Miniatures and More

Miniatures and More

The Spencer Doll And Toy Museum holds an impressive collection of dolls and toys from the past and the present. In addition to dolls and toys, a prominent exhibit of miniatures is always front and center. A special exhibit case has been dedicated to showcasing the exciting world of miniatures.
Every few months a new and exciting display graces the museum. Currently fine quality miniatures created by Rachel Bonney are  highlighted in the miniatures cabinet. A delightful grouping of tea cups, each with a different miniature scene, are featured in the display along with a variety of other serious and whimsical mini-creations. Children and adults alike are fascinated at the level of detail featured in Bonney’s creations.    

We hope to grow the miniatures exhibits in the Museum. It’s our hope that one day the SDTM will showcases dozens of fine art displays, featuring the work of hundreds of miniatures artisans.

The Spencer Doll and Toy Museum is located at 108 Fourth Street in Spencer, NC and open Wednesday through Saturday from 10am to 4pm. Admission for NAME and UFDC members is $4.00. Visitor’s should expect to be amazed at what is hidden within the walls of the museum! 

If you are interested in exhibiting your minis please contact the museum at 704-762-9359. For more information www.spencerdollandtoymuseum.com

Girl Scouts and Barbie Partner to Create First-Ever Barbie Patch

Did you know that the Girl Scouts of the USA and Barbie have partnered together to create the first ever Barbie "Be Anything, Do Everything" Patch? It's true! The participation patch is designed to inspire young girls who are interested in being female leaders. They are encouraging  to  explore career possibilities through exciting program activities.

Did you know that over the past 50 years Barbie has had over 135 different careers?

Learn more about Barbie and her careers by visiting the Spencer Doll And Toy Museum. We have a large collection of Barbies on display. You're sure to enjoy them!

The "Be Anything, Do Everything"patch can be earned by Dasies and Brownies.

Take a sneak peak inside the Spencer Doll And Toy Museum.

View the attached video and take a sneak peak inside the Spencer Doll And Toy Museum. You'll be amazed at the variety of antique and vintage dolls, toys, trains and trucks!

Make time for a visit. We'll reopen on January 15, 2014 with new exhibits. Happy New Year!

During the 1930s North American factories churned out dollhouse furnishings 

During  the 1930s, due to the Great Depression, times were tough for many people in Canada and the United States. Both World Wars had disrupted the flow of toys from Germany and this allowed opportunities for North American factories to churn out dollhouse furnishings -- and prepared the way for the inroads of plastic in the late 1940s. 

But during the 1930s, metal, wood, cardboard and cloth formed the bulk of miniatures, while plywood, fiber-board and cardboard were the choices for dollhouses. Colorful printed papers were glued over these cheap materials. 

One of the most popular manufacturers of dollhouse furnishings was a company in Chicago named Dowst. TootsieToy was their trade name.  "Tootsie"  was the name of a family member who died tragically young at age 16 years. two years later the name changed to "Tootsietoy."

The doll house furnishings were made in a "special composition metal that will not break easily" and, further, that this "almost indestructible metal"  would "not break like wood."

This company specialized in small, little playthings like toy cars, planes, and little trains. Dowst also created a line for girls focusing on dollhouse furnishings. 

And what's interesting about Dowst and TootsieToy was they were able to find an economic way to mass-produce furniture. The original price for an entire set was $1.25. The smaller sets were a little less expensive and they were made out of cast metal. The metal is known as "die-cast" and is very easy to cast, providing a lot of detail. The upholstered furniture, featured  a flocked surface so it looks soft, but it's really still a die-cast piece of furniture.

The kitchen furniture pieces featured in their line are just as detailed. A few pieces in the line included a Monitor Top refrigerator, the type of stove used in the day, a Hoosier-type-looking cupboard. 

If a collector were to have a boxed set in the highest condition, he could conservatively value the set, at approximately  $200 to $300. But when you really put a whole collection together, the price could increase significantly.  At an auction, a full set of eight rooms could be valued between $2,500 to $3,000. .

Today's collectors are still in search of the perfect piece.  However on the market today, most of the pieces are maimed pianos, table, sinks, etc.,  not to mention the chipped paint finishes. The scale of the Tootsie furniture is quite small and ranges in scale from ½ inch to 1 inch.

New Additions to Barbie Through The Years

Due to a generous loan from a collector, we now have original Barbies, Ken, and family and friends in our Barbie Through The Years exhibit. If you've never seen an original Barbie, or if you used to own one but it disappeared sometime over the years, you'll be sure to enjoy this exhibit. The Barbies range from 1960 to the early 1980s and include Ken as you've never seen him before, Skipper, and Julia, Mattel's first black character doll.

Do you remember...

...Betsy McCall paper dolls?

...composition dolls?

...Pic Up Stix?

...cowboy heroes like Roy Rogers?

...Patty Playpal?

...classic cars and cruising?

...when Scarlett used the drapes to make a dress?

Revisit your favorite toys and share your memories of favorite classic film stars and that car you used to have as you view the diverse collection of dolls and toys at the Spencer Doll and Toy Museum.

Look and Touch

The Spencer Doll and Toy Museum isn't a "look, but don't touch" museum. We have play areas for kids so that they can handle a doll from the 1940s, write on a vintage chalk board, play with an intricate donated toy train set, and even dress the dolls on a "paper doll" quilt. Bring the whole family to the museum for an educational and interactive experience!

Video of the Museum!

It's almost that time....

...time to go back to school!

If you're looking for one more afternoon of fun with the kids before school starts, come and visit us at the Spencer Doll and Toy Museum. We have a calendar of events listed on our website, including Fashion and Modeling Day Camp on August 4. There's still time to register. Call the museum for details. 

China head dolls

Many people refer to all porcelain and bisque dolls as "china dolls". China head dolls are a separate category. They have molded hair instead of a wig or rooted hair, and usually have a cloth body with porcelain or bisque forearms and feet. They may also have kid leather hands. Many china heads have exaggeratedly large calves, painted blue garters, and brown or black painted boots. China heads are usually referred to by their hairstyles: low brow and high brow. The doll head in the first picture is an example of a low brow. Companies, mainly in Germany, began producing china heads in 1840. Reproductions are still made, such as the two blonde dolls in the second picture which are from the mid to late 20th century. The Spencer Doll and Toy Museum has an exhibit of gorgeous antique china heads with various types of bodies. Come in and see these beautiful and fascinating dolls for yourself. They will be on exhibit until September.

A Trip Down Memory Lane - Miniature Toy Soldiers

Do you remember playing with miniature soldiers and other miniature toys as a child? The Spencer Doll and Toy Museum has two cases of miniatures and other "baby boomer" toys on loan from the South Carolina Military Miniature Society. Visitors have described these exhibits as "a trip down memory lane." Come in and see them and our many other featured exhibits!

Celebrating 100 Years of Scouting

2012 marks the 100th anniversary of the Girl Scouts! We have a fantastic exhibit of vintage and modern Girl Scout dolls and memorabilia. Some of the items are on loan from the Charlotte Hornet's Nest Girl Scout Council, so the exhibit won't be here long. Stop by and see it before it moves on to its next destination.

Happy Fourth of July from the Spencer Doll and Toy Museum!

Come in and visit us! We're open all week.

Opening Saturday, June 30

The Spencer Doll and Toy Museum will be OPEN on Saturday, June 30, from 10-4. We will be closed Sunday and Monday, then will reopen Tuesday. Regular hours will be Tuesday-Saturday 10-4. Admission fees are $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, and $3 for children. Please bring cash only this week! Thank you! See you tomorrow!

Tyler Wentworth versus Gene!

Which is your favorite, Tyler Wentworth by the Tonner Doll Company:

or, Gene by Mel Odom?

Here is another Tonner doll, Ava Gardner:

And finally, one more doll by Mel Odom. This is Violet Waters:

Whether you prefer Tonner dolls or Gene dolls, we have a beautiful exhibit that includes both. Hurry in and see them before the summer is over, because Gene and her friends won't be with us forever!

Convoy!

Do you love trucks? Do you REALLY love trucks? If you do, you must put the Spencer Doll and Toy Museum on your list for a day trip this summer! We have hundreds of die-cast, scale model tractor trailers, cars, and motorcycles.

The Spencer Doll and Toy Museum has something for everyone, so please come visit us when we open in a few weeks!

Have you ever wondered how a doll is made?

Come to the Spencer Doll and Toy Museum when we open in July and view our "What Is A Doll?" exhibit to find out!

The picture above is an example of greenware. Greenware is the very fragile, unfinished clay product that comes out of a mold. Once greenware has been fired in a kiln, it becomes more durable ceramic. The ceramic doll head, or other components, are then painted by the artist, and the product is a lovely completed doll. "What Is A Doll?", prepared by Michael and Gayle Hansen, gives a brief history of dolls and shows different types of dolls as well as a mold used to create a doll's head and the different stages that a head goes through before being finished.

New Faces!

Amazing new dolls are arriving at the Spencer Doll and Toy Museum almost every day! These are just a few of our latest babies, on loan from generous members of the Rowan Doll Society:

Dolls From Around The World

Our collection includes dolls from nearly every country you can imagine!

Come and see our international Barbies, Precious Moments dolls, and other dolls when we open in a  few weeks. You and your children can experience the beauty and culture of people the world over through our dolls and toys.

Not just dolls!

The Spencer Doll and Toy Museum also has vintage toys, such as these tin marble games from the 1930s:

Plan to come and see our wide variety of exhibits, including antique and vintage toys, a massive working train set, and hundreds of die-cast model trucks! The Spencer Doll and Toy Museum has something for everyone!

~Robin