What is there about Christmas that brings out the child in us?? It doesn’t seem to matter how old we get, the Christmas holiday seems to bring back fond childhood memories. I can still remember what doll that I received on the Christmas mornings from age five to twelve! Several of the dolls mentioned in other articles are the ones that I had as a child. These dolls are the reason that I started collecting more than twenty years ago. Recently, I was looking through old photos and found a picture of me and my Howdy Doody marionette/puppet. I thought I would try to share that 1950 photo. I was five and couldn’t wait to watch the Howdy Doody Show. It was in the early 1950’s when TV was just beginning. All I wanted was a Howdy Doody puppet! I think my marionette was made by Peter Puppet Playthings. Maybe someone can verify that. I just know I loved him with his cute freckled face, cowboy outfit and boots, and strings that would always getting tangled. I hope this past Christmas has brought back wonderful memories for all of you. I would love to hear some of them. Let me take this time to wish all readers a very happy and healthy New Year!

In 1964 Mattel added a new hairdo style to its line of Barbie dolls. It was known as the Swirl Ponytail Barbie or is also referred to as a side part or swept ponytail. The new style came brunette, blonde, platinum blonde and titian. This doll came with a red swim suit a change from the earlier black and white striped suit. This style Barbie had the Midge/Barbie body with the addition of the word patented on the last line. This mark was found on one side of her butt. They also had a variety of lip colors. Some were red, while others harder to find are light pink, coral, white and a “mustard” color. These dolls have become very collectible today and usually command a higher price than other dolls of the same vintage.

My first article (found in the January 2007 archive) about the little rubber baby doll, Amosandra by the Sun Rubber Company, has inspired many readers to leave comments and wonderful stories about this very special doll. Many have said that she was their favorite doll, as she was mine also. I have enjoyed reading all the stories and can definitely feel the love that so many have for her! A reader was kind enough to send me these two photos, which I will cherish and I hope that all of you will appreciate the mint condition of the doll (please see the article about the rubber deterioration in May 2008 archive). It is truly rare to find a doll in the original box with the accessories. I hope you all enjoy the pics.

I wonder if anyone has ever seen this early Vogue Ginny Doll dress or has any information about what I feel is a very rare outfit. A slightly different version of the dress is pictured on page 90 of the 1998 edition of the Collector’s Encyclopedia of Vogue Dolls by Izen and Stover. The book dates the outfit to 1951, however, my dress has the 1952 tag. This outfit is a wonderful example of the fine quality and creativity of the Vogue Doll Company. The company was known as a cottage industry, employing many sewers who worked from their homes. They sent the finished dresses back to Vogue who then packaged them and distributed the wonderful outfits to stores. I would love to hear from anyone who might have a another special outfit or may have been one of the home sewers.

The Ideal Toy Corporation began production of their teenage doll, Tammy, in 1962. Like the many other teenage fashion dolls of that time, Tammy had many outfits and accessories. The high quality outfits depicted the styles of the early 1960’s . The 12″ dolls had vinyl heads (rooted hair), legs and arms with plastic bodies. The dolls resembled the “girl next door” with a more “girlish figure” than the very popular Mattel’s Barbie. It has been said that the movie “Tammy and the Batchelor” starring Debbie Reynolds may have influenced Ideal to name the new doll Tammy and also that they designed her face to resemble the movie star, Sandra Dee. The dolls could have blonde, light brown, tosca or brunette hair color and came dressed in a blue and white one-piece playsuit and sneakers. Later variations of the doll were Posn’ Tammy, Grown UP Tammy and Posn’ Tammy and Her Telephone Booth. My photo shows her little sister Pepper. Other dolls in the Tammy family include Pepper (sister), Tammy’s Mom, Tammy’s Dad, Brother Ted, Misty (best friend), Bud (Tammy’s boyfriend), Pete (Tammy’s little brother), Dodi, and Salty (Pepper’s friends). These dolls very popular in the 60’s and have become very collectible today.

In my August 2007 article about the all vinyl Ginny produced between 1965 and 1972, I mentioned the highly collectible dolls that were made for just one year. These dolls were from the Far Away Land Series. The Stewardess #518, Pilgrim #519 (pictured in 8/07 archive), Cowboy #520, Ballerina #522 and the Bride #523. One doll in the series is very hard to find and has become highly sought after. It is the #501 American Indian. She is dressed in a lovely real white leather beaded dress, headband and moccasins. She even had a papoose on her back. She is a very pretty doll with her darker skin tone and jet black braids. Perhaps, these late 1960’s Ginny dolls will soon become very collectible as are her earlier 1950’s sisters.

In 1974 Hallmark Cards, Inc. marketed party goods and other paper products with the Raggedy Ann theme. Among the most collectible of these items is the series of 5 1/2″ soft stuffed dolls. The series consisted of Raggedy Ann, Raggedy Andy, Beloved Belindy, Uncle Clem and Henny. It was the first time since the early Volland days that there was an Uncle Clem manufactured and it was the first time ever that there was a Henny. Beloved Belindy was no longer Raggedy’s Mammy character, but was now a little girl with a calico green dress. All of these characters were derived from the numerous Raggedy Ann story books by Johnny Gruelle. Hallmark obtained the license for Raggedy Ann and Andy from the Knickerbocker Toy Co. while the other members of the series were licensed right from the Bobbs Merrill Co. I have pictured a 1974 Hallmark & Bobbs Merrill kaleidoscope with the very same series pictured. These items are considered hard to find and quite desirable among Raggedy Ann collectors.

The Singer Manufacturing Company began manufacturing sewing machines in 1851. In the early 1900’s they produced the first small sewing machine for girls. These small machines have become known as toy sewing machines even though Singer advertised them as “portable, not toy machines”. The very early ones were made of cast iron and had an oval base. In the late 1940’s, the machines were made of lighter die cast metal and had a square base. Both styles were held to a table top by a “C” clamp. The machines prior to 1950 were all painted black. Very unusual versions of the 1950’s model (most were black) include those painted red, green, blue and tan. There was also one made in 1951 only. It is referred to as the “Centennial” to commemorate “a century of sewing services”. That machine and the colored versions are highly sought after by collectors. Collectors will pay premium prices for mint machines complete with their box and original accessories (instruction booklet, clamp, needle changing tool, and needles). Today these wonderful little Singer sewing machines have become very collectible due to their sturdy construction and their very appealing look.

The Vogue Doll Company discontinued manufacturing their popular all hard plastic Jill doll in 1960 (see article in category 1950’s). Because the doll company subsequently received so much criticism, they decided to create an “All New Jill” teenage doll in 1962. She was an all vinyl doll with rooted hair and sleep eyes with molded lashes and three painted on lashes on the outside of the eyes. She had soft blush cheeks and pale pink lipstick. Her hair was styled in an angel bob in auburn, brunette and platinum. The back of her head was marked VOGUE, which was her only identifying mark. She was sold for $3.00 with chemise underwear or dressed in one of the ten outfits that were available that year. Outfits were also sold separately. In 1963, Vogue manufactured the same all vinyl doll that also came with a beehive hair style. She was known as “Sweetheart Jill” and had eight outfits. Some outfits also matched her little sister Ginny that year. There was no Jill in 1964 and in 1965, Vogue created a “Vogue Dolls from History Land” series. The same Jill was used in this series which consisted of Colonial Days, Revolutionary Days, Frontier Days, Southern Belle, Victorian Era, and Gibson Girl. Since these dolls from the 1960’s are getting very difficult to find in mint condition, they are now becoming very collectible.

I must admit that besides my passion for dolls, I absolutely love vintage Singer Featherweight sewing machines. I bought one about ten years ago and now find it very hard to pass one up if the price is reasonable. Consequently, I am finding it difficult to store them all in my sewing room. They are a wonderful simple sewing machine that Singer began manufacturing in the 1930’s and continued until the mid 1960’s. They are very popular with quilters for they are portable (small and reasonably light). They have now become very collectible. Depending on rarity and condition, they can demand hundreds of dollars. The basic black machine in very good to excellent condition (looks good and runs well) can cost an average of $300.00. Tan and white machines can be priced higher. The very hard to find free arm machine (I found one last summer at a flea market!) is also worth a lot more than the more common black version. These machines are very easy to maintain. Instructions on oiling and minor adjustments are explained in the Singer booklet that comes with the machine. Attachments also come with the machine, but I have never used any of them. I just really enjoy sewing with a machine that makes such a perfect stitch!!