Blog Posts - THE VINTAGE PELHAM PUPPET SHOP

Type SL Tiger 1963 tagged Preview

15/12/2021

Coming online tonight 15th December

Type SL Tiger, one of the rare 1963 designed characters.
Tiger is generally in good condition, the trousers have some wear to the fabric, a small hole at the side as shown and some wear to the back of the trousers, also shown.
The tiger striped fur is good on the body and has some losses on the white paler patches of fur on both arms. Barely noticeable as the colour underneath is cream but should be noted.
He wears his green scarf which is not tucked into the trousers as it sometimes is. It is frayed at the edges.
Face paint is good.
He has his orange rope tail and whiskers intact.
The 1963 copyright label is sewn to the back of the trousers.
The box is excellent but not his original box it is unstamped.
A set of instructions are included.

SL Lettice Leefe

3/8/2021

Hello to all the loyal customers. This is just an update on the shop and me!
Yesterday I had yet another hospital appointment and it wasn't helpful and I have been referred to two more specialities. I am feeling so rough and with the pain, the anxiety is high.

Since the last post, just two weeks after I took the photos of the dogs, my little dark collie passed away after a very traumatic weekend, it wasn't pleasant. Of course I was distraught.

So, things are still not going in the right direction for me as I know may others are suffering too. I wish the best to everyone who is struggling and maybe the puppets will bring some cheer to you.
I've started making jewellery while I'm in bed and I may even start selling some bits in the vintage shop part of the site, maybe change the title to gifts and vintage.

I haven't been buying recently due to my health issues and not having room in my head to think straight, so the shop has had to be on the back burner.

I am sure I will find some sort of resolution and my dream is to be able to do what I did before with my MS disability. Luckily I can still get any purchases posted easily as they are collected from my doorstep.

Do keep looking as I have a nice rarer puppet to add to the shop tonight. That's her, in the photo! Type SL Lettice Leefe.

News

2/7/2021

Hello!
I love the deep colour of the poppies I have all around my garden so thought I'd share this pic with you, isn't it amazing.

Recently there hasn't been a lot of really good quality stock coming my way. I am offered puppets almost daily but condition is important for me and the unique selling point of the shop has to be maintained. The slow period has coincided with a really rough patch for me personally. I have had some unexplained ill health since December when I was unable to move around, it didn't floor me until Christmas but started the previous spring. It still goes on but I am mobile and on cocktails of nasty drugs. I am still hopeful we'll find the cause and only this week saw yet another consultant who has referred me to another, they all say it's complex!! I will have had every speciality looking at me soon!

The good news is that my two collies are getting taken out on lovely walks and I don't have to worry about them. (Not that you can ever tire out a collie!)

I'm glad to have some super new puppets coming in next week and I hope you like them.
There should be something for everyone. Puppets from the first original owner is the best I can hope for.
The lovely display Clown found a perfect new home with a collector of film memorabilia and Pelham Puppets, so that's a win win deal.

Not easy getting two collies to stay still! I'm looking forward to being able to go on their lovely walks with them.

Santa Claus The Movie: Toy Prop Pelham Puppet Clown

27/6/2021

We are happy to have one of the Display Clowns used on the set of Santa Claus The Movie back in 1985. He is seen alongside several others, distinctive with his costume all yellow with red pompoms.
The owners father worked on the set and she has had it ever since.
He is in immaculate condition, the clothes fresh and with no damage. He has a scuff in the face below his right eye but it is very minor. Both eyes have googly eyes and work well.
The Clown has striped socks and real shoes. I am not sure if the costumes were made especially for the Movie set as the romper is crudely sewn with the ruffs all separate.
He is strung correctly on the Pelham control and his mouth moves showing his pink felt tongue.
He comes in his original blue box with a blank end.
The Movie is a well known Christmas favourite especially in America, so hopefully this little guy will end up in a home that appreciates him for his history.
He will be for sale this week.

A very pretty Mermaid

27/4/2021

This pretty Mermaid will be for sale in the shop next week beginning 3rd May.

The original owner was given the puppet when she worked at The Mermaid Theatre in London, all the workers at that time were given a Mermaid apparently.
The puppet was given to her niece who has owned it ever since.
She has seen very little playwear, but the satin tail has faded over the years. The hair is very good and still styled well. All felt pieces are intact. She carries her brush and mirror.
There is a small scuff to the middle finger of the hand holding the brush.
She has a very pretty face, this is the first version, judging by the age the owner was when she was given it.
The box has MM written on one end, this is in the same pen as other markings from the factory, so would be the original name mark.

Shop News

20/4/2021

Coming Soon...
We will soon be selling Greetings Cards. The cards have been designed and produced by Tim Bernhard, a Pelham Puppet Collector & enthusiast who is a talented Graphic Designer.
The first set of five are characters from the 1963 range of puppets.
The quality of the card is excellent. They will be packed in a cellophane sleeve and include envelopes. We hope you like them!

Stringing Instructions
The sets of replacement strings have been selling so well, we decided to have the tri fold Instruction Leaflet printed professionally. These are much better and are something you can hold on to for future reference.
For anyone who has already purchased strings, and received the home made leaflet, please let me know if you'd like a better one and I'll pop one in the post.

Last bit of News, I wanted to thank everyone for their kind emails and messages. I am up and about for most of the day now, only resting for a couple of hours in the afternoons.
Last week I had nerve conduction studies performed as we still don't have any confirmed diagnosis. All the MRI's have been sent to a neuro radiologist in Texas, USA to read them.
This afternoon, I drove for the first time and visited my 94 year old Mum who I haven't seen for quite a long time. She has dementia and has full time care by my sister. I took the greetings cards above to show her and asked her which she liked best. After a little while she answered.. "the froggy".. I knew that would be her favourite but it was lovely to hear her say it!
I hope everyone is doing okay and your puppet collections are growing!

Alice in Wonderland Knave

14/4/2021

We have been very lucky to obtain another rare character from the sought after Alice in Wonderland puppets, The Knave of Hearts.

The Knave is in wonderful clean condition.
He looks to have had very little use over the years.
The clothes have no fading or visible damage.
A very minor small rust spot can be seen on the back of one shoulder at the screw eye joint.
He wears cream coloured breeches and a brightly coloured top.
He has no cloak unlike the King from the series.
He has a solid head with moulded blond hair and crown as part of the mould.
The face paint has no damage.The shoes are the two tone black and white.
He has composition hands.
Puppet is boxed in the correctly stamped blue label box.

This puppet is shown on Page 163 of Pelham Puppets a Photographic Guide Volume 1 by Paul Coleman.
(There is an error on the page which gives him the title of King, whereas he is actually the Knave)

Alice in Wonderland King

29/3/2021

We have one of the rarest Alice characters coming up
for sale in the Shop.
It is the Type SL King, often confused and mixed up with the
Type SL Knave.
The Knave is the rather more ugly older faced character and maybe this is why he gets muddled up with collectors.

This one will be for sale after Easter.
Images and description are below.

Type SL King from the series of sought after Alice in Wonderland puppets.
The King is in wonderful clean condition.
He looks to have seen very little use. He must have been kept in his box most of his life. The clothes have no fading or visible damage.
He wears pink breeches and a top with some padding underneath. He wears a separate fine material brightly patterned cloak.
He has a solid head with moulded blond hair and crown as part of the mould.
The face paint has no damage or rubs. There is some very fine crazing to the blond hair.
The shoes are the two tone black and white.
He has composition hands.
Puppet is boxed in the box he arrived in, this has the name handwritten on tape on the top and at one end. It would probably not have been his original box but the previous owner has added his own labels.

This puppet is shown on Page 161 of Pelham Puppets a Photographic Guide Volume 1 by Paul Coleman.
(There is an error on the page which gives him the title of Knave, whereas he is actually the King)

Type SM Russian Woman

29/11/2020

Type SM Russian Woman is in excellent condition throughout.
She has come to the shop from the original owner who was frightened by her and didn't play with her, often the case with some of the characters. For collectors all these years later, that's something to be pleased about.
She has an excellent top and built in waistcoat with embroidered crosses on the front. The sleeves are made from a lightly decorated material.
She has a floral skirt with no damage.
She wears a felt hat and even the felt flowers are still intact, this puppet has been stored well and no nasty critters have been able to get to her. The hat has two strands of thin rick rack trim as decoration, all four strands are very good.
She has black hair which is good.
She has quite a smile but I can see how a child might find her frightening. She opens her mouth to show a red felt tongue.
Her face paint is very good with no damage.
She has black painted toggle boots, typical for this rare character.
The box appears to be her original one with the name handwritten one end, it is certainly the one she has always had.

Type SL March Hare

25/11/2020

Type SL March Hare, from the Alice in Wonderland series.
The March Hare is a sought after character for collectors and this one is the grey version, he was also available with a brown head and ears.
Puppet is in good used condition with some general minor age wear and marks to the costume. The usual brown marks where the screw eyes underneath have rusted slightly.
There is also a small hole in the lower right trouser leg.
He has very thick velvety long ears which show no sign of ageing.
The moulded solid head has no damage.
The box is stamped White Rabbit and has March Hare handwritten over.
It is in shelf worn condition.
Instructions included.