Instead of seeing a typical client, veterinarian Hal Blumenthal was confronted with a very different patient -- an apparently rare teddy bear urgently in need of an X-ray.Specialists suspected the bear was an original Steiff bear, but needed to know if the roughly 100-year-old toy was made with special rods in order to confirm its authenticity.
All of the testing proved worthwhile. X-ray images confirmed the bear was built with the three rods that mark it as a Steiff. Only Steiff bears have metal rods inside, which act as "joints."
Steiff, which draws its roots back to the late 1800s, is credited with inventing the teddy bear in 1902. The jointed bear was created one year later, according to Steiff's official Web site.
For his part, Blumenthal said he was pleased to be part of the bear's history.
"It's nice trying something new, and proving the bear's origin was interesting," Blumenthal said.
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36 comments:
Wow! How cool! Thanks for sharing this Xtraordinary fact!
never knew teddies had such an impressive history!! thank you for sharing!
Thanks for sharing. I've always thought of xrays in either the medical or forensic light. Thanks for the reminder that they have other uses too.
How interesting; you certainly know a lot about teddies. At least the x-rays didn't lead to surgery like so many do with humans!
As an X-radiographer, this interests me. I too have X-rayed some unusual objects.
A Good New Year to you, Bear.
A fascinating post. So many things we take for granted have deep histories all their own.
How wonderful and what a great history.
Happy New Bear!
I love that!Wish you a very Happy New Year!
I am amazed once again by your Bear Radar. Do you get Bear news from the entire world? Do you have Bear scouts forever on the lookout for the Bear facts? Each one tops the one before. I cannot Extrapolate your true value as our Bear curator.
Cooooooooooooool!
Happy New Year!!!!
Cooooooooooooool!
Happy New Year!!!!
Hey Bear! Happy New years to you.
EXciting and eXceptional!
That's interesting! I didn't know about the rods in the body of the genuine Steiff animals! I wish you and all the bears a very happy year bearing lots of prosperity and good health.
Hi! Thank you for your comment on my blog.
Have you ever heard of the Hugging Bear Inn in Chester VT? In case you haven't I will tell you, it is a very cool bed & breakfast, geared for children. Has a resident cat and over 1,000 teddy bears.
Wow. Only here could we learn something so cool. Happy New Year {{{Bear}}}}!
I hope that this eXceptional "iron bear "can't rust !
Happy new Year !
My mom had a Steiff bear which sat on their bed for years ... I think my sister has it now ..
Wishing you and M.Bear a bearry happy new year ..
:-Daryl
AN X with a difference - Congratulations with a Bear that is a BEAR! A Happy New Year to both of you!
What a great story. That bear would be worth a few pennies too.
Happy New Year to you Monsieur Bear.
I love the bear and his X-Ray :)
I could use some joints that move freely
Happy New Year Bear
And a very compliant bear, too! Happy New Year to you and family.
X-ellent post! That's certainly a different bear post, and fascinating.
Happy New Year from the ABC team!
I am amazed at what they can do to find out the information of teddy bears... I'm sure glad they didn't have to open up this little fella and that an X-ray was all was needed... that's really neat information!
Happy New Year and thanks for your support on my blogs, it means so much to me...
((Hugz))
~Michele~
I always thought that the Teddy Bear was named after Teddy Roosevelt and 'invented' by an American . . there you go . . .I learn something new every day and this is my first 'something new for 2009 - yes, it's 7:30am 1/1/2009 in Oz' Have a great New Year!
This was very interesting! Thanks for sharing! Happy New Year!
Very creative post for X with the bear! I hope you and all your bears have a very Happy New Year!!
I have a Steiff bear from when I was little! (But not a hundred years old...!)
Happy New Year to you!!!!
I have a Steiff bear from when I was little! (But not a hundred years old...!)
Happy New Year to you!!!!
What intriguing research! An amazing way of 'x-ing' bears!
Xtraordinary post, my dear Bear!
An X-emplary post. :) Glad the bear was not in need of major surgery. :)
but...why it was urgently in need of a X-ray? I don't get it.
Anyway, Happy 2009!
How interesting! I've heard of the Stieff bears before, but didn't know about the metal rods inside. Is that a Stieff bear in the photo?
Perfect X post. Is that bear yours??? If so, lucky you!
Have a most wonderful 2009 my friend. It's been lovely getting to ~know~ you!
II wonder if my Steiff bear from 1957 is like this? It's the only stuffed animal left from my c/hood.
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