Ginny, Muffie and Wendy

8” dolls of the 1950’s

Many companies made 8” dolls to compete with Vogue whose predecessors to Ginny made their debut in the late 30’s .

This presentation will cover the hard plastic 8” dolls made by the Vogue, Nancy Ann Storybook Doll and Madame Alexander Companies: Ginny, Muffie, and Wendy

Storybook’s Muffie were “born” in 1953, and joined Ginny to become the big three of 8” play dolls made for little girls.

All three: Ginny, Wendy and Muffie in 1953 were strung (non-walkers) with sleep eyes. Strung Wendys & Muffies were made only 1 year. Strung Ginny’s with sleep eyes were made for 3 years, 1950-53

Strung Ginny, Wendy and Muffie

Similarities: 1953 dolls were made of hard plastic, were strung and pretty much the same size. Later dolls were walkers with straight and then bending knees. Dolls were available in an array of outfits or as basic dolls in panties, shoes and socks. Additional outfits, accessories and furniture were available. The strung Alexander was made of a heavy hard plastic that was changed the next year. The legs appear solid. These dolls are lying down. The Ginny and Muffie eyes tended to stick. Muffie can also become cross-eyed.

Differences: The color and weight of the plastic varied. Wig construction was distinctive for Madame Alexander’s Wendy, and better withstood combing by little mommies. Clothing construction, fasteners and shoes differed. Madame Alexander dolls were considered “higher end” although not that much more in price. In 1953 only Wendy had molded lashes and Muffie had no eyebrows Notice the “y” creases on Ginny and Wendy, line buttock crease on Muffie.

1953 Marks:

Ginny marked only: "Vogue Doll"

Wendy until 1976:
ALEX

Muffie (1953-4):

Storybook
Dolls
California

Arms: Left to right: Ginny, Muffie, Wendy

Wendy’s arms have 2 small folds at the elbow while Ginny’s have one. Muffie arms also had metal rings like Ginny’s. Notice how delicate Muffie’s arms are.

Wig Construction: From left to right: Muffie, Ginny, Wendy

Muffie and Ginny are similar with hair sewn onto a gauze strip, and then glued to the head. On Muffie wigs, the stitching tends to fade, or maybe was always lighter. Alexander wigs were more intricate with the hair looped and secured, and then top stitched on each side: the triple stitched wigs. Later wigs had a zigzag stitch. Alex hair tended not to pull out with combing, unlike the Muffie and Ginny wigs.

1953 Alex shoes were fuzzy soled with side snaps and top stitching as shown.

Muffie and Ginny shoes were fuzzy soled and had center snaps.

Alexander clothes had and still have sewn on square snaps. 1953-54 Muffie clothes have a small plain brass snap. Muffie dresses are open down the back, and there is a diagonal cut above the hem on both the attached slips and the skirt. Ginny dresses close with tiny hooks and eyes.

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Painted eye and sleep eye Ginnys

Pre-Ginny Vogue dolls: Toddles dolls were composition 8” dolls that were made between 1937 and 1948.
•Starting in 1948, there was a new material, plastic, and it was then when the painted eye 8” Vogue doll was introduced, who would later become Ginny.
•Sleep eye dolls were introduced in 1950, and the name Ginny was used on one doll (red velvet coat).
•The early sleep eye dolls (c. 1950 - 52) are called transitional because of the varying plastic, face paint and eye colors. Earliest dolls used mohair wigs. Painted eye with mohair wig and early sleep eye doll.

During the transitional period, there was considerable variation in the plastic and eye colors. Eyes could be tricolor, and many faded to “root bear” or red. Often have mohair wigs like the painted eye. (Top middle and bottom right borrowed from eBay.)

Close up of a 1953 Strung Ginny with the stenciled eyelashes. Her dress closes with one small hook and eye, but there were some zippers in 1953. Dolls wore center snap, slip-on or tie shoes until 1954 and rayon socks. Tags: Vogue Dolls, Vogue, or Original Vogue Dolls, Inc. until 1954. In 1951-2 some outfits weren’t tagged. Wigs mohair, Dynel, or Nutex. Brows and lashes hand-painted until about 1953. Stenciled brows and lashes can fade to yellow or green.

Ginny the Wavette Hair Doll #80, 1951-52. Blond flip hairstyle with bangs is correct for this outfit,. Came with plastic cape and curlers and in various colors.

Ginny series of 1952 had 4 outfits. #80 Gingham check with straw hat, #81 Organdy top on a black velvet skirt, straw hat with velvet band, #85 Fur coat/hat, and #86 Poodle coat . This is my childhood Ginny wearing her 4th replacement wig and a pink poodle coat I found in Louisville back in 1985. None of her original clothes survived. The other doll is Hope from the 1951 Kindergarten Kiddies. I found her dress in Vallejo and I found her on eBay.

The outfits had girls’ names, which were reused, with different dresses in subsequent years. Outfits had names and numbers. The same number remained with the same name. There were series such as Brother-Sister, Frolicking Fables, Tiny Miss, Debutante, Kindergarten, Sports.
These are all Margie #28 from 1951, 52 and 53

Muffie dresses from 1953-1955 closed with small brass snaps, painted in 1955 to match the fabric. Later on, donut snaps were used. Most dresses had attached slips, and were open at the back with diagonal cut fabric at the bottom corners of both the skirt and the slip. 1953 dresses tended to be slightly longer than later dresses. Early dresses were not tagged. This is my mint “Muffie Friendly” 506-1. She has no eyebrows and only painted lashes.

1953 Muffies. Muffie Happy #508-1, Margie Glamorous #607-1 and Missie Kissable #711-1.
The 500 numbers were called Muffie, the 600’s Margie and the 700’s, Missie

Close up of 1953 strung Wendy face: Shoes were side snap with fuzzy soles, and 1953 was the only year they had stitching. Closures mostly square snaps, although some outfits closed with tiny buttons. Cotton tags either on inside of the back seam, or at the neckline on the outside.

Wendy and Quiz-kin of 1953. Both types of dolls were of the heavy hard plastic. The buttons on the back of the Quiz-kin caused the head to turn for side to side (NO) or up and down (YES)

Three 1953 Wendys: taffeta party dress, school outfit, and organdy party dress #305. There were many variations of the pinafore dresses over the years.

Many variations of pinafore dresses, spanned several years.

Starting in 1954. Ginny and Muffie were straight leg walkers. Muffie had molded lashes but still no brows. Ginny straight leg walkers with painted lashes were only made for one year. Alexanders could be strung or straight leg walkers. Ginny had vinyl shoes with smooth soles. Ginny shoes were marked, and in 1954 had no heels. 1954 Ginny: Straight leg walkers with painted lashes . Called PLW for short, and were made only 1 year. Marked:


GINNY
VOGUE DOLLS INC
PAT PEND
MADE IN USA

Pictures borrowed from eBay. Two redheads, one’s brows have faded to yellow. Brows can also turn green. Rosy cheeks may have been added with a little rouge.

1954 Muffie Straight leg walkers now with molded lashes but still no eyebrows Still wore center snap shoes. Doll on the right should have center snaps. Notice the shorter dresses. The brunette has red stains on her body and legs, so I got her for a great price. Favorite fashions #601-2 (missing beret), Gay cotton prints #507-2.

My first Alexander-kin Straight leg walkers (SLW) from 1954 when I was 9 years old. The bride and the extra outfit were a gift. I got the second doll for $2 at I. Magnin.

1954-5 Wendy straight leg walkers; Lighter weight plastic than the strung dolls. No top stitching on shoes. Still marked ALEX. 1955 dolls do not have painted lashes below their eyes.

Changes in 1955; all dolls are straight leg walkers. Muffies get eyebrows, and “Muffie” is added to the mark. Small brass snaps are painted to match the outfit. Ginny gets molded lashes, and her shoes get a heel. Patent # added: 2687594. Same in 1956 Alexanders are straight leg walkers without painted lashes

Close up of Madame Alexander SLW Little Women Beth and Meg. Beth doll is probably from 1954. 1955 Meg does not have painted lashes.

Ginny painted lash and molded lash faces. Molded lash photo borrowed from eBay; stitching doesn't look original - probably a replaced wig. Sold nude for $71

Muffie’s big sister Debbie was introduced in 1955 She was 10.5” tall, and her outfits matched her little sister.

Ginny walkers: straight and bent knee 1954 straight leg, painted lashes (PLW) 1955-56 straight leg, molded lashes (MLW) 1957-62 bent knee (BKW) Note pinker plastic on later doll. Earlier BKW were closer in color to the SL

1956 - 1965 Wendy dolls were BKW; Marked ALEX (doll on the right). Early dolls have triple stitched wigs. Mint dolls will have a matte complexion and played with dolls will be shiny and have faded cheeks. Doll on the left is Maggie Mix-up introduced in 1960. The “So-lite” plastic introduced 1960 has a pinker color

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Wendy’s big sister Lissy was introduced in 1956. She had bending knees like Wendy of 1955, but also had jointed elbows. She is unmarked. Wendy has fun wearing black taffeta pinafore #583, 1956, and matching Lissy Lissy’s hat is borrowed from Ginny, and Wendy’s is a reproduction.

Marked and unmarked Muffies.

Lips painted fuller on the unmarked doll.
Muffie 1956 – 1961; hard plastic or vinyl heads with rooted hair.
Straight or bent knee walkers.
1957 some unmarked.
1958 most unmarked
Donut snaps painted 1956-58
Silver colored 1958
Clothing tags random in 1956, later tags either “Styled by Nancy Ann, Nancy Ann Storybook Dolls, Inc., San Francisco, California” or “Styled by Nancy Ann, San Francisco, Calif.”

Vinyl head rooted hair BKW Muffie and Muffie International (1968 – 1971)

Muffie Internationals: Molded lashes. Painted lashes below eyes. Tendency to turn yellow around eyes. Plastic walking mechanism. Note wig construction.

Later Strung Muffies; Timing not known, but probably after 1958, unmarked Dimples behind knees; Y buttock crease. Painted lashes, +/- molded lashes, +/- eyebrows. Maybe using up leftover heads. Head sits lower so no neck. First doll has 1953 head, painted lashes only, and no brows. Second doll has painted lashes and eyebrows, a combination that did not occur in earlier Muffies. Earlier dolls with brows had molded lashes. The last doll has painted and molded lashes.

Later strung Muffie (right) has 2 creases under each knee, and more tapered toes

Later strung Muffie (right) has 2 dimples behind each knee and a Y buttock crease.

The End