Verna Bears – Teddy Bear, History, Information

The Verna Toy Company or Verna Toys was established in Victoria by Eve Barnett in 1941. In 1948 the company changed hands and started to make teddy bears under the ownership of Arthur Eaton. Bears before the 1960′s were mohair plush and fully jointed, filled with excelsior and traditional in shape. Black felt noses were a common feature of Verna Bears as well as blunt muzzles. From the 1960′s foam rubber was used as filling and bears had plastic safety eyes and vinyl pads. In the 1980′s, embroidered labels were replaced by printed labels.