Composition Doll

Composition Doll

I have a composition doll from the 20's or 30' with a mark E.I.M. CO INC. Do you know anything about the manu?

The Doll has eyes that open and shut, open mouth with teeth.

This is the mark for the Horseman doll company. The company was started in 1910 and made what we refer to as cold composition dolls.Up until 1921 the dolls had painted eyes in May of 1920 they made celluloid sleep eyes for adtocolite babies. They changed to composition that we know today it was dried with steam and they could produce more dolls in less time.

The dolls are very nice and the original clothes are important to the doll. If you wish to send me a picture I will be glad to id your doll. With greater detail.

For Composition Doll Deals Click The Blue Links Below

170781995581 0 Composition Doll
VINTAGE 1940s COMPOSITION WALKER DOLL
US $12.99
ebaygif Composition Doll
230745233638 0 Composition Doll
RARE VINTAGE ANTIQUE ORIGINAL COMPOSITION 1930 s BUDDY LEE DOLL RIGHT ARM HAND
US $39.99
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350532838400 0 Composition Doll
Madame Alexander Composition Betty Doll Original Tagged Outfit 23
US $129.99
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350532838403 0 Composition Doll
1940s Arranbee Composition 21 Doll Nice Condition
US $74.99
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350532838408 0 Composition Doll
Huge 27 Effanbee Composition Doll 1940s
US $109.99
ebaygif Composition Doll
350532838409 0 Composition Doll
Effanbee 1930s Patsy Junior Doll Composition no craze
US $125.00
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350532838382 0 Composition Doll
Huge 1930s Horsman Composition Baby Doll 24
US $159.99
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120858935412 0 Composition Doll
Ideal Composition 13 Shirley Temple Doll Blue Music Dress NRA Tag
US $550.00
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190639556634 0 Composition Doll
DOLL DRESS fits 15 16 Horsman Composition Dimples doll by TLC
US $19.99
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150757121997 0 Composition Doll
Composition doll
US $7.99
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130646883578 0 Composition Doll
Vintage Patsy Ann Pat1283558 19 Doll Composition 1928
US $49.99
ebaygif Composition Doll
320847471843 0 Composition Doll
Rare 22 Izannah Walker Cloth Composition Doll Mint Classic American Doll LE
US $250.00
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160734298789 0 Composition Doll
Vintage RELIABLE Composition American Indian Doll
US $9.99
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160734299534 0 Composition Doll
Vintage Composition Dutch Doll
US $9.99
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330686094208 0 Composition Doll
Vintage Composition Jointed SNOW WHITE DOLL 1930S Stands 13 Tall
US $149.00
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280825129545 0 Composition Doll
VINTAGE HORSMAN COMPOSITION DOLL 17
US $7.99
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110824260722 0 Composition Doll
Vintage 24 Madame Alexander all composition doll
US $249.99
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110824259655 0 Composition Doll
ANTIQUE DISNEY IDEAL CHARACTER PINOCCHIO WOOD COMPOSITION DOLL FIGURE
US $199.99
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280825122652 0 Composition Doll
VINTAGE ARRANBEE RB COMPOSITION BABY DOLL 18
US $7.99
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190639445304 0 Composition Doll
Vintage 1930s 13 Composition Baby Doll Open Close eyes 2 Teeth Molded Hair
US $24.99
ebaygif Composition Doll

Fifties and sixties shapewear is in the news again, partly as a result of the TV series Mad Men. Actresses don the original sixties pull-on girdles to achieve those shapely figures women enjoyed flaunting all through the fifties until the call came for them to 'burn their bras' and become liberated! Now those fashions are back with a vengeance.

Some people collect vintage shapewear purely for the pleasure of owning a collection of vintage fashion history, others buy to wear and others still buy as an investment. Unlike the modern retro copies there are a variety of pitfalls to negotiate if you are entering the field of vintage girdles and corsetry for the first time. The first question that I am often asked is why someone should buy fifties lingerie when there is already such a wide choice of modern lingerie available. The detailing and hand finishing on exquisite fifties satin bullet bras and the art deco inspired stitching on fifties long line girdles has to be seen to be believed. It would be impossible for modern shapewear, which is mass-produced to come close to this level of workmanship, without costing a small fortune.

The following tips should give you the background you need when starting your own vintage lingerie collection.

Sizing: size specification has altered considerably over the years - you should be aware that a modern size 12 will be considerably bigger than a size 12 from the fifties, and also sizing is varies in different countries - a US size 12 could be a UK size 16!

Materials: It was rubber that gave vintage shapewear its stretch characteristics. The modern counterparts are Lycra and elastane. Sadly vintage lingerie containing latex is particularly susceptible to deterioration over time, even more so if the garments have not been stored in temperature-controlled conditions. If you stretch a girdle and it stays stretched then it will not be wearable and certainly will not be a collectible item either! From the forties onward some manufacturers used a form of foam rubber as padding in their corsets and corselets (effectively a longline bra and girdle joined into one garment). Frequently such vintage shapewear will not have stood the test of time - the foam rubber often becomes rock hard and inflexible or, worse, crumbles to a gritty powder.

All reputable vintage lingerie online stores will check and describe the condition of the fabric, but you do need to be especially careful if you use an online auction site to source your shapewear. Garter clips from this era used a metal frame with a rubber garter tab. So often a beautiful fifties girdle is rendered less desirable by the rubber tab hardening - the first time one tries to open the garter clip the tab cracks and crumbles. Of course if you are very handy with a needle and thread it is possible to replace the garter tabs; the resulting garment will still be a delight to wear but less attractive to the purist collector, for whom original condition and construction is very important.

Condition: The nearer the condition of the garment to 'factory fresh' the more collectable it will be - naturally this is more difficult to attain with items from the twenties and thirties than from the sixties. There is currently little demand for lingerie after the sixties, because at that point pantyhose all but killed the stockings, garters and girdles. Collectors look for garments that are clean, show no signs of wear and tear, no perishing of fabrics, rust or storage marks. Frankly collecting for investment tends to be risky because subtle deterioration can be ongoing without expert care - it is better to collect to enjoy wearing, with the bonus that if you treat the items with care you are likely to recoup your outlay if and when you do decide to dispose of them. Age: It is obvious that an older item in great condition is likely to be more valuable than a more recent example. Check the label - older labels will have the hand washing instructions - if you see the machine washing icons then you are looking at modern shapewear! One clue to age is the older garments will have rubber, cotton, rayon used...more modern garments will have Lycra. Bear in mind that if the labels have been removed from the garment then it is unlikely to be of much interest to a collector. Another clue to age is that items from the forties often had the 'utility label', looking like a pair of 'pac men'. The holy grail for collectors, is to get find 'new old stock', often sold with the acronym 'NOS' - not only will the labels be intact but the original cardboard sales tag will be on the garment, and maybe even the original packaging.

Being able to shop online has boosted the popularity of vintage shapewear, but as with any other collectible item, it is always a case of 'buyer beware' - the more detailed the item description, covering sizing, labeling and condition, and the more detailed the photographs, the more confidence you can have in buying. If you are buying on an auction site, check how long has the seller been a member of the site. Check the member's feedback. With all sellers whether auction or an online boutique, check the returns policy.

Debbie Mendoza has studied fifties fashions over many years -she specializes in the history of vintage shapewear & stockings. Ten years ago her love for the fifties led to her founding http://www.sleeknchic.com, firstly in the USA and for the past five years in the UK where she has relocated, having married a Brit! Her leisure interests include reading, theater, cinema and keeping fit.

 

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