| This is the second of a series on Vintage and Antique | | | | to fill the gap with their version, but nothing ever |
| Dolls | | | | took off. |
| The Early Dolls Years: Circa 1870-1918 Horseman | | | | Billiken Doll Between 1918 and 1925 the Fulper Pottery |
| Dolls, Inc., formerly the E.I. Horseman Doll Company, | | | | Company obtained heads from the Armand Marseille |
| Inc., is one of the oldest doll manufacturers. It was | | | | Company of Germany. Bisque head dolls remained |
| founded in New York during the Mid-Nineteenth | | | | popular for a short time after the art was perfected |
| century, circa 1865 by Mr. Edward Iseman Horseman. | | | | in this country. But by the mid to late 1920s, the |
| In the late 1860s to mid 1870s, Horseman Company | | | | bisque head dolls were no longer in vogue. |
| began to import doll parts from Europe and possibly | | | | The Bye-Lo Baby and Kewpie Doll 1900 During the |
| Germany. The earliest dolls completed had bisque | | | | early 1900s, many doll companies began to produce |
| heads and cloth bodies. Around 1900, the company | | | | cute and lovable dolls. The Bye-Lo Baby and the |
| began to focus on creating some dolls of their own. | | | | Kewpie are examples of these dolls. E.I. Horseman |
| Below are examples of bisque dolls. | | | | produced the Campbell Kids and Baby Bumps, circa |
| Bisque Dolls Also, a line of stuffed bears were named | | | | 1911. Baby Bumps is said to have been modeled after |
| after President Theodore Roosevelt. The story goes | | | | a "live" baby model. The practice of employing artists |
| that nearly 100 years ago, President Theodore | | | | to fashion dolls became popular during this time. Many |
| Roosevelt, went on a bear hunt. He enjoyed nature | | | | of these special dolls were called "Art Dolls" and were |
| and being out in the woods where animals lived. | | | | constructed of composition. |
| Because he was the President of the United States, | | | | By-Lo DollKewpie DollCambell KidBlack Baby BumpsIn |
| the people organizing the hunt wanted to make sure | | | | 1911, a special type of composition doll called "Can't |
| the hunt was successful. But after 3 days of walking | | | | Break 'Em Heads was marketed. They also marketed |
| and climbing and riding, no bears were found. Now | | | | another new material called "Adtocolite." This new |
| what? The President's bear hunt would be a failure! | | | | material was light in weight, smooth and very tough. |
| Teddy BearThe next day the hunt guide and his | | | | Adtocolite allowed the dolls to stand alone and may |
| hunting dogs finally found an old bear. The dogs and | | | | have had Fulper-made bisque heads. The "Peterkin" |
| guide followed the bear for quite a distance until the | | | | doll, circa 1920, was one of the first all-Adtocolite |
| bear was very, very tired. The dogs attacked and | | | | dolls. |
| injured the old bear. The guides tied the bear to a | | | | Peterkin DollEarly Composition DollEffanbee Ann |
| tree and called for the President. Here was a bear for | | | | Shirley Composition DollSlogans associated with Billiken |
| him to shoot! | | | | were “the god of things as they ought to |
| President Roosevelt took one look at the poor old | | | | be” and “tickle my toes and see me |
| bear and said "no!" No one would shoot this old bear | | | | smile.” Poems accompanied the merchandise such |
| for sport. That would not be right. However, the | | | | as: |
| bear was injured and suffering. President Roosevelt | | | | “I am the God of Happiness |
| ordered the bear be put down to end its pain. | | | | I simply make you smile |
| The Rag Babyland Doll The first of a long line of | | | | I prove that life’s worth living |
| creative beautiful and interesting dolls was the Rag | | | | And that anything’s worth while |
| Doll, called "Babyland". The company continued to | | | | I force failure to his feet |
| assemble the bisque-had, cloth-body dolls and the rag | | | | And make the growler grin, |
| dolls, along with the Teddy Bears. With these three | | | | I’m the God of Happiness |
| products, E.I. Horseman Company became one of the | | | | My name is Billiken.” |
| leaders and trend-setters in the doll industry. | | | | Horseman and Aetna Doll Company 1911-1925 It |
| Babyland Rag Dolls The Billiken Doll 1900 By 1900, | | | | appears that the Horseman-Aetna consolidation was |
| American was ready for some new ideas. In 1909 | | | | between 1918 and 1925. In fact, when Aetna |
| Solomon Hoffman created a “Can’t Break | | | | produced some the the Horseman dolls, the Aetna |
| ’Em” composition material for doll making. In | | | | mark was also added. So if you find a doll with the |
| that same year, Horsman copyrighted a doll with a | | | | Aetna mark on it, it is safe to assume it was made |
| Billiken head. Using the new composition material, the | | | | between 1911 and 1925. Also, when Horseman |
| Billiken, grotesque, doll was created and became the | | | | bought doll heads from the Armand Marseille Doll |
| Horsman Doll Company’s first big success. The | | | | Company, the A.M. mark was on the doll part, along |
| plushie Billiken below had a "can't break em" head | | | | with a long blank oval space ( ) for the other |
| attached to a stuffed body. This doll was one of the | | | | company to insert their company initials. |
| first copyrighted dolls in America. The belief was that | | | | By the 1920s, most of the dolls being produced in the |
| it could bring he owner good luck. Slogans associated | | | | US were made of composition. Composition is a |
| with Billiken were “the god of things as they | | | | catchall term that describes a variety of materials |
| ought to be” and “tickle my toes and see | | | | used to make dolls. Composition material cold include |
| me smile.” Poems accompanied the merchandise | | | | wood pulp, sawdust, old gloves, rags, etc., mixed |
| such as: | | | | with glue. Each doll maker had a secret composition |
| “I am the God of Happiness | | | | formula. Many of these dolls were advertised through |
| I simply make you smile | | | | both Sears and Montgomery-Ward mail order |
| I prove that life’s worth living And that | | | | catalogs. It is estimated that E.I. Horseman produced |
| anything’s worth while | | | | between four and six thousand dolls a day. These |
| I force failure to his feet | | | | dolls were of a wide variety and high quality. The |
| And make the growler grin, | | | | most popular were the Character dolls and the |
| I’m the God of Happiness | | | | celebrity dolls, such as, "Baby Darling" (1915-1920) and |
| My name is Billiken." | | | | the "Coogan Doll" in 1920. |
| ”Radiator caps were fashioned in the shape of | | | | Jackie Coogan Doll |
| Billiken and he was considered to be a protector of | | | | NOTE: I will be publishing a series of articles on |
| the automobile. Billiken was followed by a "Sister | | | | Vintage and Antique Dolls. Email me at if you have |
| Billiken" which was considered to be cute, but public | | | | any questions or comments. I have tons of doll |
| acceptance was poor. | | | | books so if you have a doll and don't know who she |
| In 1914, in World War I, the doll industry suffered | | | | is, feel free to email me and I will be glad to research |
| quite a few setbacks. Horseman could no longer | | | | her for you. |
| import parts from Germany. American potters tried | | | | |