Vintage Sawdust Stuffed Tigers
From the, “I know I’m old because…” files, I will now reminisce about how back in the day, kids slept and played with animal pals stuffed with sawdust, straw and even wood chips. And neither we nor our patents thought a thing about it.
Dolls and toys have long been stuffed with previously used materials, such as sawdust, newsprint, and rags. At the time, this wasn’t simply a matter of not having poly fillers, but an economic matter of cheap and available materials. Whether toys were handmade by individuals to give to their own children (or made for sale in the multitude of cottage industries) or manufactured en masse by big companies, cheap was important. It’s still important today, but a few funny things happened on way back to our homes after WWII.
In a post-war world, progress period saw the introduction of man-made fabrics, such as nylon and polyester. And in our search for a more idyllic world, more attention was given to safety, hygiene, and a consumerism based on making such practices more convenient. Combined, this would bring us the world they spoke of in one word in The Graduate — and that word was “plastics.”
Straw Peeping Through Fur Of My Old Black Bear
Such natural and previously employed materials do break down with play and over time, degrading the inside and marking or tearing the plush fur. Plastics and the related man-made materials of poly fibers meant that not only would I be happier and healthier cuddling up with a tiger stuffed with some soft mass of poly fiber, but those fibers would be easier for mom to wash — and she would be a good mom if she washed my toys. Often.
And so, slowly over time, we moved from all-new materials all the time.
Red Retro Miss Flirty Lips Sawdust Stuffed Octopus
But collectors should note that not all toys stuffed with straw, sawdust, rags etc. are vintage stuffed toys. Now, with the emphasis on being green by recycling and the resurgence of the handcrafted movement, you’ll find more stuffed toys and dolls stuffed with previously used materials, including sawdust.
Tip: To care for your vintage and new toys made with such fragile guts, try placing him or her in a lingerie bag or beneath some fine mesh screen and vacuum with the soft brush attachment. The material should protect the plush while allowing the vacuum to suck up the dust.
