Barbie of the Month: Reissue Skipper

Reissue Skipper

In 1969 Mattel added a last minute update flyer to their spring catalog. One of the six items featured was Barbie’s little sister, the #950 straight-leg Skipper doll.  She was packaged wearing the same swim-suit as she wore back in 1964, when she originally debuted.  She was available through 1970, when she was only included in the 1970 Sears catalog, priced at $1.97.

Photo from the 1970 Sears Catalog

This young girl wasn’t exactly identical though.  Even though she had the same swim-suit and hair style as the 1964 version, she had a pinker skin tone and a modified box. 



#950 Reissue Skipper in the updated box



Just glancing at the box you’d almost think it was identical, but if you take a closer look you will see that the new box features Mod Barbie dolls dressed in 1969 and 1970 Mod clothing, rather than early dolls dressed in early 1960’s clothing.

1964 and 1969 boxes

Reissue Skipper has blue eyes and pink, peach, or yellow lips, and was available with blonde, brunette, or titan hair colors.

1964 and 1969 boxes

1964 and 1969 boxes

1964 and 1969 boxes

She is marked: ©1963/Mattel, Inc.

The similar box included skipper in her one-piece red and white swim-suit, red flat shoes, brass headband, white plastic brush & comb, black or gold wire stand, and booklet.  Note:  the brass headband often tarnishes and caused some green to transfer onto Skippers head and hair when left on her head.

Since Skipper was only available from 1969 to 1970 and was only featured twice, (once on a flyer and once in the Sears catalog), she is extremely rare to find in-box.   She is certainly a very popular doll among collectors.

Happy Hunting!

Barbie of the Month: Talking Stacey

In 1968 Mattel released the stunning  #1125 Talking Stacey doll, who was Barbie’s friend from England.   She was available from 1968-1970.

 

 

Talking Stacey wore a long side pony-tail in a choice of hair colors;  blonde or red (copper penny as red is often referred to). She tied it with a pretty green ribbon.  Her legs were bendable, she had a twist n’ turn waist, blue eyes, and beautiful long eye-lashes.



The Mattel catalog referred to the hair colors
as Copper Brown and Summertime Blonde.

In 1968 through the first part of 1970 Stacey wore a two-piece striped swim suit.  By late 1970 it was changed to a one-piece style suit.   The one piece suit was never featured in the 1970 Mattel catalog.



The harder to find one-piece version
which was only available late in 1970

 

On the back of her neck was a pink pull talking ring which was used to make her speak.  With her British accent she could say:
 

Let's have Barbie over for tea.

I think miniskirts are smashing!

What's playing at the cinema? Shall we go?

 

Oh dear! What shall I wear to dinner?

 

Being a model is terribly exciting!
 

 

This picture is used in the
1968-1970 Mattel Catalogs

Stacey did not have her own line of clothing.  Since she was the same size as Barbie their clothes were interchangeable.  The only clothing that was made specifically for Stacey was the items included in these two gift sets:  #1545 Stripes are Happening  and #1591 Night Lightning.  Both sets included the Twist ‘n turn version of Stacey.
 

Each year a variation in the box she was packaged in appeared.  In 1969 she had a smaller box with a clear cover.  In 1969 her box was similar, but wider with additional information along the front side. In 1970 a new lighter colored box was introduced, with different graphics to match her new swim-suit.

(left to right) 1968 doll, 1969-70 Doll, and late 1970 Doll

 

Inside the box with Stacey was a clear “X” style stand and fashion booklet.

1968-1969 versions of Talking Stacey are marked:  Talking: ©1967/Mattel, Inc./U.S. & Foreign/Pats. Pend./Mexico.   The 1970 version is marked: 1967/Mattel, Inc./U.S. & Foreign /Pats. Pend./Hong Kong.

Stacey's Wrist Tag

 

Commercials back in the day are always great to watch, go to u-tube and search for Taking Barbie and Stacey commercial from 1968!

 

The beautiful Stacey head mold is one of the most popular, and has been used on many dolls in the Barbie family. The original is a must in any Barbie collection!
 

Happy Hunting!




 

Barbie of the Month: Funtime Barbie and the Gang

 

Funtime Barbie, Ken, and Skipper are the three Funtime dolls that were sold in Europe and Canada in 1975 (boxes marked 1974). 

#7192 Funtime Barbie

The beautiful #7192 Funtime Barbie is made from the true Barbie head mold.  She has long blonde hair, bendable legs, and a twist ‘n turn waist.  Her hair is parted on the side with two pony tails.

#7194 Funtime Ken wears blue swim trunks, has dark brown molded hair, and bendable legs.

 

Funtime Ken

#7193 Skipper, Barbie’s little sister, has long blonde hair, heavy make-up, and wears a yellow two-piece swim suit. 

Interestingly, Barbie and Skipper were made in Korea, and Ken was made in Taiwan.

They are marked:

Barbie: © 1966 Mattel, Inc. U.S. Patented U.S. Pat. Pend. Made in Korea

Ken: ©1968/Mattel, Inc. U.S. & For. Pat'd./Other Pats./Pending/Taiwan

Skipper: 1967 Mattel Inc. U.S. Pat'd. U.S. Pats. Pend. Made in Korea



Barbie and Ken Box markings

There is one additional Funtime doll with a darker rose colored box, who's name doesn’t appear on the back of Barbie, Skipper, and Ken’s box simply because she was only released in 1976.  She is #7381 Funtime Skooter.  This cute redhead with a twist-n-turn waist and bendable legs wears a blue two-piece swim-suit.  She is the hardest of the four dolls to locate. 
 

Funtime Skooter

Skooter is marked: © 1967 Mattel, Inc. U.S. Pat'd. U.S. Pats. Pend. Made in Korea



1976 Skooter and 1975 Skipper

Sold alongside these dolls in 1975 were Funtime sets, advertised as “today’s teens in outdoor scenes”.  I have not been able to locate a picture or even a description of these outdoor sets at the time of this writing.  If you have anything to add, please let our readers know!

 

Barbie, Ken, and Skipper were only available for two short years and Skooter for one year.  Since you could only get them in Europe and Canada, they are always much more difficult to find on the secondary market. 

 

Happy Hunting!

Be sure to visit My website: MyVintageBarbies.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barbie of the Month: Walk Lively Steffie

The beautiful #1183 Walk Lively Steffie with her pretty brown eyes and dark brunette hair was Mattel’s big surprise for 1972.   

 

 

Walk Lively Steffie

 

 

Steffie was packaged wearing a one-piece sleeveless jumpsuit with a soft pink chiffon scarf that she tied around her neck to accent her ensemble, with closed toe chunky pink shoes which completed her stylish outfit.

 

 

Walk Lively Steffie

 

 

She came with a unique walk-n-turn stand.  With or without the stand she could walk using her legs.  Her head would turn back and forth and her arms would swing.  Mattel described her “looking very graceful”.  There was no fashion booklet included in the set.  In 1972, Mattel stopped including fashion booklets with their dolls.

 

Walk-n-turn stand

 

Walk-n-turn stand

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steffie had long brown hair which she wore in a flip, real eyelashes, and bendable legs.  Her waist could twist ‘n turn as well

 

Look at those long eyelashes!

 

 

There were four Walk Lively dolls released in 1972; Barbie, Ken, Steffie, and Miss America.  All the Walk Lively dolls included a walk ’n turn stand (except for the mail order version of Miss America from the Kellogg Company).  The walk ‘n turn stands were all tan in color except for Miss America’s which was white.  All Walk Lively dolls are marked: ©1967 Mattel, Inc./U.S. Pat. Pend./Taiwan. 

 


Walk Lively Barbie, Ken and Steffie (From Mattel Catalog)



Miss America  (From Mattel Catalog)

 

I love the commercial that debuted with three of these dolls.  Miss America was not in the advertisement.

 

Commercial for Walk Lively Dolls

 

 

Walk Lively Steffie retailed for $4.97 in the Sears catalog and $4.77 in the Montgomery Ward & Co catalog.   Since her release, her popular head mold has been used on numerous other dolls in the Mattel line.

 



 

 

Happy Hunting!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barbie of the Month: Busy Barbie

Busy Barbie and Talking Busy Barbie

 

In 1972 two quite different versions of the pretty Busy Barbie was introduced; #3311 Busy Barbie and #1195 Talking Busy Barbie. These dolls were unique because they had "busy" hands that could grasp various items.  Their hands can bend and turn at the wrist, and open, close, Grasp and carry. 

 

 

Busy Hands

 

 

Busy Barbie had long blonde hair and talking Busy Barbie had shorter blonde hair.  Only Talking Busy Barbie had real eyelashes.   Busy Barbie had painted ones.

 

 

In addition to her busy hands, she had a twist ‘n turn waist and bendable knees. 

 

Busy Barbie is marked: ©1966 Mattel, Inc. U.S. & Foreign Patented Other Pats Pending Made In U.S.A. and in 1973 her marking was updated to read © 1966 Mattel, Inc.  Hong Kong U.S. & Foreign Patented Other Pat's Pending. 

 

 

Busy Barbie

 

 

Talking Busy Barbie is marked: ©1967/Mattel, Inc./U.S. & Foreign/Pats. Pend/Hong Kong and in 1973 the mark changed to: © 1967 Mattel, Inc. U.S. & For. Pat'd. Pat'd. In Canada 1967 Other Pat's. Pend. Hong Kong.

 

 

Talking Busy Barbie

 

 

 

Busy Barbie’s packaging included five accessories that she could hold with her busy hands, which  was a telephone, television, record player, soda set (brown tray with two glasses), and a travel case.  Also a plastic X stand and instructions pamphlet were included in the box.

 

 

 

 

Instructions Pamphlet

 

 

There were seven Busy Barbie dolls made for the U.S. market.  Three could talk (Barbie, Ken, and Steffie), and four that could not (Barbie, Ken, Steffie, and Francie).   One additional Busy Barbie doll that was released at the same time was German Busy Francie (#3313),  who was available only in Europe.  She had the same body but a completely different head mold. 

 

 

 

In 1971 a brand new advertising campaign began for new products that Mattel was planning to release in 1972.   They called that ad campaign “Surprising Barbie”.   Included in the campaign was a “Surprising Barbie” theme song that would be used for all advertisements in 1972.  Mattel thought that little girls would love the catchy tune.  The biggest surprise in 1972 was the introduction of the 1972 Busy Barbie line, but there were other exciting introductions as well.  A fabulous new Fashion Original clothing line was presented, as well as an entirely new line of clothing,  which was meant to compete with other lower cost brands on the market for the same sized dolls.  They called the new line “Best Buy fashions”, “high quality fashion at the lowest price ever”.  Each retailed for .55 cents.   In the commercial  Mattel also referred to some other added surprises that would be released later at the toy fair. 

 

Here’s the link for that commercial for your viewing enjoyment!

 

Surprising Barbie Commercial

 

 

 

 

 

Busy Barbie was available for only two short years.  Consequently she is another pretty lady that’s a little tougher to find on the secondary market,  in mint condition and in her box, but I think she’s a must have for every Barbie collection!

 

Happy Hunting!

 

 

Visit MyVintageBarbies.com for more Barbie!