Bygone Bears
Poole · Dorset · 19 years
Janet Legg repairs antique and vintage teddy bears from Poole in Dorset, working by post and doing everything from a light clean to a full rebuild. She is specific about what she will not take on, including modern bears beyond cleaning and restuffing, sheepskin, real fur and knitted bears, and bears with insect infestation.
Getting hold of them
Email is the way in. They do not take cold calls.
If it gets lost
Not stated
This is a blank on their page, not an answer from them. We have never asked anybody in this trade the question. Of the 185 businesses we have read, 4 have written anything down about losing an item: 2 say it is insured, 2 say the risk is yours. The other 181 are silent, and silence is not a policy either way.
If you would rather not have to phrase it
“Before I send it, can I ask what happens if it gets lost or damaged while it’s with you? I’m not trying to catch you out, it just can’t be replaced. Whatever the answer is, could you put it in an email so I’ve got it in writing?”
“No, we don’t cover it” is a fine answer to get. It tells you to insure the post yourself for the full amount, both ways.
They return it by Special Delivery or a trackable service. Naming a tracked service is not the same as accepting liability for it.
Getting it there is on you, and the cover above may not start until it arrives. Send it tracked and insured, whatever it costs.
If it is lost or damaged
Their website does not say what happens if your item is lost or damaged while they have it. Return postage is paid by you.
Ask before you post anything you could not replace. Only four of the businesses we hold publish an answer to this.
What they take on
- Full restoration and rebuilds
- Mending and seams
- Restuffing
- Cleaning on its own
- Eyes and noses
- Joints
Works in leather pads.
What they won’t do
The part every other directory leaves out. None of this is a criticism. It is how you avoid three wasted weeks.
- Won't quote from photos. Needs it in hand first
- Won't work on sheepskin, real fur, knitted items, bears filled with 1960s foam crumb that has gone to dust
- Nothing with a mechanism inside: no growlers, squeakers, music boxes or batteries
- Doesn't say whether you can bring it in person
Their exact words on what they refuse
Quoted from their own pages, unedited, because a paraphrase of a refusal is the kind of thing you find out was wrong three weeks in.
- “I am not able to repair modern post 1980's teddy bears other than for cleaning and restuffing.”
- “I am not able to repair sheepskin, real fur or knitted teddy bears.”
- “I am not able to repair rod jointed bears or automatons.”
- “I am not able to repair original growlers, squeakers or musical boxes.”
- “I am not able to repair safety eyes and joints as they are by design very difficult to remove.”
- “I will not attempt to clean old bears that have little or no fur remaining.”
- “I cannot guarantee to remove old stains.”
- “I am not able to re stuff bears that are filled with disintegrated foam chips as used in bears from the 1960's.”
- “I do not accept teddy bears that have an insect infestation or have been vomited on.”
Getting it there
- Takes work by post
- Doesn’t say whether you can bring it in
- Comes back standard
Money
- Will not quote until it is in their hands. Looking at it costs nothing
Anything else they say
- With over nineteen years of experience I offer a sympathetic and friendly restoration service for antique and vintage teddy bears.
- It will include all labour and cost of materials and it will remain firm. However, very occasionally, it may be necessary to undertake additional repairs which were not originally quoted for, and in this situation I will always contact you and obtain your permission before continuing with the repairs.
- Payment should be made when you have received the quote and are happy to proceed. I accept cheques (payable to J. Legg) or a Bank Transfer (contact me for bank details).
- The return postage will be the only cost to pay and your teddy bear will be returned to you immediately.
- I would strongly recommend that you send your bear by Special Delivery or by a trackable service. Please remember the return postage will be added to your quotation but I will only charge the exact postage paid and I will not charge for packaging.
- I use new traditional growlers which have a different sound from the older ones. Unfortunately this is unavoidable.
- I will only ever carry out repairs and restoration requested by you. Please make sure when completing the repair form that you specify all the repairs you require in detail.
- No, your restored antique teddy bear will be very delicate and he will not comply with current toy safety regulations. Please give him a peaceful and quiet retirement!
- A light surface clean is recommended only if the bear is very dirty and has a good covering of fur.
- The site menu lists a Repair Price Guide page, which was not among the crawled pages, so the published prices are not captured here.