How do you care for old dolls/parts/clothes?
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Rita C. - Panoply on Nov 04, 2013My sister is a master [porcelain] doll maker, who specialized in making reproductions of antique dolls and their period clothing. She has retired her business, but she also did doll repair. That is what you need to re-string your doll, repair/restyle/clean wigs, clothing, and broken body parts if you decide the cost is worth the benefit. I'm no expert, but the first doll with mustache looks like an Effanbee composition doll, and some of those in the variety photo are what are called storybook dolls. The Hawaiian doll looks like a celluloid doll. All worth some $ to collectors, depending on condition.Helpful Reply
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Cynthia H on Nov 04, 2013Even without repair, there are a lot of collectors out there looking for a bargain. The previous writer is right about professional repair, and the possible worth of some of the dolls. From personal experience, collect what you really like and let go of the rest (selling them off can support the cost of repair and/or collecting of what you really want). If you are interested in trying your hand at repair and or cleaning, there are excellent tutorials online. There are also online doll groups that support members' interests. From experience, it is best to get advice before cleaning vintage fabric and other materials.Helpful Reply
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Susan on Nov 04, 2013Try the Twin Pines of Maine website. They have a lot of time-tested products for restoring dolls.Helpful Reply
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Robin Johnson on Nov 05, 2013Just wanted to show you they can be fixed by a novice.Helpful Reply
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Irie Dremz on Nov 06, 2013i'd forgotten about doll hospitals. omg. they really were a useful service.Helpful Reply
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Lynda Gaskill on Nov 06, 2013Does anyone know of a good doll hospital?Helpful Reply
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Neloh on Nov 06, 2013Check with your local resource librarian for help in identifying your treasures!Helpful Reply
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Gail on Nov 06, 2013My mom was a doll hospital of Racine county, WI, she passed in 2006, but did pass on things to us. The best things we found to clean them with that does not take off anything but the dirt is a product called "Jubilee". You can find it in the Vermont Country Store catalog, they still have it. It is a Johnson & Johnson vinyl floor cleaning product. With the clothes, we went to Goodwill's, St. Vinnies and vintage material stores to match fabrics. We remade as vintage as possible. I learned through my mom how to fix dolls as close to orginal as possible, including making hair, re- attaching arms, legs and remolding bodies. I hope some of this will help.Helpful Reply
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Landee2 on Nov 06, 2013I can't think of his name, but that doll at the top of the page is a very valuable doll.Looks like original clothes which is always a plus.Helpful Reply
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Robin Johnson on Nov 07, 2013You can find books about it on amazon.comHelpful Reply
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Robin Johnson on Nov 07, 2013Here is a book: http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Composition-Repair-Restore-Dolls/dp/B000T4DYVE/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1383814354&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=composistion+doll+repairHelpful Reply
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