The History Behind Effanbee Patsy Dolls
One of Effanbee's great success stories was the Patsy® doll designed by Bernard Lipfert and advertised in 1928. Patsy® was one of the first dolls to have a manufactured wardrobe just for her. Patsy® was originally made of all composition and her patent was hotly defended by Effanbee® . . . what was actually patented was a neck joint that allowed the doll to pose and stand-alone. Patsy portrayed a three year old girl with short bobbed red hair with a molded headband, painted side glancing eyes, pouty mouth and bent right arm. She wore simple classic dresses closed with a safety pin. Patsy came with a golden heart charm bracelet that fit tightly on her wrist and a gold paper heart tag with her name. She was so popular she soon had several sisters in sizes from 5 ¾ inches to 29 inches.
Following the World War Two, the company changed hands several times and Patsy fell into disuse. Effanbee reissued Patsy Joan in 1995, and continued with a new group of Patsy®, Skippy, and Wee Patsy™ dolls in vinyl painted to look like the old composition ones.
In 2002, the Robert Tonner Doll Company acquired Effanbee® . . . in 2005 the Patsy dolls dressed as the characters from the Wizard of Oz were introduced based on the 14” vinyl doll Patsy. Each character from Oz is a fully strung doll with a painted face. Dorothy has rooted saran hair.
In 2006, we are bringing a selection from the "Wee Patsy" line of 5" dolls and the 10" Patsyette Dolls - they are fully strung vinyl dolls with posing capibilities. Ready to touch your heart!
