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n u m b e r 5
The Number
5 Barbie. Item 850.
She was
the same size doll. Issue date: 1961. Box
date: 1959. The number 5 doll had a new
style torso-more of a hard type plastic and
hollow on the inside. The body was similar
to the Ken doll's plastic body. This doll
has the smaller neck knob and on a straight
leg body. Number 5 doll was dressed in a 1
pc. strapless jersey knit swimsuit.
Doll shown from my collection.
description
Hair colors: assortment of blondes,
brunettes, or titian. Lips: large bright red
painted lips from factory. Painted red
nails.
Pearl
earrings, optional sunglasses with blue lenses, a
wrist tag, and open toe black heels that were a must;
which were all included
in boxed new condition. Also, she came with a
fashion booklet
- Barbie and Ken
book, dated 1961.
photo
Some of the Number 5's
had the new firmer textured hair (or a saran
type hair). Yet, some dolls on the market
were seen with the older style,
softer hair. Some of these dolls had the combination of
the firmer and softer hair. Most of these dolls had the
ponytail with softer bangs hair style. Also, some dolls
on the market, were made with the same textured hair
into a bubble cut hair style. In 1961, some of the
Number 5's came with pearl stud earrings which replaced
the gold hoops. Most of these dolls had the newer style
doll stand like the Ken doll while some dolls did
continue to have the old pedestal style stand.
I would
think Mattel used what materials they had on
their line. This practice can be seen
throughout years of their factory production
and manufacturing habits. Sometimes seen
with fabrics too. Good business practice,
maybe, not to waste any manufacturing
products and materials and with many
business trades, changes do come to improve
any product or line. This doll was a toy and
had many test markets to endure.
Note:
The Number 5 Ponytail has been
known to collectors as the "
Greasy faced" doll. The vinyl
from earlier processing
techniques has caused the
plastic to have some type of
breakdown imbalance and the
doll's vinyl on face, can appear
with a somewhat greasy look and
touch to her. The best way to
clean; use a clean dry soft
cloth and pat gently to remove
the build up. Some collectors
use different methods to remove
the oil but I have always been
cautious and used the soft clean
cloth technique. Important:
not
ALL
Number 5 Barbie dolls have this
problem of a greasy
characteristic. These dolls have
large red painted lips compared
to the previous dolls. Today,
they are somewhat hard to find
with the original full bright
red lips. See info Number 6 link
above or
here |
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The Number 5 has the same id
markings as the first 4 Barbie
dolls.
To locate quality dolls like
shown check my vintage web
picks/visit doll shows/National Barbie
convention/antique places/catalog auctions |
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MARKINGS
Barbie
R/Pats.Pend/ @ MCMLVIII
/by/Mattel/Inc. The "R"
encircled.
Details: painted red nails tan
straight leg body. Number 5
known as "Greasy face". or oily
patina to face, not on all
Number 5 dolls.
ken historical>>
Number 6
ponytail
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