Merry Christmas And A Happy New Year

Wishing You All A Very Merry Christmas And A Happy, Healthy And Prosperous 2012.

Norah Wellings, Memories Day at Arleston,Shropshire,U.K.

I was honored to be asked to speak at a Memories Day by Joanna Deacon organized by the Arleston Residents Association about Norah Wellings on the 15th October 2011. Councillor Angela McClements had the idea of a Memories Day to honour those who have come from the area and have achieved so much and this in turn brings together the Community. Norah Wellings was born and lived in Arleston all her life and many of her employees at The Victoira Toy Works worked and lived around the area. Leonard Wellings, Norah's Brother and Partner in the Company also lived in Arleston. The Memories Day bought together Norah Wellings Family, Former Workers and Residents. It was wonderful to meet all these people and renew old acquaintances who helped me with my book on Norah Wellings. I have never given a talk before and was very nervous but I needn't have been as everyone really helped to put my mind at ease. Some of the Residents had made beautiful cakes and goodies for everyone to share, what a treat they were. The day was so well organized and everyone worked very hard, it opened at 11am and closed at 4p.m.
Some people bought in items made by Norah Wellings and they were kindly loaned to be put on display for the day and others who had fond memories of working for Norah Wellings or who knew her wrote their experiences in a Memories Book. It was a fabulous day and I have added some of the photographs here from the day and will add more later. A Big Thank You here to all those who invited me from the Arleston Residents Association and helped with the day it was a great success and I wish them many more wonderful Arleston Memories Events.
The pictures show some of the Norah Wellings items on Display. There is also a photo of Mrs Hassall who worked for Norah Wellings and I met on the day. In one hand she is holding the letter from my book regarding 2 weeks notice being given due to the closing of the Factory. In the other hand a 1950's Norah Wellings Teddy Bear also shown in my book, this bear still has his original box and he was given to Mrs Hassall from Norah as a present upon her leaving. I also have to mention that the wrong credits were given in my book, Mrs Jean Hassall should have been given the credit under both items but I am afraid I was given the wrong information at the time of printing, so thank you Mrs Jean Hassall for letting me share this photo and your wonderful story about them.
I was given a lovely ceramic gift from the Arleston Memories Group and you can see me pictured with the very talented local artist Sharon Griffin who made the gift. Such a wonderful surprise.
I will add more photo's later

Rare Norah Wellings Norene Skier

I was amazed to open my email today and find these wonderful photo's from a fellow collector Pat asking me if I had any more information on this doll. I was able to tell her she is Norah Wellings Doll from the Norene Series but I have not seen this rare outfit before. I have always wondered if Norah Wellings made a complete sports series of dolls like the Italian Company Lenci produced. I have only seen a Norene Boy and Cora Girl and Boy Series Golfer with cloth bag and wooden clubs and a Norene Boy Horse Rider with Riding Outfit and Whip,these dolls are seen in the Norah Wellings Catalogues. Now after seeing this amazing doll the questions remains did Norah Wellings make any other Norene Children dressed for sports with sports equipment? Could this doll have been a special order? I have seen a photo of a Norene doll reported as being made to represent Sonia Henie the famous Ice Skater ( no ice skates) but I can't prove this in any archives. Norah Wellings also made smaller 8 inch Novelty dolls dressed for skiing and ice skating ( I have not seen them in my catalogues but have photo's of them).I am hoping there might be other collectors out there who are willing to share any Norah Wellings Norene Dolls they might have dressed for sports with their equipment, please email me so I may share them with other collectors and add to my archives. I will share these and other Dolls dressed for sports with their equipment later in this journal.

Now back to this gorgeous Norene Girl. She is 18 inches tall and has felt face and limbs with cloth body. She has her Norah Wellings label to her wrist. She wears a wonderful felt outfit consisting of a hat that wraps like a scarf around her neck, jacket, trousers, boots and she has wooden ski poles attached to her mittens.I would say she was made in the 1940's and in wonderful condition. If I find out any more information about her I will add to this description. Thank you so much to Pat for allowing me to use her in my Journal.

Please contact if you have any unusual Norah Wellings Dolls you would like to share. Thank you.
Gill

Norah Wellings 'Quips' The Jester

These are one of my favourite Norah Wellings Characters. The Jesters are called 'Quips' and are model 219 and as you can see by my photo's there are two different faces with one having a winking eye looking more mischievous than the other but both have the same name and model number. I wonder if Norah Wellings thought the winking face a little scary for a child and varied with the more subtle face so customers had a choice? We will never know.It appears the winking model may have been introduced first in 1930 and it is only the winking model shown in the catalogues right up to 1936. Quips is not seen in a catalogue after this date. A photo taken at the Norah Wellings stand at the British Industry Fair in 1933 shows both face variations. In the 1930's catalogue Quips is available in three sizes 18, 23 and 27 inches and by 1933 a smaller 10 1/2 inch Quips was also available. Please note that there can always be some variation in sizes. All 'Quips' have painted features with their clothing being an integral part of their bodies. Only the head is jointed and they are made using velvet and felt. They are amazing characters and I hope you enjoy seeing them.



Mischievous Winking Eye Quips first introduced in 1930 and made along side the open eye version until 1936



Pair of Norah Wellings Quips The Jester model 219. The smaller one is 10 1/2 inches introduced in 1933.They were only made with the pom pom decoration on the hat and they did not have the pixie like shoe. The larger doll is 17 inches with earliest Norah Wellings label under his foot from 1930.He has one hand sewn to his leg.

Photo from the last catalogue Quips appeared in 1936.


'Quips' are very hard to find as they were only made for a few years so good luck in your search.