The Story of the Teddy Bear

 

On November 14, 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt was helping to settle a dispute over the state boundary lines between Mississippi and Louisiana. After the day's work, the President was taken on a hunting trip in Mississippi. They had been out for quite a while with no luck. His hosts wanted the hunting trip to be successful and for the President to bring something home from the outing. There are several versions of the story from here on in. The most popular version is that, in an effort to please the President, his hunting companions went out and found a bear cub and tied it to a tree for the President to shoot. He, of course, refused and demanded that it be set free. Another less heard version is that the President came upon an injured bear cub, saw that it was near death and in pain, and ordered the mercy killing of the suffering animal. A similar story is that the bear in question was a grown bear that was injured by the hunting dogs during its capture. The President did not agree to the shooting of this animal for the sport of it, but did order the injured animal to be put out of its misery. There are differences of opinion as to whether the bear was fully grown or a bear cub. The cartoons below by political cartoonist, Clifford K. Berryman illustrate both. The cartoon on the left entitled "Drawing the line in Mississippi." was drawn first. If you look at the guide that is holding the leash and compare his size to that of the bear, it appears to be fully grown. The cartoon on the right, which was re-drawn at a later date, shows a more worried looking young bear cub. Whether or not the bear was a cub or fully grown; killed out of mercy or set free, the event was the catalyst that began a world-wide demand for, and love of the "Teddy" bear.

 

The First Teddy Bear

 

There are also several possibilities as to who actually created the first Teddy Bear.

The two most told are as follows:

 

United States

On November 18, 1902, Morris Michtom, a shopkeeper, saw Berryman's cartoon in the Washington Star and had his wife, Rose, make a toy bear based on the bear in the cartoon. They immediately sent one to President Roosevelt and asked his permission to call the new design "Teddy's Bear". The President agreed and the bears went on the market in early 1903. In 1907 their company became the Ideal Toy Corporation.

 

Germany

Margarete Steiff was a renowned stuffed toy maker and designer. In spite of being confined to a wheelchair after a crippling bout with polio, she developed a successful toy factory with her animal designs. In late 1902, her nephew, Richard Steiff, while visiting the Stuttgart Zoo on a quest for a new toy idea, came upon a troupe of performing bears in the Hagenbeck's Circus. He was inspired to create a toy bear that would stand upright and would have moveable jointed limbs. He sketched his ideas and gave them to his Aunt Margarete to develop. Margarete Steiff's jointed bear design first appeared at the Leipzig Toy Fair in 1903. Several thousand were purchased by an American buyer and the popularity of the Steiff® teddy bear began.

 

Steiff® Teddy Bears - 1901

The success of the Steiff® bear continued when 12,000 were sold in 1903 at the World's Exhibition in St. Louis. The teddy bear instantly became a universal sign of warmth, safety and comfort and Steiff® became the trademark symbol for the best quality bear you could buy. Steiff® used only the highest quality materials to create its plush animals. There was no better choice for Margarete Steiff than the highest quality mohair plush created by Reinhardt Schulte at his weaving mill in Duisburg, Germany.

 

Mohair

Mohair (from "muhayar" which is Arabian for "the fabric of goat hair") is the hair that is sheared (usually twice a year) from an Angora goat. The best fibers from Angora goats, which are very sensitive to temperature, are only available in 3 places in the world that have the consistent mild climate they need: Texas, USA, South Africa and Turkey. The fur from the Angora goat is white, curly, has a wonderful silky feel, a natural sheen and is remarkably strong. This combination of characteristics makes mohair one of the finest fibers that nature has to offer.

 

Schulte® Heirloom Mohair - 1901

Reinhardt Schulte's mill, opened in 1901, specialized in plush fabric for childrens' wear and lining for outerwear and footwear. The business relationship between the Steiff Company and Schulte flourished with the popularity of Steiff's bears. As a result, Schulte was able to upgrade and expand their factory. Washing, bleaching, dyeing and printing shops were added to keep up with the demand for Schulteπs quality plush fabric. World renown for the tightly woven back, the great variety of fabric styles, colors and innovative fabric development, Schulte is synonymous with classic heirloom quality and durability. Bears that were made 100 years ago with Schulte® Heirloom Mohair have been passed down through families connecting the thread of generations with lasting quality.

 

Environment and Animal Friendly

Schulte supplies teddy bear manufacturers and artists throughout the world with plush fabric that is meant for small children as well as collectors. They are committed to the safety of these children and to our environment and only use environmentally friendly materials in the dying and finishing processes. Schulte Heirloom Mohair, Alpaca and Wool plush give us the best of both worlds: the comfort and natural durability of real fur without harm to the animal or the environment.

 

Edinburgh Imports, Inc. 1981

Elke Block, born in Germany, had fond childhood memories of Steiff® bears and animals and began collecting and selling them after moving to the United States. She recognized the difficulty finding quality plush for repairing treasured old Steiff® bears and eventually for creating her own designs. In 1981, Elke and her husband, Ron Block, started their import business and obtained the exclusive rights to import Schulte® mohair for North America. Edinburgh Imports grew into the most complete source for everything you need to make a teddy bear or soft sculpture creation. They carry a full line of jointing hardware and tools, sewing notions, threads and embroidery flosses, imported glass and safety eyes, patterns and kits. They've also got all you need for making miniature bears or needle felting. The staff at Edinburgh is knowledgeable in every aspect of bear-making and is always happy to help you to find what you need. Edinburgh Imports offers over 1000 plush fabrics, including Schulte® Heirloom mohair, alpaca, wool and wonderfully soft and deceivingly realistic synthetic plush ranging from 3/16" to 4" pile heights!

 

Your First Teddy Bear

What comes to mind when you think of your first teddy bear? Is it he comfort and warmth of childhood? Or maybe the wonderfully over-loved teddy bear that was passed down through the generations of your family, bringing the memories and family history to the next generation? How about the memory of a loved one that made a bear especially for you, or taught you how to make your first bear? These memories should be ones that last through the generations. These teddy bears should hear the stories told by grandparents to their grandchildren over and over from generation to generation. These are the precious heirloom bears that carry your family history. The bears that will remember the most and tell the oldest stories will be crafted from Schulte® Heirloom Mohair. No others have passed the test of time so well. Make your own Heirloom Teddy and Hold hands with history.