Item SH 640 Teddy Bear - Jakas Soft Toys, Beige 'Dudley Bear', Melbourne, circa1987-1995

Summary

Plush, beige coloured 'Dudley Bear' with a blue ribbon tied around its neck. Part of an archive of unsold stock samples donated by the manufacturer.

$1.00 from each of these bears sold was donated to the National Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (Victoria).

Jakas Soft Toys was a Melbourne-based company which designed and manufactured genuine high quality soft toys from 1956. Their range included teddy bears, golliwogs, animals and birds. They ceased production in the late 1990s outlasting many local toy manufacturers competing with cheaper overseas imports.

With children's health and safety in mind, the toys were made from wool and synthetic plush, quality fabrics, non-allergic filling and 'safety eyes'. The Jakas range of soft toys came with care and washing instructions and could be handed down for generations.

Physical Description

Beige coloured plush teddy bear with two toned plastic eyes and black embroidered nose and mouth. There is a blue ribbon tied into a bow around its neck.There is a card tag secured to the body of the teddy bear with a plastic tag which has the name of this bear and a simple illustration of it, the brand name 'Jakas Soft Toys' and brief background of company, washing instructions, 'Australian Made logo' and information about the company's donation to the National Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (Victoria) for every sale made of this type of bear. There is also a synthetic fabric label sewn into the seam of one of the lower limbs with the Jakas Soft Toys brand name and brief washing instructions.