Hi Everyone! I'm new to this site, and I'm hoping your expertise in puppets will help solve a mystery. I rescued this puppet (my profile picture) from a Goodwill here in Los Angeles. He looks like a prop, and perhaps came from a television show? (which would make sense since I found him in Burbank) The makeup on him is fairly heavy, which leads me to think if he was filmed, it was in B/W. No hands on the guy, just a "trench coat" with a whit shirt underneath, and a detective's cap. There's a pole under the coat, and there's a wire running from the back of the mouth, through the pole, down to a mechanism the puppeteer could use to move his bottom lip. He's a good 20" tall, and there's not a mark on him to indicate who made him or where he came from. Ideas? This picture also appears in the Gallery. Thanks!

Looks like a Pelham vent puppet. It has no hands because your hands are used thru the coat.  Could be old and some are worth some money.  Do Web search and you will learn more.
 
http://www.pelhampuppets.uk.com/pelham_history.html

Here is a link with one that looks similar to yours Oogie, from the Uncle Floyd Show

https://puppatoons.wordpress.com/2009/12/02/pelham-puppets/

Here is another picture of Oogie his hat is red and he seems to be the style of WALTER VENT
http://www.ppo.co.uk/bimbo/index.php/types-of-puppet/vent-puppet-range/286-walter-vent

Can you tell if the hair is lambs wool or fake fur?  Identification tab in the last link said that in 1971 they changed from lambs wool to fake fur and also earlier ones had not legs but newer ones since 1971 had legs.  Sadly they also say there were knock offs made of their puppets.  They have an email to ask questions.  I wondered if there were variations in the colors of the clothes or if they were all the same?

Here is a link to the picture of the puppet in the Gallery.  Gives a closer view if you click on it.  Looks to me like the hair is lambs wool. 

I would say the best bet would be to contact them direct via their email to see if they can confirm.

Hello! OMG thank you SO SO much for answering my post!! I believe his hair is lambswool. It's very course and doesn't move a lot.

I will contact Pelham ASAP. This is such a relief. I knew I'd seen him somewhere! 

Welllll, another Pelham puppet has surfaced. Check out The Patsy Hoolahan Show on youtube , and here.Patsy would be thrilled to see another of her extended family. Gail,Interesting about the legs and hair. The one I have (thanks again by the way) has legs and synthethic soft rope type hair, therefore dates post 1971? I am still formulating plans as to how I am going to use him. but  I think he will be used on Colombian Christian TV for a start.

LOL! Another brother.  If he has no legs he's one of the earlier Pelham Puppets from England.  I got mine on Ebay.  There were basically 2 models.  A boy and a girl.  My Kooky Martinez puppet on my profile is the same head, different hair and clothes.  Yes, come check out The Patsy Hoolahan Show on youtube.https://www.youtube.com/user/Patsyhoolahan

Here is a 1950's video of Bob Pelham giving a factory tour.  They started with marionettes and and started the vest i think in the late 60's.  They shut down in the 80's but recently someone started making the marionettes again.

This has been quite a journey with this little guy! Thanks so much for the video links - that tour of Pelham Puppets was really interesting.

I haven't heard back from the Pelham folks yet, so for now he sits in a box. Once I have confirmation, he'll be sold on eBay (he "creeps out" my daughter and I've promised to find him a forever home elsewhere!)

please give Patsy first option.