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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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!
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!
