Summary

Black and white image of Humphrey B. Bear and Humphrey B. Bear doll. This photograph relates to products and promotions of the L.J. Sterne Doll Company (1939-1971), a Melbourne doll and toy manufacturer founded by Austrian migrants Leo and Hilda Sterne.

Description of Content

Life size Humphrey B. Bear entertainer holding one hand of a Humphrey B. Bear doll. The other hand of the doll is being held by a little girl. The park the photograph is taken in is unknown, though probably taken in Melbourne.

Physical Description

Black and white silver gelatin photograph.

Significance

This item is part of a growing collection of material relating to the migration and settlement experiences of Leo and Hilda Sterne who arrived in Melbourne in 1939 and immediately established a business that became one of the most successful doll and toy manufacturers in post-war Melbourne.
The L. J. Sterne Doll Company (Established 1939 to 1971) is significant as one of the few surviving collections related to an Australian toy and doll manufacturer, a once thriving industry in Australia. Only the A.L. Lindsay and Co. Archive at the Powerhouse Museum and the Jakas Toys collection at Museum Victoria are comparable.
This collection of photographs, business and promotional documents, dolls, toys enables the exploration of many historical and social themes including: local television and manufacturing industries; design and production innovation; marketing and merchandising; childhood; gender and cultural representations; leisure and sport; and key cultural and historical events.

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