Farnell, Invicta, Twyford, Pixie and Farnell like.
Farnell was founded in London in 1840. It began to make Teddy Bears in 1906-8 and was probably the first British teddy bear maker. In 1910 Harrods produce a catalogue with Farnell bears in it. In 1925 Farnell registered the Alpha Toys trade mark.
The family firm of J K Farnell Co Ltd plays significant importance in the British soft toy history, not only because it was the very first British toy company to manufacture teddy bears but also because it created the actual bear that inspired A A Milne to write the Winnie the Pooh stories. Founded in the Nineteenth century, for many years J.K. Farnell Co Ltd was the most respected and influential soft toy manufacturer in Britain. The superior quality of its products ensured that the company experienced huge success not only nationally but internationally. Changes in the British toy market forced its closure in 1970.
Typical characteristics of Early Farnell bears:-
• Eyes - large bears, clear glass - small bears boot button.
• Ears -large cupped ears either at the corners, or less usually, the side of the head.
• Muzzle - usually prominent and shaved.
• Nose - vertically stitched with long upward end stitches.
• Mohair - long and silky of very high quality.
• Pads - felt or cotton Claws - webbed paw claws. 5 stitches on both paws and pads.
• Hump - rounded. Arms - long and curved. Legs - thick legs with narrow ankles.
• Quite often big, long feet. Seam - Front final seam.
As with all these things there are many bears with only some of the above features and some with hardly any. It was generally accepted though that Farnell bears were of good quality with long soft silky mohair.
Invicta, Twyford and Pixie were companies who had ex Farnell employees, they therefore had very similar designs