Norah Wellings Journal: June 2015

Thursday, 4 June 2015

Copy of Norah Wellings 1936 Catalogue and Supplement

You must have been wondering what on earth I have been up to as I haven't updated my blog for so long. Amazing that my last article was wishing you all a Merry Christmas, where does the time go! I am very sorry.

I have been very busy but at last achieved something I have wanted to do for so very long. I own an original 1936 Norah Wellings Catalogue and have taken it to the printers and had it copied. There are 19 pages / 36 sides showing all the products available in 1936. The photographs are in colour and black and white. As with most of Norah Wellings catalogues they only show the photograph and the model number. After some research to help you identify the Norah Wellings products you may own I have listed all the model numbers from this catalogue. Also listed where available are the sizes, materials used and the names given for each of the Novelty Dolls, Animals and Nightdress Cases. Please note Norah Wellings did not individually name the Norene, Jolly Toddler or Jolly Jokers but I have listed the sizes they were made in 1936 and also given a brief description on each Series. Many of the Norah Wellings models shown in this catalogue were made from the mid 1930's right through to the late 1940's and in some cases 1950's. This information will be invaluable to identify some of the Norah Wellings Products, A must for Collectors.

The supplement is printed on 12 pages of one sided A4 paper, No Prices Are Given. The catalogue was an odd size slightly larger so I had the printers change it to fit on A4 paper and make it easier to use. They were printed locally with harder card for the front and back cover and with a spiral binding.

Please note this is a copy with All Imperfections and No prices are given. It will be posted in a plastic envelope to keep the Catalogue and Supplement together and then put into a Bubble Lined Envelope. If you would like more information or would like to order one you can email me here at norahwellingsjournal@gmail.com
They are £25 for the copy and supplement plus £3.50 1st class or £4.80 1st class signed for tracked postage in the UK and £10 International with tracking. Postage is at cost and high due to tracking if you do not want tracking please email me as you will need to pay with a U.K cheque or Iban.

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.