366. I'm A-Coming For You!!!: TALKING BEANY MATTEL DOLL,1961

Remember Beany and the sea-sick sea serpent, Cecil?  The unlikely duo was an animated cartoon series created by Bob Clampett for the ABC Television, based on the TV puppet show Time for Beany, produced for Paramount Pictures in 1949. The cartoon series first appeared in Matty's Funday Funnies in 1959, and peaked in popularity in the 60s as The Beany and Cecil Show.

Many toys were inspired by this hit cartoon--including the best-selling Beany and Cecil puppets. This Mattel-made talking doll of Beany is another fine example, showing minimal wear and nice intact seams. Made in 1961, Beany still talks, although he says his name in jibberish. His trademark beanycopter propeller is there, although broken. This awesome doll was purchased on ebay--with 2 bonus plastic tumblers of Beany and Cecil thrown in!!

360. A MENAGERIE OF MINI-DOLLS

A wonderful grouping of display figurines and European-made doll miniatures offered for sale by a dealer-collector. I was tempted to get a few, but promised to come back to wipe them all. I was particularly drawn to the little jointed dolls made of bisque, with mohair wigs that could be posed and play with, despite the delicacy of the material. Some were imperfect, with broken limbs, all nicely painted.

Dolls of these kinds are rare in the Philippines because they were rather expensive, way beyond ordinary means of families. The figurines are also of the same material, depicting family scenes and character figures like a fishing boy, grandpa on a chair and dancing ladies. Now, if only i could find a nice little cabinet to house hem all in. That's for another hunt!!

356. Let's Do the Horsey-Horsey! MOBO HORSE

Giddyap!! Here is a pressed-metal horse I got online--it's called a Mobo Horse, which sought to replace the more popular wooden rocking horses. These ride-on horses were inexpensively produced by a factory in Kent, England, from the 1940s through the '60s. The bestseller was a Mobo Bronco made by D. Sebel & Co., which began as a metalworking firm in the 1920s,

As the child astride the horse pushed down and then released the flat metal "stirrup" pedals, the horse bounced up and down, and wheels hidden under the hooves propelled it forward. In the 1950s, a steering mechanism was added, and by pushing down on just one pedal, the horse could be turned in that direction. This Mobo is the steerable version, and measures 30 inches tall.This example has been repainted but has all its parts almost intact (missing harness).

So, put on your riding boots...and join me on the first part of the journesy--in my horse with a name--MOBO!

341. On My Honor: 1965 GIRLS SCOUT BROWNIE DOLL

A very nice vinyl doll from 1965, made by the famed doll manfacturer, Effanbee. The 8 inch, all-vinyl doll represents a Brownie Scout. It is fully jointed and has sleep eyes, and comes with accessories like a brown belt, orange kerchief and shoes. This is an official doll made for the Girl Scouts of America, and they were first made together with a Junior Girl Sout version. The Brownie Girl Scout doll was a brunette, and the Junior Girl Scout was a blonde. Both were individually boxed with a clear acetate cover  imprinted with the Girl Scout trademark, catalog number, and price.

336. TUMBLING CLOWN ACROBATS

Look at these "Tumbling Clown" plastic acrobat mechanical toys that I found with original box intact. Dating from the 60s, they were made by a plastic toy firm in Malabon--proudly Philippine made!

The pieces are surprising intact after all these years, save for a missing plastic tab or two. The assembly is very simple--one had to snap together the plastic framework pieces to form a sort of a tower. 

Then, all you had to do was set the clowns--which were connected together with a see-saw-like crosspiece--on the topmost ramp of the tower. A little nudge will cause the clowns to "tumble" down in a teeter-totter motion, complete with a jingle-jangle sound--no batteries, no electricity needed! Just plain, simple fun! Just the way childhood should be!

Now, let me do that again....

312. YOU'RE A KEWPIE DOLL!

"Cute as a Kewpie!"
Kewpies were initially conceived as comic strip characters by artist,  Rose O'Neill. The name "Kewpie" it is said, was derived from "Cupid"-- also depicted in mythology as a youn child, naked and winged. The cartoons began to gain popularity after the publication of O'Neill's comic strips in 1909, and thereafter, paper doll versions of the Kewpies were made. The characters were first produced as bisque dolls in Germany beginning in 1912, and became extremely popular in the early twentieth century.Later, they were made from composition, celluloid, hard plastic, soft rubber and vinyl.

KEWPIES made in Germany. With and without the identifying Kewpie heart label. PICTURE SOURCE:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kewpie

The earlier bisque and composition versions of Kewpie dolls are widely sought-after by collectors--and this  7-inch German-made example was a prize find from a local antique shop. Versions were made without the identifying Kewpie heart label found on the doll's chest, but all have the same characteristics: protruding belly, googlie eyes, stubby arms and little back wings. Kewpies have become part of our pop culture--used as mascots, in advertising, art,  and even in songs!

300. It's The Real Tin: MECHANICAL READING BEAR

Now here's an ingenious battery-run mechanical toy I've had for years. It's one of my first tin toy actually, bought from a store in Binondo with many old stocks. It shows a charming little bear made from fluffy fabric with a book on its lap. When switched on, one paw--which has a hidden magnet--stamps a metal page of the book, and then flips it over--just like he is reading the book. The book pages have incredible details, showing story titles like "The City Mouse and the Country Mouse". There are no marks on this late 50s-early 60s toy, but it looks Japan-made. The fur fabric has started to fall-off and I am resigned to the fact that it will soon deteriorate--but I intend to keep this toy for awhile even in this state, at least for display. For where on else can still one see a bear that reads?

293. Look Who's Talking: DANNY O'DAY VENTRILOQUIST DOLL

Of the many kinds of dolls available to a collector, none elicits more interest than ventriloquist dolls that found fame in Hollywood, starting with Charlie McCarthy of Edgar Bergen. Quick to follow was "Danny O'Day", a creation of Jimmy Nelson (b. December 15, 1928). At age 10, he was given a toy ventriloquist's dummy named "Dummy Dan" won by an aunt in a Bingo game. Jimmy learned ventriloquism, and a year later, began taking "Dan" to school. From school performances, he joined amateur talent contests which he consistently won, prompting him to start a professional career.

In 1945, Nelson asked Frank Marshall, a famed maker of ventriloquist dolls (he had made Charlie McCarthy and Jerry Mahoney)  to make him a professional-quality dummy. Marshall sold Nelson a custom-made dummy, which Nelson named Danny O'Day. "Danny O'Day" became a hit when Nelson took his act in nationwide tours.

This vintage 24" 1967 Danny O'Day Ventriloquist Dummy Doll was made by Juro Novelty Co. The ventriloquist is in good used condition. There are signs of use/age but overall doesn't look bad.  The string opens the mouth as it should but the mouth does not close on its own. Despite its flaws, Danny O'Day makes a great display piece, an icon from the past when the world was entertained by talking dolls!

292. TOY FLAT IRON & IRONING BOARD

A Philippine-made ironing set--inclusive of a "pakabayo"(ironing board made of painted plywood) and a small flat iron (plantsa) made of thin brass. This child's toy is realistically constructed, and the ironing board even folds for storing--just like the real thing. The tiny plantsa can be opened, just like a real coal-fed pressing iron. Children's play sets such as these were locally made and peddled by ambulant vendors around town--in areas like the church, during fiestas and market days. This rare toy was found on the biggest buy-and-sell online shop, sulit.com.ph.

287. A DACHSHUND NAMED VICTOR

I don't even know why I got this stuffed pooch. Handmade from corduroy, it's supposed to represent a dachshund--but a red dachshund? Well, I guess there lies its odd charm. This must have been made for a little boy to play with, a canine-loving kid named Victor. The name of the owner is spelled out on top of the dog's head using cut-out felt letters. Alas, the letter "R"is missing!

The dog has button eyes, floppy corduroy ears and kapok stuffing--which makes this probably a relic from the 50s. It's pretty well-preserved, which means that it must have been treasured by Victor, who lived up to the saying that indeed, a man's best friend is his dachshund.

283. For the Kid Chef: MINI-CLAY KITCHEN TOY UTENSILS

These three miniature clay kitchen utensils are all that's left of a large kitchen play set, made in the Philippines in the 1930s. The first to be  a "kendi", an almost-defunct Southeast Asian earthenware--at least in the Philippines--used as a drinking vessel and treasured by early Filipinos as a family heirloom. The next item looks like a clay version of a "tacho", those rund copper cooking pans with handles. The last is a very tiny "mangkok" or bowl. These simple Philippine toys of fired clay were sold in bazaars and tourist shops during the Commonwealth years, popular souvenirs from an American-controlled country finding its identity through its unique traditions in play and children's leisure.

281. A Tisket, A Tasket: MINI-CLAY BASKET OF FRUITS

Very few native toys were made commercially in the Philippines--and the early ones made meant to prepare little girls for their future roles in their hearth and homes: mini-kitchen wares, mini-flat irons, mini-stoves, mini-wash basins, mini-everything! 

This 50s clay basket of fruits was one such plaything made--fashioned from clay, the only viable material that was readily available in provinces. Probably, this was part of a set of collectible clay wares peddled in the local market, or sold in front of churches--where people congregated.  Other clay products that catered to kids included piggy banks, which continue to be produced today.  But these clay playthings of fruits and basket have all  but vanished from the neighborhood tiangges (markets), the same way that kids have disappeared from the streets, to play computer games instead in the privacy of their homes.