subject: Verna Toys & Teddy Bears [print this page] Commencing business in 1941, the Verna Toy Company was a doll and soft toy producer under the ownership of Eva Barnett. Teddies were first created by the company in 1948, when it was taken over by Arthur Eaton.
The earliest teddies were made of mohair, with five joints, glass eyes and kapok (excelsior) stuffing. Distinctively, Verna bears had a blunt muzzle, which gave them a flat nose profile, and is one of the main ways of identifying these 1940s-50s teddies, if they have lost their tags. Also, many had a kidney-shaped piece of black felt attached as a nose, which often rubbed away, leaving teddy without a nose! Pads were often made of a thick cotton.
During the 1960s, with advancements in manufacturing and a rise in consumerism, toys became more abundant and cheaper. New safety requirements meant that glass eyes could no longer be used, and clip-lock plastic safety became those allowed on toys for children.. New synthetic fabrics were also developed, allowing for the production of machine-washable teddies. The distinctive blunt muzzle was incorporated into the design, which was now unjointed, and with arms outstretched. Panda bears were also a popular design.
By the 1980s, as did other Australian toy companies, Verna struggled to remain viable. It introduced a range of teddy bears that were very similar to those imported from China, and of inferior quality.
In the early 1990s, it could not continue to trade, and closed it doors.
Verna teddies and dolls are sought-after in the Australian market. Early teddies in good condition can fetch up to $500, whilst the unjointed ones sell for $30 - $70. Dolls are rarer, and vary in price from $40-$300.
Verna Toys & Teddy Bears
By: Jo W
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