It goes without saying that some of us have a little bit of trouble with letting go of the past. If you have Christmas cards from when you were a child, old clothes, or boxes full of your old toys, then you should definitely consider yourself one of those people. You’re certainly not the only one out there who struggles with letting go of their past. Keep scrolling to discover how this company has stayed in business for over 100 years by helping people hold on to the most precious items from their childhood.What most people don’t realize, though, is that tucked away on a quiet street is a group of people who absolutely adore toys. In fact, they do everything in their power to restore toys to their original state so they can be enjoyed for many years to come.
In fact, their name even describes their business as a medical center. The Original Doll Hospital has been operating in the Sydney area for more than 100 years, and those that have used their services couldn’t be more grateful for them.
Unfortunately, because of how fragile the dolls were, they often broke during the trip to Australia. Obviously, Chapman couldn’t make any money off of broken dolls, so he had to come up with a solution.
Harold was a local handyman and he had quite the knack for being able to fix just about anything. He had an affinity for detail, and a whole lot of tools, so he began to work on fixing up his brother’s broken Japanese dolls.
Even though he could fix a wide array of products, toys became Harold’s specialty. When World War II came to an end, Australia lifted its restrictions on imported items, so Harold became a bit overwhelmed with the number of new customers that he was receiving.
After hiring his son Harold Jr., Harold realized they needed more space to accommodate their inventory, so he relocated his store to its current location. After all these years, the Original Doll Hospital still remains in Harold’s family.
He may be 70 years old now, but he still takes toys just as seriously as he did when he was a young lad. Now, you may be asking yourself how a doll hospital can stay in business with the age of technology and online shopping, but the answer is simple: they’re extremely good at what they do.
Not to mention, the doll surgeons are working with other people’s precious possessions, most of them being one-of-a-kind. According to Geoff, it’s not uncommon to see a customer shed a few tears once they see their newly restored doll.
The work is hard, and every single person on Geoff’s team is trained professionally and they all know how serious even the smallest of mistakes could be. While they’re obviously not real medical doctors, they sure do look like one.
In fact, the front of the store even looks like a hospital, with different areas inside for different types of “procedures.” Whatever the tiny patient may need, they will be treated with the best of care by the doctors at the Original Doll Hospital.
Requiring special care, these antique masterpieces can bring in millions of dollars on the antique’s market. Despite the fact that they have an extensive collection of expensive doll memorabilia, they take in plenty of ordinary items, as well.
This is where the Original Doll Hospital comes into play, giving the teddy bears new stuffing, limbs, and even eyes! Of course, Geoff Chapman’s business still remains true to the sick and broken dolls of the world!
According to employee Kerry Stuart, “The thing I like least is eyes. It’s a very difficult balancing act to get them right, so it does take a while. Sometimes I have to do them three times before I’m happy with them.”
The “doctors” in the back are constantly trying to link up different torsos, heads, and limbs, and just like medical doctors, they’re artists of their craft. The doctors at the Original Doll Hospital might not be medical doctors, but they sure do love bringing a smile to every person’s face that they meet.
