Wednesday, March 4, 2015

*REVIEW* Vintage Collectible Horsman T16

 Fawn has a review of a very special doll in her collection. 



This is Amy Laura, my most cherished childhood doll.  She is a Horsman T16 and was a Christmas present sometime in the late 1950s.  Amy Laura was the name I gave her, but I think her original name was Ruthie.  



She is 16" tall.  She is jointed at the shoulders and hips.  



Her head is attached with a rubber band which allows it to turn and tilt in any direction.  


She has sleepy eyes with painted lower lashes which are just as blue and clear as the morning I found her under the Christmas tree.    Her dark brown waist length rooted hair with curly bangs is pulled back at the sides with the original rubber band.  Her hair is still soft and shiny with no frizzing.   The blue barrette is not original.



Her head and arms are soft squeezable plastic.  Her body and legs are hard plastic.  She can not stand on her own because one leg is shorter than the other.  Her body is a different flesh tone than her limbs and I can not remember it she was always that way.
Her case is blue vinyl with white synthetic leather edges.  There are no identifying marks on the case.  

Her clothing includes a bathrobe with slippers, dungarees with side zipper (girls did not wear front fly pants in the 50s), a coat and bonnet, blouse with Peter Pan collar, corduroy skirt, dress with pinafore and  red tights.  



Accessories include a pair of socks, panties, cotton pantie set with undershirt (all little girls in the 50s wore undershirts), pink soft plastic tie-up shoes with vinyl laces, white plastic Mary Janes, three curlers, a bubble pipe, and several plastic hangers with "TOTSY, SPFLD MASS stamped on them and one hanger with PEGGY-ANN DOLL CLOTHES INC, SPFLD MASS stamped on the side.  



 The pink shoes have doll shoe 18"-20" Doll stamped on the bottom.  The white Mary Janes simply have the number 16 molded on the bottom.  Her clothes have no identifying tags so I do not know if they are original to her brand. 


I haven't gotten up the courage to wash her clothing for fear of it falling apart, shrinking, fading or bleeding.  The dye in her dungarees transferred to her legs which is understandable since she wore them for 50 years while in storage.  

My mother kept my hair cut in a short bob with bangs so I envied Amy Laura's long hair.  I still find her to be absolutely beautiful and she still makes my heart sing after all these years.


My parents bought their first TV in 1956 when I was 3 years old. 


I made the TV from a kleenex box, contact paper, scrapbook paper, buttons and beads.

9 comments:

  1. *From Julie's doll mom:*

    That's wonderful, Fawn. I remember when you posted this on Doll Diaries. She's so cute! It's great to have a piece of your childhood around. It brings back so many memories. Do you have any pics of you when you received her?

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  2. Great post, Fawn. She's really a cute, special doll and it's great that you have so many fond memories of her. The TV is so cute as well!

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  3. It's amazing that your doll is still in great shape and that you have all of the original clothes and carrying case. What a wonderful treasure.

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  4. Such a beautiful doll that has stood the test of time. I love all the clothes!!

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  5. Love it Fawn! I too have a few of my dolls. One of them is a Saucy Walker.

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  6. So great that you still have a doll from your childhood! :) The TV is amazing, by the way.

    - Ellie

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  7. Thank you for sharing your story about your childhood doll. She is very special in more ways than one. Your story is just inspirational to me.

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  8. Thank you, everyone, for your kind comments. Sadly, I don't have a picture of us together on Christmas morning. Thank you, Rhonda, for giving me the opportunity to share her with your readers.
    Fawn

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  9. Fawn, your doll is beautiful! Thank you for sharing her with us.
    When I was little one of the places we'd go for dinner parties would bring out a doll similar to Amy Laura for me to play with...they knew I'd be occupied for hours! :)
    ~Xyra

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