Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Heart to Heart Bear

After having a week of Barbie posts, we'll switch to a new topic today:  Heart to Heart Bear

Heart to Heart Bear was and is by far my favorite teddy bear of all time.  My Nana gave him to me for my 4th birthday in June of 1988.  He was manufactured by Chosun International, Inc.  Unlike Barbie, there's nothing to joke about with this guy.  He possesses no questionable qualities.  He came ready for bed in his jammies.  His night cap was sewn to his head, so there were no worries of losing it.  I do, however, remember when the pink puff ball at the end of his hat fell off.  I'm sure it's around our house somewhere. 

And now I'll discuss the feature that made him the greatest bear of all time:  his heart.  The seam at his left side closed with Velcro.  Inside was a plastic red heart powered by a 9 volt battery.  Whenever you hugged Heart to Heart bear, you could hear and feel his heart beat. 

On one side of the plastic heart was a dial that you could turn up or down to adjust the volume and intensity of his heart thumps.  I always had mine set to high.  I don't recall ever replacing his battery, and yet somehow, 22 years after I first received him, he still works.  That fact is a real testimony to the quality of Panasonic manufacturing in the late 80s.  I'll allow the below image and the graphic design of the battery serve as proof that his battery is not a product of the 21st century.

 
Besides losing the puff ball on his hat, the only other damage Heart to Heart Bear sustained over the years was to his nose.  His shiny black plastic nose was originally covered with black material, but over the years, it has worn away, leaving material only at the outer rims of his nose.  Overall, the durability of this bear is pretty impressive considering I slept with him for many more years than I probably should have. 

Below are a few more detail shots of H2HB.  I'm never giving him away.  He is a god among mortals in the teddy bear world. 

7 comments:

  1. There were many times, while I was making your bed, I'd pick him up just to feel his heart beat. He is pretty awesome.

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  2. omg thats my bear...only cleaner> the heart was to lumpy for me to sleep on it like i did to him and his outfit I removed because I felt bears don't wear clothes. haha . love him still though he is packed away now.

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  3. I just pulled mine out of storage and gave him to my 6 year old. I lost the heart a long time ago but he's in great condition otherwise- as you stated, great quality. Mine didn't have a tail as it was a 1986 edition. I loved him and am happy to now share him with my girls :)

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  4. yo cuento con el aun, tiene 33 años conmigo, ya sin corazón y sin gorro, pero es el tercero en discordia en la cama entre mi marido y yo, siempre abrazo a TEDDY en vez de mi esposo en ocasiones. tienes idea de donde conseguir un repuesto de su corazon? Saludos

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  5. I've been looking for a heartbeat bear like this. My disabled daughter got one for Xmas many years ago the heartbeat doesn't work but the bear itself has become her sleeping companion.

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  6. Mine just turned 35 today! And I bought one on Ebay that I gave to my 4 yr old nephew for Christmas. He loves it. I still keep mine on my bed. His nose wore off too, and his eyes are a little chipped - but I will never part with him. I even taught my dog when she was a puppy that he was off limits.

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