Summary

Black and white photograph of Leo Sterne, Ron Blaskett and Gerry Gee, and an unidentified helicopter pilot posing with seven children with their Gerry Gee Junior dolls in front of a helicopter.

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

Leo Sterne, Ron Blaskett with 'Gerry Gee' and an unidentified helicopter pilot pose with children in front of a helicopter. The children are dressed in different school uniforms and are holding 'Gerry Gee Junior' dolls.

Physical Description

Black and white photograph on card.

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 1939. They 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 collection (1939-71) is significant as one of the few surviving collections related to an Australian toy and doll manufacturer, a once thriving industry in Australia. Only at 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, and 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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