J. K. Farnell

Founded in Notting Hill, the firm was started in 1840 by a silk merchant, John Kirby Farnell, and made items such as pin cushions and tea cosies.

After Farnell's death, his children, Henry and Agnes, continued the business from Acton in West London.

Farnell rapidly became one of the leading teddy bear manufacturers, registering the Alpha trademark in 1925.

[2] The first Farnell bears closely resembled their German Steiff counterparts, having pointed muzzles, long limbs, humpbacks and webbed toes.

Early Farnell bears also had boot-button eyes which were replaced by painted glass ones.