Why Doll Repair?
My sister is the reason I have ventured into the world of dolls. She collects and rescues dolls. Her speciality is hard plastic and vinyl dolls from the 1950's and 1960's; although she adopts dolls from other eras if they have interesting histories. Often the dolls she acquires have issues arising from age, use, and abuse. Sometimes all that is needed to restore a doll is a cleaning, a shampoo, and a restringing. Other dolls, like walkers and talkers, may have additional mechanical and/or electrical problems. This is where I come in. My other hobbies have given me a broad experience working with wood, plastic, metal, and mechanisms. I've been amazed and fascinated by the technology that has gone into making dolls seem more life-like. Sometimes I just document the problem, or do some research into patents. Other times I attempt repairs. The purpose of this site is to share some of my experiences and to encourage others to explore, preserve, or restore these technological treasures.
My sister has a book written by A. Glenn Mandeville in 1989 titled The Golden Age of Collectible Dolls 1946 - 1965 that highlights many of the best-loved dolls of that era. While much of the book focuses on the major companies like Madame Alexander, Ideal, American Character, Effanbee, Uneeda, Mattel and Vogue, we like what he wrote in the last chapter of the book:
While many think of the boom years as reflecting the gorgeous display windows of the New York department stores filled with dolls by Madame Alexander and Ideal, there were many other manufacturers who made dolls that were available in Mom and Pop toy stores (which are virtually non-existent today), hardware stores and even supermarkets. Most of these dolls are direct copies of the higher-priced dolls and were often done so well that a child could not tell the difference, especially the younger child who was not so label conscious.
Ironically, these dolls today are much more difficult to find mint or in any condition as they were not widely distributed and did not last long in the marketplace. Unfortunately, collectors often snub these dolls by lesser manufacturers as inferior when often they are not, as the illustrations here prove. For many a baby boomer, "generic" dolls were the ones they loved and lucky is the collector of this type of doll for most of these dolls can be found today "mint" for a fraction of what the same doll with a fancy name would cost. Do not neglect these dolls for they represent a slice of Americana that many remember dearly.
The doll manufacturers that he highlights in that particular section of the book are names we are quite familiar with: Valentine, Marx, Virga, Merrimac, Aida, Arranbee, Nancy Ann and Deluxe Reading.
At the end of the book he states:
For doll collectors, the golden age of doll making in the 1950s and 1960s showed American technology at its finest. Not since the French bebes of the 1880s had quality been available to so many for so little. This was not only the Golden Age of Collectible Dolls, but the golden age of youth as well. A world made of hope, love and the "American Dream."
The last 5 or so pages of the book he has photos of children receiving dolls and toys for holidays during the Golden Era - you would would swear they were right out of our photo albums - no wonder we like these little treasures of our childhood! And while we have fond memories of these toys, we now also appreciate what went into creating and manufacturing them!
My sister has a book written by A. Glenn Mandeville in 1989 titled The Golden Age of Collectible Dolls 1946 - 1965 that highlights many of the best-loved dolls of that era. While much of the book focuses on the major companies like Madame Alexander, Ideal, American Character, Effanbee, Uneeda, Mattel and Vogue, we like what he wrote in the last chapter of the book:
While many think of the boom years as reflecting the gorgeous display windows of the New York department stores filled with dolls by Madame Alexander and Ideal, there were many other manufacturers who made dolls that were available in Mom and Pop toy stores (which are virtually non-existent today), hardware stores and even supermarkets. Most of these dolls are direct copies of the higher-priced dolls and were often done so well that a child could not tell the difference, especially the younger child who was not so label conscious.
Ironically, these dolls today are much more difficult to find mint or in any condition as they were not widely distributed and did not last long in the marketplace. Unfortunately, collectors often snub these dolls by lesser manufacturers as inferior when often they are not, as the illustrations here prove. For many a baby boomer, "generic" dolls were the ones they loved and lucky is the collector of this type of doll for most of these dolls can be found today "mint" for a fraction of what the same doll with a fancy name would cost. Do not neglect these dolls for they represent a slice of Americana that many remember dearly.
The doll manufacturers that he highlights in that particular section of the book are names we are quite familiar with: Valentine, Marx, Virga, Merrimac, Aida, Arranbee, Nancy Ann and Deluxe Reading.
At the end of the book he states:
For doll collectors, the golden age of doll making in the 1950s and 1960s showed American technology at its finest. Not since the French bebes of the 1880s had quality been available to so many for so little. This was not only the Golden Age of Collectible Dolls, but the golden age of youth as well. A world made of hope, love and the "American Dream."
The last 5 or so pages of the book he has photos of children receiving dolls and toys for holidays during the Golden Era - you would would swear they were right out of our photo albums - no wonder we like these little treasures of our childhood! And while we have fond memories of these toys, we now also appreciate what went into creating and manufacturing them!
