JOINTS

Some inexpensive teddies don't have joints, are merely sewn permanently sitting or reclining. Bears with "fully articulated" joints use a two-disks-on-one-axle assembly on arms, legs and head so they can turn; the really sophisticated ones have "Loc-Line" armatures that look like little Dixie Cups nestled into each other that allow the bear to bend and flex. In early days, some very early bear makers used metal rods and wires to get arms and legs to pose, but sometimes sharp ends eventually wore through the fabric.