Anyway, I was curious to learn more about them so hence my trip to AR.
Now I've watched AR for many years and if I'm ever going to fall in love with anything on the show then its usually being reviewed by Hilary Kay, so imagine my delight when I managed to see Hilary with my dolls. (There were 5 - 6 experts dealing with the 'miscellaneous' category so it really was pot luck as to who you got to see).
The first doll I showed Hilary was the one in best condition and one that I thought was made by Deans. Hilary confirmed that she is a Dean's Rag doll from around 1930.
My next doll, which is the scary one, was a Trego doll made in USA. Now I only know that she is a Trego doll as the name is on her back and I have managed to find out that this company were based in New York but only made dolls for about 4 years. They do not feature in any doll book that I have seen and Hilary could not find any reference to this company in her books either. Hilary was able to give me details of another American Doll Book which is considered to be 'the doll bible', so hopefully I can track her down a bit more at a future date. Hilary thinks she was made around 1910 and gave me advice on how to have her eyes reset as they have sort of sunken into her head. But you know what, I sort of like them that way as she has a wonderful haunted look.
And finally, my third doll, this time a little boy. Hilary was impressed with this doll's smashed head, which had been carefully glued back together again and joined up at the rear with a hand painted plaster of paris type material. Hilary was unable to identify the maker of this doll but thought that he was European and made around 1940. I wouldn't normally subject any doll to being stripped and having their bare bits displayed for all to see but undressing this doll, does provide an interesting sight as he has been constructed using a mish mash of hard parts and a painted material body. All very odd. No wonder someone made him a nice knitted bodysuit, material dungarees and a cardigan.
Hilary felt that she had not been much help to me as she had not been able to tell me much about 2 of the dolls that I had taken to her, but I don't mind really. It all adds to their mystique. Like they have a secret history that only they will reveal when they choose to.
As to value, well I knew that in their condition they would not be worth anything much and I was right. I will not be retiring anytime soon.
Sadly, these little treasures were not picked for broadcasting on the show, so I thought I'd share them with you.
