severe dog attack. Missing both arms and an ear, the teddy was sent to Laura Boeck-Singers. The restorationist dye-matched the mohair to reconstruct the bear’s arms and missing ear.This early American bear suffered a severe dog attack. Missing both arms and an ear, the teddy was sent to Laura Boeck-Singers. The restorationist dye-matched the mohair to reconstruct the bear’s arms and missing ear.Sweet Smell of Success

If Teddy has a bit of musty smell from storage in a damp basement, you can remove a good deal of the odor by placing him in a cardboard box with a layer of charcoal in the bottom. Set Teddy in the box on a wire rack so he is not touching the charcoal. Close the box up and check the bear in a couple weeks to see how he is doing. It may be necessary to change the charcoal to a fresh batch and leave him in for an extended period.

Making a Clean Getaway

Next we’ll talk about cleaning old bears. Many collectors in Britain prefer to keep the old bear as found, with no cleaning. Personally, we prefer to clean a bear that joins our collection, as the dust and grime of ages could attract moths, silverfish or other creatures that love to eat mohair!

 

Step one, before we clean the bear, is to wrap him in plastic and tuck him into the freezer for a week or ten days to kill off any larvae that he may have acquired. Before Teddy gets his bath, we use a vacuum to remove as much dust from his mohair as possible. Then, to clean the teddy bear, we use a double sink with warm water and Woolite suds on one side, and clear warm water on the other. If the old bear is mohair (as most are) he will clean beautifully, but never immerse the bear in water! It is always best to start with a small spot on the back.

 

We wet a cloth and scoop up a small handful of suds and gently massage Teddy’s mohair in a small area to loosen the dirt. Then we take a second cloth and wet it in the clear water, squeeze out the excess and wipe the suds off the area we just cleaned. You can then proceed to an adjoining area and continue until his bath is complete. If he is exceptionally dirty, he may require a second round of cleaning.

 

Once you have finished cleaning the teddy, take a dry towel and wipe him down gently, then place him on a wire rack or something to suspend him off the towel and allow him to dry naturally for 24 hours. We do not recommend using a hair dryer, as it could damage the mohair on an elderly bear. Once he is completely dry, you can use a soft brush and give him a good brushing to fluff him up a bit.

The nose knows! A helpful hint from the Michauds: A new nose can be given a slightly worn look by rubbing white chalk on it, then lightly brushing it off.The Fundamentals of Fixing

Doing repair work on Teddy is something not everyone agrees should be done, but we take the position that if the repair work will help avoid further deterioration, by all means, do it! An example would be paw pads that are ripped open and his straw stuffing is starting to come out. If it is a very small hole in the pad, we will sometimes water down a bit of Elmer’s glue (to thin it) and apply it directly to the straw to aid it in staying in place. Pad replacement is something you may want to have done by a professional, for they will use the same type and shade of material that he had originally.

 

We generally leave Teddy’s stitched nose and mouth as found, unless it is mostly missing. These features are not as simple to do for the inexperienced sewer, so it is also a step you may want to have done by someone with experience.

MIA: Missing Items Availability

The Michauds emphasize that glass eyes on a wire are not child-safe.Missing parts, such as an eye or an ear? You will be hard-pressed to find a matching eye for the teddy, so you may want to consider replacing both eyes, but retain the remaining original one for future reference. Some repair services keep a supply of old eyes on hand for their work.

 

Does Teddy have a missing ear? Our very first bear (the Professor) was in such a state, and Doris removed the remaining ear and opened the seam to give her two old pieces to use for the front of his ears, then backed it with some fabric that was a close match. With a lot of patience and time, you can actually dye small pieces of mohair until you get an exact match.

 

Rotten Luck

One condition that cannot be cured is dry rot. This happens when the cotton backing on the mohair deteriorates to the point where you can actually push your finger through the fabric. You can completely disassemble the entire bear and iron a Pelon backing on it, but this would be a major undertaking that few would have the courage to do. If we discover this condition before buying an old bear, we simply pass on it, no matter how charming Teddy is.

Super Savers: The Power of a Professional

Doris and I have been doing repair work for collectors for many years now, but for some jobs we turn to those with the expertise to do it properly. An example would be a missing limb, as it takes real skill to do an exact match.

 

Teddy bear beforeTeddy bear afterWhen seeking someone to do your repair, always get an estimate of cost and time in advance and ask for references. Unfortunately, not everyone who offers to do repair and restoration is qualified to do the best work.

 

Two people whose work is outstanding are Laura Boeck-Singers, of Milwaukee, Wis., and Martha Anderson, of Midlothian, Va. Both will be more than happy to discuss the procedures they use and to give you an estimate on your repair or restoration request.

 

There are many other talented professional teddy bear restoration services available, perhaps one in your own area. Check the ads in this magazine or look in your yellow pages under “Doll and Teddy Bear repair.”

A Marvelous Maxim

A favorite old saying is: “If you haven’t got the time to do it right, when will you have the time to do it over again?” Carefully consider whether or not you have the talent to do the job right.

Terry and Doris Michaud, 505 W. Broad St., Chesaning, MI 48616; (989) 845-7881

Laura Boeck-Singers, 2326 N. 58th St., Milwaukee, WI 53210; (414) 871-4956

Martha Anderson, Mar-Ke Mohair, 14440 Aldengate Road, Midlothian, VA 23114

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