Chloe Zhang
The Arranbee Doll Company (R & B) was founded in 1919 in New York City. The company initially imported dolls and parts from Germany, but later began manufacturing its own dolls. In the 1940s, Arranbee began making hard plastic dolls, one of the first being Nanette, who was also produced with a vinyl head and hard plastic body in the 1950s. Unfortunately, vintage hard plastic dolls, including Arranbee's, often suffer from hard plastic disease, where bacteria feed on the plastic, causing a strong odour. This can be mitigated with various cleaning methods, but it is a common issue for owners of these beautiful vintage dolls.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Company | Arranbee Doll Company (R&B) |
| Founders | William Rothstein, Berman (R&B) |
| Year founded | 1919 |
| Location | New York City |
| Dolls made of | Bisque, composition, hard plastic, rubber, and vinyl |
| Types of dolls | Coty, Debu’teen, My Dream Baby, Kewty, Marianne, Nancy, Nancy Lee, Nanette, Storybook Dolls, Surprise Doll, Wee Lil’ Imp, Little Angel Doll Series, Coty Girl, Little Angel, Littlest Angel |
| Common issue | Hard plastic disease, which causes a funky smell |
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What You'll Learn
Arranbee doll composition
The Arranbee Doll Company (R&B) was founded in 1919 by William Rothstein, a 19-year-old Polish immigrant, and Berman (R&B). The company sold dolls made from a variety of materials, including bisque, composition, hard plastic, rubber, and vinyl. Composition dolls are made from a mixture of materials, typically including sawdust, glue, and other materials such as cornstarch or resin, which are then moulded and baked to create a hard shell.
Initially, Arranbee imported doll parts that were assembled in the United States, but later, in 1925, the company began producing its own composition dolls. One of their earliest composition dolls was the Nursery Rhyme (Storybook) doll, which was marketed in the 1930s. Other composition dolls produced by Arranbee include the Kewty doll, which was sold in the 1930s and was available in multiple variations through the mid-1940s. The Kewty doll was approximately 12 inches tall and had a bisque socket head with an open mouth and four teeth. The body of the Kewty doll was made of composition, with jointed limbs and a straight wrist.
Arranbee also produced a range of other dolls, including the popular hard plastic/vinyl Nanette doll, which was first introduced in the late 1940s and continued to be produced into the 1950s. The composition version of the Nanette doll, produced from the 1930s to the 1940s, featured a cloth body and a child's face. Over time, the materials used to create dolls evolved, and Arranbee began using hard plastic for their dolls in the late 1940s.
Some owners of vintage Arranbee dolls have reported issues with the dolls emitting a strange odour, a problem known as "hard plastic disease". This odour is thought to be caused by the deterioration of the plastic over time, resulting in a brown, greasy residue. The issue can be mitigated by cleaning the doll and sealing the inside with lacquer.
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The history of the Arranbee Doll Company
The Arranbee Doll Company (R & B) was founded in 1919 in New York City by William Rothstein, a 19-year-old Polish immigrant, and Berman (R & B). In its early years, the company imported doll parts, including bisque head dolls from Germany, which were then assembled in the United States. They also sold all-bisque dolls, composition mama dolls, and doll hospital supplies such as wigs, parts, and shoes.
In 1925, Arranbee opened its own factory in New York and began manufacturing composition dolls, with their first composition doll designed by Ruby Hopf, George Averill's sister. Throughout the 1920s, the company prospered, and by the early 1930s, they had introduced their popular Nancy doll, which became their flagship doll. "Nancy" was designed by Ruby Hopf and was available in various sizes, with different face sculpts, and outfits ranging from everyday wear to princess-like gowns.
In the 1930s, Arranbee also released other dolls, including "Kewty," "Marianne," and "Debu'Teen," which was introduced in 1938 as a slim-bodied doll representing a young teenage girl. During this time, they also produced the "Around the World" and "Storybook" dolls, which were 9-inch all-composition characters with molded hair and painted eyes.
In the 1940s, Arranbee kept up with industry changes and switched to using hard plastic for their dolls, such as the popular Nanette and Nancy Lee dolls. They also introduced a few Magic Skin"/latex dolls during this decade. In the 1950s, they transitioned to vinyl dolls and continued to produce a range of fashion dolls, including "Coty."
Unfortunately, William Rothstein, the company's founder and president, passed away unexpectedly in 1957, and his family sold the company to the Vogue Doll Company in 1959. Vogue continued to produce dolls under the Arranbee name until the early 1960s, when Arranbee dolls ceased to exist. Today, Arranbee dolls are highly prized by collectors for their beauty, quality, and durability.
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How to identify an Arranbee doll
The Arranbee Doll Company (R & B) was founded in 1919 in New York City by William Rothstein, a 19-year-old Polish immigrant, and Berman. In its early years, the company imported dolls and doll parts, such as wigs, shoes, and heads, from manufacturers in Germany. These included bisque heads from Armand Marseille and Simon & Halbig. The company also sold dolls under its own name, with the first being the ""Dream Baby" or "My Dream Baby", which was produced in the 1920s and had either a closed or open mouth. These dolls were marked with "Germany/ Arranbee" and had bisque heads with composition or cloth bodies.
In 1925, Arranbee opened its own factory in New York and began manufacturing composition dolls, such as the popular "Nancy" doll, which became the flagship doll for the company. Over the years, they expanded to different showrooms and manufacturing locations in Manhattan, with a facility in Hicksville, Long Island, and a showroom in San Francisco, California. The company kept up with industry changes, switching to hard plastic in the 1940s and vinyl in the 1950s. Many of their dolls were marketed with a wedding dress.
Some ways to identify an Arranbee doll include:
- Markings: Many Arranbee dolls are marked with ""R&B" or their names, such as "Arranbee Doll Co." on the doll's back. Some dolls may also have mould numbers, such as "341" or "351", depending on the variation.
- Materials: Arranbee dolls were made with various materials over the years, including bisque, composition, hard plastic, rubber, and vinyl. Their early dolls featured imported bisque heads with composition or cloth bodies. Later, they produced full composition dolls and then transitioned to hard plastic and vinyl.
- Size: Arranbee dolls vary in size, with "My Dream Baby" dolls ranging from 9 to 24 inches, and "Debu'Teen" dolls ranging from 11 to 22 inches.
- Features: The "Debu'Teen" doll, introduced in 1938, featured a young adolescent girl's facial expression with dreamy, side-glancing eyes. It had either a full-body composition or a composition shoulder plate with a movable head and cloth torso. Some variations had ''swing' composition legs. The wigs were made of human hair or mohair.
- Clothing and Accessories: Arranbee dolls were known for their high-quality clothing and accessories. The Coty Girl doll, for example, had many extra outfits, and the "Nancy" doll from the early 1930s was dressed in a gown with a red feather in her hair.
- Time Period: Knowing the time period in which specific dolls were produced can help identify them. For example, the "Debu'Teen" doll was produced from 1938 to the 1940s, while the "Surprise Doll" was produced from 1956 to 1957.
Additionally, there are reference books available, such as "Arranbee Dolls: The Dolls That Sell on Sight, Identification & Value Guide" by Suzanne L. DeMillar and Dennis J. Brevik, which includes over 650 colour photographs and illustrations of Arranbee dolls to aid in identification.
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How to clean an old plastic doll
The first step to cleaning an old plastic doll is to determine its composition. This will help you choose the best cleaning method to prevent damage. For example, if your doll has a cloth body, you should only surface wash it.
If your doll has a funky smell, it may be due to hard plastic disease, which is common in old hard plastic dolls. This could be caused by plasticizers, mould, or the lead in early eyes reacting with the old plastic. To get rid of the odour, clean the doll inside and out. You can try removing the wig and washing it separately, as the problem could be the glue reacting with the plastic.
To clean the doll, you can use a mild soap solution. Alternatively, you can make a paste with talcum powder and soft cologne and apply it to the body with a brush. Avoid getting the fabric body wet, as it may stain.
For stains, you can use Oxy-10 if they are not close to painted surfaces. Moisten a cotton ball with Oxy-10 and let it sit on the stain for several hours. Repeat if necessary, and then wash the doll with mild soap and rinse well. You can also use cold cream or a waterless hand cleaner for stubborn stains.
To remove mildew, soak the doll in sour milk and salt, then lay it in the sun. Follow this with a warm, soapy water wash and rinse. To remove tar, clean the doll with turpentine, and then with Lux soap.
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The value of antique Arranbee dolls
The Arranbee Doll Company (R&B) was founded in 1919 by William Rothstein, a 19-year-old Polish immigrant, and Berman (R&B). The company was located in New York City and sold bisque, composition, hard plastic, rubber, and vinyl dolls. Initially, the company imported doll parts that were assembled in the United States, along with doll heads, parts, and hospital supplies. In 1925, Arranbee began producing its own composition dolls, with Miss Ruby Hopf, George Averill's sister, as the principal designer.
In 1931, Rothstein created the Nancy doll, which became the flagship doll for the company. Following Rothstein's death in 1959, Vogue purchased Arranbee and continued to use the R&B mark until early 1961. Over the years, Arranbee produced a variety of dolls, including Coty, a fashion doll; Debu'teen, which came in multiple variations; My Dream Baby or Dream Baby doll, which ranged in size from 9 to 24 inches; Kewty dolls; Marianne; and many more.
Today, antique Arranbee dolls are sought after by collectors, and their value can vary depending on several factors. The rarity and condition of the doll play a significant role in determining its worth. For example, a doll with its original outfit and accessories will generally be more valuable than one that has been restored or is missing pieces. Additionally, certain dolls may be more desirable due to their unique features or limited production runs, driving up their value.
To determine the value of a specific antique Arranbee doll, it is advisable to consult specialist guides such as Dawn Herlocher's "Antique Traders Doll Markers and Marks: A Guide to Identification" and "200 Years of Dolls: Identification and Price Guide". Online resources such as WorthPoint can also be useful in identifying and valuing antique dolls, providing access to a vast database of sold prices, item details, and images.
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Frequently asked questions
The Arranbee Doll Company (R&B) was founded in 1919 in New York City by William Rothstein, a 19-year-old Polish immigrant, and Berman. The company initially imported doll parts to be assembled in the United States, but later produced its own high-quality dolls made from materials such as bisque, composition, hard plastic, rubber, and vinyl.
The Arranbee Nanette doll was first introduced in the late 1940s as one of the company's first hard plastic dolls. She is a teen doll with a slightly more oval face and fuller lips than the earlier Nancy Lee doll. Nanette was often made as a walking doll, featuring elaborate hairstyles and outfits.
Hard plastic disease refers to the deterioration of early plastics used in dolls, causing a distinct odour described as resembling vomit, cheese, or a rotting creature. This is due to the presence of urea formaldehyde in the plastic formulation. The issue can be mitigated by cleaning the doll and sealing the interior with lacquer.
Arranbee dolls can be identified by marks such as R&B or specific doll names like Debuteen, Little Angel, Kewty, and Nancy. The company produced a range of doll types, including fashion dolls, baby dolls, and storybook dolls, with varying heights and features.
