WEDNESDAY THOUGHTS: SENTIMENTAL VALUE

Over the years, I've tossed out a lot of things because they were broken, old, or worn. I've given away things for which I no longer had use, or felt someone else would appreciate more. I like the way my daughter puts it when it comes to keeping things or tossing them out: "How committed are you to that?"

I remember toys from my childhood. My "Teeny Tiny Tears", "Raggedy Ann" and all of the Barbies are gone. I do still have a few books, though: "The Story About Ping" and "I Had Trouble In Getting to Solla Sollew". One toy I've managed to keep, however, is the large stuffed poodle my Dad won at a carnival in the early 60's.
I was cleaning out a closet the other day and it tumbled out from its place atop a large suitcase. It's not white and fluffy like it used to be. It's a dull beige, and, as the suitcase testified, is shedding a little. One of the silver, oval eyes is missing, and there's only a remnant of the red, felt tongue that used to hang down. There also used to be a wide, satin ribbon, tied in a bow around its once supported neck. I can't remember if the ribbon was pink or blue...or white...

Even with all that is now wrong with it, I know I'll probably never part with it. It's one of the few things, other than photographs, that I still have from my childhood.
My Dad won another one like mine for my big sister. Her poodle is black and white. Mine is navy blue and white. We named them so many years ago. Today, I'm not sure which one is Napoleon Solo, and which is Illya Kuryakin. ( Yes. As kids, "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." was one of our favorite television shows. )

I took a break from the closet cleaning and phoned my Dad. I asked him if he remembered where he won the dogs. He said it may have been New York, but he didn't remember the exact place, or what game he was playing. All he knew was that he couldn't come home with just one stuffed toy, when, at the time he had two little daughters, so he spent an untold number of coins to make sure he had one for each of us.

I noticed the worn, yellowed tag on the bottom of the poodle reads, "ALLIED TOYS AND ENTERPRISES, LTD. TORONTO, CANADA". 

I haven't been able to find anything on the internet about the company. I'm really curious about when, where, how it was made, and perhaps, by whom. 

I did see a few stuffed animals on ebay that looked as if they could have been made by the same manufacturer. 

My curiosity isn't a part of a mission to part with my toy, though. I was sure that there would be some history; some even small amount of information that would help me find out where my Dad played carnival games so well.

I'd also like to know what's the best method to restore it to its original fluffy whiteness. I wonder what the dry cleaner would say if he saw me coming through the doors with the poodle. Who knows. Maybe it wouldn't be odd at all.

For a 50 or so year-old toy, though, it's held up very nicely.