Name: Archibald Ormsby-Gore
Age: Around 116 years old
Height: 46cm, standing
Weight: 870g
Owners: 1
Residence: Uffington
Nationality: German
Archie was loaned to us for the physical exhibition by Rupert Lycett-Green.
Steiff, or not Steiff?
Despite ongoing research into Archie’s background, his origins remain a mystery. Early indications pointed to his being an early Steiff bear but having exchanged photographs with the German teddy bear manufacturer it now seems likely he’s of British or American citizenship.
So, how to explain the famous Steiff button in his left ear? Photographs from 1984 clearly indicate Archie’s head was very different from how it appears today. At some point over the past 40 years, Archie has undergone major reconstruction.
The Steiff button in Archie’s left ear
Archie’s head in 1984
Archie’s Fabrics
Nowadays, Archie contains twelve layers of fabric, including faux fur, felt, woollen socks, and even nylon tights. Betjeman seems to have repaired Archie with bits and pieces found around the home.
Archie’s Joints
Each moveable joint comprises a pair of cardboard discs; one disc is attached to Archie’s head or a limb, the other to part of his main body. Both discs rotate on a pin inserted through a small metal washer. Pairs of discs and metal washers are evident in Archie’s jointed head and limbs.
Archie’s neck under X-ray
Archie’s hip joints under X-ray
Archie’s Growler
A lead weight opened or closed a set of bellows when the bear was tilted, forcing air through a reed contained in a cardboard tube. Archie’s broken growler is clearly seen in the X-ray below.
Tilted growlers were introduced around 1908 and soon became an essential requirement for all self-respecting teddies.
An example of a growler
Archie’s growler under X-ray
Archie’s Elephant Friend
Meet Jumbo the elephant. Archie and Jumbo have shared many adventures together, both during Betjeman’s lifetime and after.
Name: Jumbo (also answers to the name of ‘Bill’)
Age: 94+ years old
Height: 37cm, standing
Weight: 430g
Owners: 2
Residence: Uffington
Nationality: Unknown
Jumbo was loaned to us for the physical exhibition by Rupert Lycett-Green.
Archie and Jumbo Visit Radiology
Radiologists Carol and Carolyne kindly volunteer to come into Great Western Hospital’s radiology department early one morning, before the hospital opens and prior to their shift, to X-ray Archie and Jumbo.
Thanks are extended to Megan, Communications and Marketing Officer, for kindly organising Archie’s exciting, but early, excursion.
Archie and Jumbo on the X-ray machine
Archie having his legs X-rayed