Norah Wellings Journal: March 2013

Sunday, 24 March 2013

Norah Wellings Novely Animals, 'Towser ' Rabbit and 'Towser' Duck

I had an enquiry from Beth about a dressed rabbit and duck that Norah Wellings made and promised I would write my next article about them so here they are.

Norah Wellings made Towser Rabbit model 150 and Towser Duck model K51 for her 'Novelty Animals' Range. They were made of wool plush with glass eyes and only their heads were jointed. Towser Duck had felt feet, beak and wings. They both wore velvet dunagrees that were an integrel part of the body with the straps being attached with buttons front and back. I have seen the wool plush in white, cream, yellow and brown shades with outfits in soft pastels such as pink blue and green and various shades of red, mustard, green,blue and bown. Towser Duck also had a ribbon bow around his neck and sometimes a bell. They were filled with soft kapok.

Front and back view of two Towser Rabbits, they are 8 inches tall to the top of their ears. They have clear glass eyes and a cream with black writing Norah Wellings on the bottom of the wool plush foot. The buttons on the dungarees are mother of pearl.

Towser Duck was added to the Norah Wellings catalogue in the early 1930's and he was available in sizes A 6 inches, B7 inches, C 12 inches.D 14 inches and the largest E 17 inches . He seems to have been discontinured in the 1940's and he is harder to find than Towser Rabbit.

These Towser Ducks are the smallest size 6 inches tall. This photo shows front and back view.They have googly black and white glass eyes and cream label with brown writing on the foot.Mother of pearl buttons on their dungarees.

I hope you have enjoyed reading about the Norah Wellings Towser Rabbits and Ducks and if anyone has any special requests for the next article please email me and I will. do my best.

Contacting Me and Comments

My book ' Norah Wellings Cloth Dolls and Soft Toys' is now out of print but can sometimes be found on ebay or Amazon.

I have written articles for The Doll Advertiser an excellent magazine by Judy Bebber and printed twice a year in the United Kingdom. Judy Bebber also organizes Doll Fairs. To order Magazines and for Information on the Fairs please go to her website www.dolladvertiser.com

I am happy to answer any questions you may have regarding Norah Wellings Items or if you would like to share any Norah Wellings products you have please email me. Emails and photographs can be sent to this address
norahwellingsjournal@gmail.com

I look forward to hearing from you

Very Best Wishes
Gill

Copyright

All photographs and articles presented on this site are copyrighted by those offering the images or articles for posting and are not to be used by other persons without permission. All writings and photographs are copyright Gillian Trotter unless specified.

Norah Wellings, Leonard Wellings and The Victoria Toy Works

Norah Wellings was a very talented artist and designer of cloth dolls, she started her career with Chad Valley in 1919 and became one of their chief doll designers. Leonard Wellings her brother was also an artist and well known for his plastering skills having his own premises in Wellington, Shropshire. When Norah left Chad Valley it was Leonard who suggested Norah rent a room in his building to make Cloth Dolls and Soft Toys. Norah moved into the premises in 1926 with only six women employees and called the small factory room The Victoria Toy Works. Norah Wellings began production and the catalogues and letterheads described the company as ‘Manufacturers of Soft Fabric Toys and Novelties’. Leonard was involved in the business and promotion side of the company as well as continuing with his own plastering firm.
Norah designed all of the dolls and soft toys herself. In 1927 she attended her first British Industry Toy Fair where her Products were shown for the first time with great success. The business grew very quickly and Leonard and Norah decided they needed larger premises and in 1929 bought a Baptist Chapel in King Street, Wellington, which was expanded and buildings added over the years. At the peak time during the 1930’s there were around 250 employees. Norah Wellings was also one of Britain’s leading doll exporters with over 70% of sales going overseas, this is why so many dolls are found world wide today. Many of the products were sold on board ship as holiday souvenirs.
Leonard Wellings died in 1959 at the age of 67 Norah had lost not only her brother but also her business partner and best friend. Norah decided it was time to retire and so on September 4th 1959 Employees were given two weeks notice and production ceased. Norah spent her retirement doing the things she enjoyed, painting, cooking and gardening, Norah Wellings died in 1975 at the age of 82.