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A lovable family of vintage Wendy Boston teddy bears, accompanied by an affectionate tribute article written for Teddy Bear International Club magazine, published in 2001. A photograph showing two of these bears is featured in the article, and a third is mentioned. It explains the innovation and cuddly charm of the first machine washable teddies to be produced in 1955.
These sweet-faced Bostons, first launched on BBC Television in 1955, revolutionised the manufacture of teddies and the way they were made. With their moulded, lock-in safety eyes (first patented by Wendy Boston in 1948), nylon fur and foam filling, they were hailed as the first range of soft toys in the world to be completely washable and safe – ‘free from glass and wire’.
Appealing to hygiene and safety-conscious parents, Wendy Boston bears were also eagerly embraced by children. Soft and cuddly, with no breakable parts, the bears’ inviting outstretched arms, begging to be hugged, proved an enormous attraction to youngsters. So much so, that by 1966, the Wendy Boston firm was making more than half of the two million soft toys produced in Britain.
These four ‘Playsafe’ characters include ‘Betsy’, a very pretty blue-eyed white plush teddy, wearing the hand-knitted jerkin as shown in the magazine feature. She’s 20 cms (8″) high in her sitting position, and is in beautiful original condition. Then there’s ‘Bonnie’, the smallest of the Bostons, being 18 cms (7″) sitting down. She still has her satin leg label – ‘WENDY BOSTON, wash in luke warm suds, made in England’ – and also her original pink nylon neck ribbon.
Thirdly there’s ‘Billy’, who has shaggy gold fur, with an inset muzzle of clipped plush to match his footpads. He also has his leg label, and his eyes are amber. Apart from a few missing claws, he’s in lovely condition and measures 22 cms (8.5″) sitting down. He’s shown next to Betsy in the magazine article, but is wearing a white jerkin instead of his current multi-coloured one.
Finally, there’s blue Bert, made in 1963, and mentioned in the magazine article, as being a favourite bear in the author’s childhood toy box. Bert is the largest of the bunch at 25 cms (10″) high. He’s in super condition and wears his blue tweedy jumper.
Overall, the Boston family represents an important slice of British history; a major turning point in the manufacture of teddy bears. Due to its weight, the wicker hamper is not included in the listing. Thanks for looking.
TRACKED POSTAGE TO EUROPE IS 13.60 GBP, AND REST OF WORLD 19.70 GBP.
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