Summary
Black and white photograph of a product display of Gerry Gee Junior Dolls inlcuding a Footy Fan Gerry and Geraldine Gee by the L. J. Sterne Doll Company, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia circa 1965.
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
Four Gerry Gee Junior Dolls are positioned for a promotional display on a small, circular set. Football Fan Gerry stands elevated in the centre behind three labelled dolls. The labels read left to right: The New Look Gerry Gee Junior, The First Australian Gerry Gee Junior Special and Gerry's Sister Geraldine. The Sterne Dolls logo is positioned in the top right of the photograph.
Physical Description
Black and white photograph on paper support with hand written and stamped text.
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. 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 (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 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 Australian post-war 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.
More Information
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Collection Names
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Purchase
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Place & Date Depicted
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Manufacturer of Item Depicted
L.J. Sterne Doll Co., 121-123 Leicester Street, Carlton, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, circa 1965
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Photographer
Mr John Shingler, 195 High Street, Ashburton, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, circa 1965
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Format
Photograph, 3½ in. x 4½ in.
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Language
English
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Inscriptions
In purple ink, diagonally on reverse of photograph; L.J. STERNE DOLL CO. / 121-123 LEICESTER STREET / CARLTON. N.3. VIC. / PHONE 34-4314 In purple ink at bottom right of reverse of photograph; PHOTOGRAPH BY JOHN SHINGLER / 195 HIGH STREET, ASHBURTON / 25 6457 / When Re-ordering Quote / No Hand written in blue pen in center of reverse of photograph; 5 1/2 inch Hand written over purple ink stamp at bottom right of reverese of photograph; 4868-2
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Classification
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Image Dimensions - Photograph
90 mm (Width), 116 mm (Height)
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Keywords
Toys, Dolls, Ventriloquism, Children's Play, Promotional Materials, Football Teams, Migrant Businesses, Austrian Immigration, German Immigration