1960s 35-inch Redressed Playpal-Type Companion Dolls

1960s 35-inch Redressed Playpal-Type Companion Dolls

All dolls in this installation are made of rigid vinyl with softer vinyl heads. They have the usual five points of articulation at the head, upper arms, and upper legs. As indicated in the title, all dolls are redressed. These 35-inch child-size companion dolls (often referred to as 36-inch walkers) were fashioned after Ideal Toys’ Patti Playpal doll that was introduced in 1959. Ideal Toys, however, did not make a black version until 1980. Designed to walk with the child’s guidance, these dolls use the same body and walking rod mechanism as Ideal’s dolls. Between the dolls in this installation, their head sculpts are the same but the head marks differ. This installation serves to document the dolls’ existence and their hallmarks.

Name: Unknown

Made by and When: Allied Doll & Toy Company, 1960s

Marks: (Head) AE / 3651 / 24

Height:  35 inches

Hair, Eyes, Mouth: Rewigged in a two-braid wig with bangs (the hair underneath is short-black rooted); brown sleep eyes with attached upper eyelashes, painted lower eyelashes, closed mouth with orange lip color.

Other: The AE head mark was used by Allied Doll & Toy Company, a.k.a. Allied Eastern. This company is “mainly known today for making black dolls and large sized vinyl and hard plastic high heel fashion dolls.  Dolls were mass produced and sold in bulk to other smaller companies, which marketed the dolls under different names” (Doll Reference), making it difficult to trace the dolls back to a particular company or identify the doll by name. This doll wears a child-size ballerina costume.

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Name: Unknown

Made by and When: Allied Doll & Toy Company, 1960s

Marks: (Head) AE 3651 / 33

Height:  35 inches

Hair, Eyes, Mouth: Rewigged in a short curly black wig, brown sleep eyes with attached upper eyelashes, painted lower eyelashes, closed mouth with the original red lip color now painted taupe

Other: This doll is dressed as a boy in a hat and clothing worn by the curator’s son, and rewigged with repainted lip color. It is unknown if Allied Doll & Toy Company manufactured male Patti-Playpal-type dolls.

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Name: Unknown

Made by and When: Attributed to Allied Doll & Toy Company, 1960s

Marks: (Head) DE / 32; (Lower Back) AE

Height:  35 inches

Hair, Eyes, Mouth: Short black-rooted hair, brown sleep eyes with attached upper eyelashes, painted lower eyelashes, closed mouth with red lip color

Other: Allied Doll & Toy Company’s AE mark is on this doll’s body. The head is marked DE.

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Name: Unknown

Made by and When: Attributed to Allied Doll & Toy Company, 1960s

Marks: (Head) DE / 32 (Lower Back) AE

Height:  35 inches

Hair, Eyes, Mouth: Long straight black-rooted hair, brown sleep eyes with attached upper eyelashes, painted lower eyelashes, closed mouth with red lip color

Other: Allied Doll & Toy Company’s AE mark is on this doll’s body. The head is marked DE. With the exception of this doll’s long straight black hair with bangs, it is identical with the same marks as the doll shown immediately above it.

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Additionally, the Doll Reference site lists the following companies that made 35-inch Playpal-type companion dolls:

Natural Doll Company

• 1960s Walking Bess, a 35-inch black doll marked AE5651 / 55

Uneeda Doll Company

• 1960s Black girl doll with widow’s peak, 32 or 35 inches

Unknown USA Playpal Type Doll

• 1960s Playpal type doll marked DE30, 36 inches

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Slideshow (12 photos)

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