Teddy Bears Are For Kids And Adults

                                                               






The Teddy Bear's Picnic --famous song by John Walter Bratten written in 1907 with words by Jimmy Kennedy written in 1932

If you go down to the woods today
You're sure of a big surprise
If you go down to the woods today
You'd better go in disguise
For ev'ry bear that ever there was
Will gather there for certain, because
Today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic.
Ev'ry teddy bear who's been good
Is sure of a treat today.
There's lots of marvelous things to eat
And wonderful games to play
Beneath the trees where nobody sees
They'll hide and seek as long as they please
Cause that's the way the teddy bears have their picnic
If you go down to the woods today
You'd better not go alone
It's lovely down in the woods today
But safer to stay at home
For ev'ry bear that ever there was
Will gather there for certain, because
Today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic.
Picnic time for teddy bears
The little teddy bears are having a lovely time today
Watch them, catch them unawares
And see them picnic on their holiday.
See them gaily gad about
They love to play and shout;
They never have any care;
At six o'clock their mummies and daddies,
Will take them home to bed,
Because they're tired little teddy bears.

Original words to the famous
"Teddy Bears Picnic" song



The teddy bear is familiar to nearly everyone today. But the teddy bear actually began its career in 1902. By what appears to be pure coincidence Teddy bears were manufactured in the USA and Germany that year and with the poor state of international communications then neither manufacturer was aware of the other it seems.

This cartoon,Drawing the Line in Mississippi by Clifford Berryman started the Teddy bear craze in the USA.it showed President Theodore Roosevelt who was refusing to shoot a bear cub. Roosevelt was in Mississippi to settle a border dispute between Mississippi and Louisiana, and was taken bear hunting. The hunting was unsuccessful so a bear cub was captured and Roosevelt was given the opportunity to shoot it. Roosevelt's refused to shoot such a helpless baby animal and this inspired Berryman to draw his famous cartoon.
The cartoon was published in The Washington Post on November 16, 1902. It was a sensation and was reprinted in many papers. Morris and Rose Michtom of Brooklyn, New York made a soft stuffed bear toy in honor of the president. The  bear  was named"Teddy's Bear" and the Michtons displayed it in the window of their store."Teddy's Bear" was a  bighit with the general public. The demand for the bears was so big that the Michtoms partnered with a firm called Butler Brothers, and founded  the Ideal Novelty and Toy Company to manufacture the bears.

At about the same time in Germany, Richard Steiff was working with his aunt, Margarete Steiff,in a stuffed toy business. Richard,was an art student, and the Steiff Company made a toy bear based on his design.
The Michtoms and Steiff started to make bears at about the same time, but neither knew about the other due to poor communications. The Steiff bear had a humped back and long nose, and looked more like a real bear cub.

At the Leipzig Toy Fair in March 1903, Steiff introduced the first of their bears named Bear 55PB. European buyers were not interested, but an American toy buyer being familiar with the United States bear craze ordered 3000 bears. In the USA, Teddy bears were a sensation, and Steiff's product fitted right in.

In 1906, the teddy bear craze continued fiercely in the United States. Socialite ladies carried their teddies with them, and children all over the USA owned bears . President Teddy Roosevelt used a bear as his mascot during his re-election campaign was elected to his second term. J.K. Bratton, wrote "The Teddy Bear Two Step" which , with  new lyrics became "The Teddy Bear's Picnic" a song which has endured down through the years.

The well known song "The Teddy Bears Picnic" was written about this time as tabulated in Wikipedia:e"Teddy Bears' Picnic" is a song consisting of a melody by American composer John Walter Bratton, written in 1907, and lyrics added by Irish songwriter Jimmy Kennedy in 1932. It remains popular as a children's song, having been recorded by numerous artists over the decades. Kennedy lived at Staplegrove Elm and is buried in Staplegrove Church, Taunton, Somerset, England. Local folklore has it that the small wooded area between the church and Staplegrove Scout Hut was the inspiration for his lyrics.
 Quoted from:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teddy_Bears'_Picnic

American companies were now making bears in a wide variety of styles and colors,and "Teddy bear" became the accepted name for this genre of bear toys, Steiff, in Germany also used the name for its bears.
In the USA, numerous competitors launched their bears into the market. Most of these companies flared briefly then died. The Gund Manufacturing Corporation was one of the few survivors. Gund is widely known today and is still making bears of many types.
In Germany  many long established toy making companies companies, such as Hermann and Schuco, competed with Steiff to sell their teddy bears.
The J.K. Farnell & Co. started in England to make bears; in fact, they were the original makers of Winnie the Pooh bears which are still very popular at present.

For the next 25 years the teddy bear continued to be extremely popular. New teddy bear makers started.  Chad Valley is a well known example. The bears were also changing.  Glass eyes took over from black buttons, and kapok stuffing became popular.
 in the USA was continuing to grow. The Knickerbocker Toy Company which started in 1920 is still making teddy bears at the present time. In the "dirty thirties" the U.S. was engulfed by the Depression, and American companies had to find cheaper ways to manufacture bears.
During World War II the factories switched to making war materials and some companies closed never to re-open.

After World War II synthetic fibers were used to make teddy bears. Buyers wanted washable bears bears made from nylon or acrylic,  with foam stuffing and plastic eyes. For many teddy bear makers the inflow of cheap mass produced bears from Asian countries was very damaging.
The resurgence of the quality hand made teddy bear began in the 1970s when Beverly Port, a doll maker in the USA, pioneered the making of "artist" made bears. These were made as collectibles for adults rather than as childrens toys. Soon there were "teddy bear artists" in business all over the USA and around the world supplying bears to avid bear collectors.

Artist-designed but mass manufactured bears are now sold by Ganz, Gund, Dean's and other makers.

The popularity of collectible bears has served to increase the interest in, and therefore the value of antique teddy bears. These  bears from the early 1900s became prominent in antique  auctions and shows, and reached ever higher prices. Today the record price for a teddy bear, Teddy Girl by Steiff, is $176,000; that bear was sold at a Christie's auction in 1994.
In the 21st century, teddy bears continue to be as popular as ever with both children and collectors.

For more information about teddy bears check out our website: Click Here

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Toys For Sale--Dolls For Kids And Collectors

                                                        



Collecting dolls either antique or modern is one of the most popular hobbies for females today. Adult women collect valuable antique dolls, special edition Barbie dolls, or a host of other collectible genres. They frequent online auctions such as eBay, to keep an eye out for the dolls they want for their collections. Other sources are antique dealers and antique shows.

Young girls are usually more interested in modern dolls such as Barbie or Bratz or many other presently made lines. Generally these can be had for a few dollars and up depending on the particuilar doll and where it is purchased. Fairly common late model Barbies show up frequently in all kinds of  places such as thrift stores, garage sales and online. Sometimes they can be found in bulk lots costing a dollar or less per doll.

Antique dolls can be very expensive bisque dolls from the 19th century, which generally run from fifty up to several thousand dollars, or can in fact be much lower cost collectibles such as composition, cloth or early plastic dolls which may only cost from a dollar or two up to several hundred dollars. People tend to collect what they can afford to buy. If money is no object then expensive bisque dollas are a good investment. If funds are somewhat more limited then the lower priced bisque dolls can be purchased for around one hundred dollars and up. With less funds to invest it is much better to collect interesting composition or cloth dolls which may run from just a few dollars and up.

Examples of bisque dolls are Bru dolls, which usually sell for figures in the thousands, or Armand Marseille which is more likely to be in the hundreds of dollars. The reason for the difference in values is scarcity and quality. Bru dolls were made in relatively small numbers and are of top quality. Armand Marseille dolls were made in large numbers, and are generally of good but lesser quality than the Bru. Modern reproductions of antique bisque dolls are readily available, and some are beautiful and of high quality. Their investment value is however another story as they are unlikely to increase in value as the true antiques do.

Special edition Barbie dolls are manufactured in limited numbers in order to retain value. To be of collector interest these must be in mint condition and in the original packaging. This generally applies to all modern collector dolls. Once removed from the packaging they are worth only a fraction of the original value. As a matter of interest here,  it is certainly a fact that any old toy which is in its original packaging and in good condition, will be worth a great deal more than the same toy with no box. Collectors will pay a premium price for MIB items of any kind. MIB is a term you will come across which is used to describe toys or any other collectibles which are Mint In Box.

                                                                   



The following information is quoted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doll

During the 19th century dolls' heads were often made of porcelain and combined with a body of leather, cloth, wood, or composite materials, like papier-mâché or composition, a mix of pulp, sawdust, glue and similar materials.[18][19] With the advent of polymer and plastic materials in the 20th century, doll making largely shifted to these materials. The low cost, ease of manufacture and durability of plastic materials meant new types of dolls could be mass produced at a lower price. The earliest materials were rubber and celluloid. From the mid-20th century soft vinyl became the dominant material, in particular for childrens dolls.[20][21] Beginning in the 20th century, both porcelain and plastic dolls are made directly for the adult collectors market. Synthetic resins like polyurethane resemble porcelain in texture and are used for collectible dolls.

Collectors make a distinction between china dolls, made of glazed porcelain, and bisque dolls, made of unglazed bisque porcelain. A typical antique china doll has a white glazed porcelain head with painted molded hair and a body made of cloth or leather. The name comes from china being used to refer to the material porcelain. They were mass produced in Germany, peaking in popularity between 1840 and 1890, and selling in the millions.[22][23][24] Parian dolls were also made in Germany, from around 1860 to 1880. They are made of white porcelain similar to china dolls but the head is not dipped in glaze and has a matte finish.[25] Bisque dolls are characterized by their realistic, skin-like matte finish. They had their peak of popularity between 1860 and 1900 with French and German dolls. Antique German and French bisque dolls from the 19th century were often made as children's playthings, but contemporary bisque dolls are predominantly made directly for the collectors market.[24][18][26]


Up through the middle of the 19th century, European dolls were predominantly made to represent grown-ups. Child-like dolls and the later ubiquitous baby doll did not appear until around 1850.[24][27] But by the late century baby and child-like dolls had overtaken the market.[24] Realistic, lifelike wax dolls were popular in Victorian England.[28]:

18.^ a b An Introduction to Bisque Dolls - About.com: http://collectdolls.about.com/od/dollprofiles/p/bisquedolls.htm?rd=1
19.^ Glossary of Doll Collecting Terms - Composition - About.com: http://collectdolls.about.com/od/dollcollectingglossary/g/composition.htm?rd=1
20.^ Fraser 1973, pp. 81–83  Fraser, Antonia (1973). Dolls. Octopus books. ISBN 0706400569.
21.^ Vinyl Dolls - An Introduction to Vinyl Dolls - About.com: http://collectdolls.about.com/od/dollprofiles/p/vinyldolls.htm
22.^ Coleman, Dorothy S., Elizabeth A., and Evelyn Jk. (1968), "China Head Dolls", The Collector's Encyclopaedia of Dolls Volume One, London: Robert Hale, pp. 118–134, ISBN 0709055986
23.^ An Introduction to China Dolls - About.com: http://collectdolls.about.com/od/dollprofiles/p/chinadolls.htm?rd=1
24.^ a b c d A Brief History of Antique Dolls, Part II - About.com: http://collectdolls.about.com/library/weekly/aa033199.htm?rd=1
25.^ Krombholz, Mary Groham, German Parian Dolls, 2006, Reverie Publishing, pg. 7
26.^ Christopher, Catherine (1971). The complete book of doll making and collecting. Dover Publications. pp. 187–190. ISBN 0486220664.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doll

You can find more information about dolls at our website Click Here

Where can you buy dolls. You can find the best selection anywhere, many with big discounts, through this link to Amazon: Dolls

The Razor A Push Scooter or Kick Scooter

                                                             


The Razor A is the original kick scooter which started the scooter craze. It is a great machine for young kids and teenagers to use  for getting from place to place over relatively short distances. It needs just a few pushes with the foot to propel it at a good speed, and gets you where you want to go really quickly. In addition to its utility it is real fun to use as your kids will tell you.

The Razor A scooter is built using top quality aircraft grade aluminum,  which is very strong and can take lots of use and even abuse for years. The upright T tube folds down over the stand-on deck to make a very compact item, which is easily carried when not in use. Weight is about 6 pounds so it is not a great burden, and can go in a backpack or under the arm.

The patented rear fender brake works smoothly and stops you quickly. The 98mm urethane wheels have great bearings and give a smooth ride along the sidewalk.

The manufacturer recommends the Razor A scooter for kids 5 and up, and it is rated for up to 143 pounds carrying capacity which means that a small adult can use it to.  This is a great scooter at this low price and is covered by a 6 month warranty.

                 

Specifications of the Razor A scooter:

Aircraft-grade aluminum upright tube and stand-on deck.
98mm urethane wheels with ABEC-5 bearings.
Rear fender brakes
33 inches handlebar height (from wheel to handlebar)
6 pounds weight
143 pounds maximum capacity
Folded down size: 23.75 x 4x 7.25 inches

The manufacturer Razor USA LLC holds worldwide rights to the Razor© brand and is based in Cerritos California. They manufacture other scooters, including electric scooters.

The scooter is recommended for 5 year olds, and up through teenagers to light adults. With its capacity of 143 pounds it is usable by a good percentage of the population, and heavier duty models are made for heavier people's use. My 4 year old son is big for his age and I bought one for him. He loves it and quickly learnt how to use it extremely well. He rides it to visit friends who are half a mile away, and gets there in no time flat. He just loves his Razor a scooter, and I am really glad I got it for him. Lots of other kids in the neighborhood got one when they saw him riding it.

For more information about the Razor a kick scooter check out our website Click Here

Where can you buy a Razor a scooter? You can get a really good deal at the lowest price through this link to Amazon:  Razor A Scooter



For more information about the Razor a scooter check out our website




                                                       

Barbie Dolls And Accessories For Collectors

                                                               


Barbie was 50 years old in 2009. Oh boy! Don't you wish we all looked as young as she does at 52? Well, she did have quite a bit of plastic surgery over her lifetime. In fact she had a total body replacement.

Barbie was first sold in 1959 by Mattel, and many millions of Barbie dolls, as well as accessories, have been sold around the globe since that year. March 9th 1959 Barbie's debut was at the New York Toy Fair and that is her official birthday.

She wore a one piece black and white zebra stripe swimsuit withhigh heel open toe shoes and hoop earrings and sported snazzy white sunglasses which had blue lenses. She came with either blonde or brunette hair which was pulled back in a ponytail and she had very much arched eyebrows and her eyes had white irises.

Unfortunately she was made from a type of plastic which fades to white over time. She was made with copper tubing inside her legs and had holes in her feet for mounting on a pedestal. She had the mark JAPAN on the base of her right foot and her body she was marked with Barbie TM Pats. Pend. Copyright MCMVIII.

Should you get unbelievably lucky and find one of these original Barbie dolls in good condition, you have found a collectors dream item which is worth quite a sum of money. The actual value will depend on the overall condition and completeness of your find. If any parts are missing or there is any damage, this will lower the value of the doll very considerably. This original doll is known to collectors as the #1 Ponytail Barbie.

The #2 Ponytail Barbie is exactly the same as #1, but without the copper tubing in the legs, or the holes in the feet of the doll. The pedestal type was changed completely, and now had extensions to hold the doll in place.

The #3 Ponytail Barbie is nearly identical to #2 but with different eyebrows, and the eyes have blue irises. She came with either brown or blue eyeliner.

The #4 Ponytail Barbie was manufactured from a different, and non fading plastic which can retain it's flesh color over time. She came with blue eyeliner.

The #5 Ponytail Barbie changed to a hollow plastic body from the solid plastic body used in earlier editions. The body markings are quite similar with the slight difference that she is now marked R Pats. Pend. instead of TM Pats. Pend. A new hair color which was named titian was added to the blonde and brunette colors.

Dolls which have this titian hair color are considerably scarcer and are as a consequence of higher value than the brunette or blonde varieties. Some dolls developed a problem with the plastic which changed to a greasy look over a period of time. The matte faced doll,if you can find one,is of more value than the greasy faced doll.

The #6 Ponytail Barbie was manufactured using a vinyl type plastic, which does not become greasy looking with time. The lips and fingernails are a pinkish red, rather than the previous bright red. She is clad in a red swimsuit and has open toe,red,shoes.

The #7 Ponytail Barbie was made with different hair colors including brunette, titian,lemon blonde and ash blonde. Her lips and the nails are coral red in color. This new Barbie edition was made in the 1962-1963 era and the markings changed to "Midge TM copyright 1962/Barbie copyright 1958 by Mattel".

Dolls which are stamped with this new mark are often classed as the #7 Ponytail Barbie but some collectors insist on including them as #6. Dolls which were made before the 1962 change-over are somewhat more difficult to find, and consequently are worth more than the new edition dolls are.

Condition is the dominant factor in putting a value on old Barbie dolls. Collectors want dolls which are clean, fully original and have no damage to them. Dolls in this condition fetch the absolute best price. If in addition the Barbie is in the original factory packaging, and also in mint condition, this constitutes a very desirable collectors Barbie doll and brings a premium price on the collectors market. Any doll which has repairs, restoration or has been repainted is worth a lot less than those which are in the faded but original condition.

Where can you locate early collectible Barbie dolls? The answer to this is almost averywhere you go, if you know what you are looking for. Most people have absolutely no idea of what an old Barbie doll appears like or even that it has collector value. Collectors find old Barbie dolls sometimes by searching in thrift shops or second hand stores, sometimes in flea markets and even in garage sales. Be sure that you take a magnifier with you to read the markings on the Barbie dolls, when you go out to hunt for them. Best of luck in your search.

Where can you buy Barbie dolls new and used? Right now you can find great deals,some with discounts,through this link to Amazon:
Barbie Dolls

The Syma S107G Model RC Helicopter

                                                                


The Syma S107G RC model helicopter can be bought for under $20 at times, but the price can vary considerably. For around $20 it is great value in comparison to some very expensive RC model helicopters.  I am saying that the performance the Syma S107G gives is great value for the price, but not that it is a better machine than the more expensive models. It is not, but its performance is comparable to them in every way generally speaking.

The Syma S107G comes with 3 way controls but the performance it gives compares quite well with the very expensive ($150) Blade MCX2 model which comes with 4 way controls. The helicopter  certainly is fun to operate, perhaps more fun than the ultra smooth flying Blade helicopter model. The Syma's  flying is certainly less smooth, and it will take a little more skill to fly it at its best, but this factor really adds to the flying fun, and at it's price the model gives an amazing performance..
The rotor blades on the helicopter produce a sound unlike any other model I have come across, and this actually provides  more enjoyment as the model climbs beautifully into the air and hovers precisely.
The Syma S107G feels solid, and the quality of the finish detail is very nice and well fitted. The Li-PO battery which it uses must be handled correctly to give its best performance. Some owners do not know this, and it is easy to ruin the battery very quickly by  attempting to overcharge it.

When the battery is fully charged, you must stop charging immediately. If you leave the battery on the charger damage will result, and battery life will be shorter. Spare batteries are to be had for $5 or so on Amazon, and having one or two of these is a good idea. The Syma S107G will fly for around 10 minutes per charge,  then the battery must be allowed to cool for 15 to 30 minutes, and then recharged for some 30 to 40 minutes. Be sure to cool the battery  before recharging after use.
The helicopter has 3  control modes,  to fly it with. It can go up/down,  by using the left throttle control stick. Forward/back and rotate left to right, are done with the 4 way right stick. There is no direct control to give left to right movement . The Syma is of rugged construction when compared to some other models and  as a result of this can survive crashes much better. Landing a model helicopter requires you to have some practice, and crash landings are common at first,  making the crash survival rate important.
The Syma S107G is, in my humble opinion, a terrific buy, and compares very well to several more expensive models I have owned.

My  present Syma helicopter has been in service for 2 years, and has survived numerous crashes. The built in gyro, the model is equipped with, makes flying very simple, since it makes the helicopter easy to control and very stable. The model hovers really nicely if you can keep the throttle control steady. It can be steered accurately in all directions, and it is easy to fly this helicopter without crashing it. The fun experience this helicopter provides, is a  solid bargain at this really low price.

Where can you buy a Syma S107G helicopter? At present it is available with a hugely discounted price through this link to Amazon: Syma S107G