Dolls by Maker » Vintage Doll Collector

Once Barbie had a boyfriend (Ken), the next logical step was for her to acquire a best friend to share her secrets with (not to mention her clothes!). Midge debuted in 1963.

Vintage Barbie's best friend, Midge by Mattel

Redheaded Midge dolls wear a chartreuse & orange swimsuit. Blondes get two shades of blue; brunettes wear a hot pink top and red bottom.
Photo courtesy of Withington Auction, Inc.

The first version of Midge had the same straight leg body as Barbie, with a new head mold. She was available as a blonde, brunette or redhead, in a short flip hairdo with bangs, and blue eyes. Most dolls have a closed mouth smile and freckles; but some have no freckles, or a small white area painted between her lips to indicate teeth. Midge was sold in a two piece swimsuit with white open toe shoes. The color of the swimsuit varied according to the doll’s hair color. This first version of Midge was available from 1963 through ’66.

In 1964, Wig Wardrobe Midge was introduced. This set included a Midge head with a short, molded hairstyle, and three wigs for her to wear.

Photo courtesy of eBay seller your-favorite-doll.

In 1965, Barbie and Midge got a new bendable leg body. Bendable Leg Midge had a new, short pageboy hairstyle with an aqua ribbon headband, a one piece multicolor striped swimsuit, and aqua open toe shoes. She was again available in three different hair colors.

Mattel stopped using the Midge name for many years until re-introducing her with a new head mold in the late ’80s. The original Midge head mold continued to be used throughout the mod era for Barbie’s friend PJ. Mattel made a reproduction of the original Midge in 1997.

Learn More:
Collector’s Encyclopedia of Barbie Dolls and Collectibles by Sibyl DeWein & Joan Ashabraner More info from Amazon or Find it on eBay.	Barbie Fashion Vol. 1, 1959-67 by Sarah Sink Eames More info from Amazon or Find it on eBay.	Ultimate Barbie Doll Book by Marcie Melillo More info from Amazon or Find it on eBay.

Photo courtesy of Laura Meisner.

Miss Twist is a variation of Uneeda’s Dollikin doll, marketed to capitalize on the “Twist” dance craze of the early 1960s.

Body Construction & Markings
For general information on body construction and markings, see the Dollikin page. Miss Twist was sold with a black curly bob hairdo and heavy black eye paint.

Clothing
She wears an ivory satin dress with layers of fringe on the skirt and around the neckline–sort of a flapper effect, with a matching headband and drop pearl earrings. She is pictured above with one of the regular line Dollikins.

Packaging
There is a photo of Miss Twist in her box on Valerie Myers’ website

In addition to being marketed as a fashion doll and as a ballerina, Uneeda’s Dollikin was also marketed as a Mommy, with an 8″ all-vinyl baby.

Body Construction & Markings
For general information on body construction and markings, see the Dollikin page. Mommy Dollikin had a short bob hairstyle.

Clothing
She was sold wearing one of two different outfits. The doll above wears a one-piece polished cotton jumpsuit with a red top, and multicolored floral print pants, collar and sleeves. Her shoes are red blue vinyl slip-ons. Baby wears a matching outfit of dress, panties and bonnet. This outfit was also available in a blue version, and possibly a green version. The other outfit Mommy Dollikin wears is a powder blue and white striped sweater, with corduroy slacks with braid trim up the outer seams. The slacks are most often yellow, but have also been found in a deep wine color. Her baby wears matching corduroy overalls.

Packaging
In addition to graphics extolling the virtues of posability, Mommy Dollikin’s packaging pictured a backdrop of idyllic suburban family life, with Dad at the barbecue and Rover ready to fetch the paper. The doll reclines on what is meant to represent a chaise longue.

This boy doll is very similar to Pullan’s Bobby and Little Mister Bad Boy, which were made in the early 1960s. His original outfit suggests he was made as a companion for a bride doll.

Vinyl boy doll marked F in a circle

Body Construction
He is all vinyl, 20″ tall, jointed at the neck, shoulders and hips. He has detailed molded hair, painted light brown, and blue/green sleep eyes with brush lashes. Here’s a closeup of his face.

Markings
His only marking is a letter F in a circle on his lower back. He is the first doll I have ever seen with this marking.

Clothing
He wears a one piece outfit of white cotton sleeveless shirt, black cotton pants with stitched front crease and braid trim accenting the side seams, and black satin cummerbund. The outfit closes in the back with small factory snaps. See a back view. He would have had a jacket to match the pants originally. The shoes and socks he is wearing are probably similar to his original ones.

This little girl doll by IMCO is very similar to the second version of Ideal’s Posie doll, who was made from 1955-56.

Vintage IMCO doll with jointed knees

Body Construction
She is 22″ tall with a stuffed vinyl head and hard plastic body. She is a pin-jointed, head turning walker, jointed at the neck, shoulders, hips and knees. She has curly, dark blonde rooted hair with bangs, and sleep eyes. Perhaps her most unusual feature is her soft vinyl molded eyelashes. She has holes in her belly for her crying mechanism.

Vintage IMCO doll with jointed knees

Clothing
The dress she wears is pink and white checked taffeta, with an embossed white cotton collar trimmed in cotton lace, accented with a black satin ribbon bow. It closes in the back with factory donut snaps. It is likely her original one.

Vintage IMCO doll with jointed knees

Markings
She is marked on the back of her head “IMCO” but has no other markings.

Vintage IMCO doll marking

Vintage Doll Collector

Barbie’s Best Friend, Midge by Mattel (1963-66)

Learn More:

Miss Twist doll by Uneeda – a Dollikin variation (1962)

Mommy Dollikin & Her Lovable Baby

Circle F Bridegroom Doll (circa 1961)

IMCO Doll with Jointed Knees (circa 1956)