Circa 1930 Foam Rubber Doll with considerable age. Stand appears to be original, the wire has created a "tan line" on the woman's back. I believe this is a latex foam figure. VERY soft to the touch. Whipped latex was introduced in 1929. Relative explicitness suggests this was some type of display device (educational purposes?) rather than a doll. Any guesses?
Antique Female Form of rubber, circa 1935 - 1940 Height 12 inches. Collection Jim Linderman
Whoa, boys, It's silent oater star Tom Mix (or is it?) "Tom" is sporting a pair of homemade chaps and an ACTUAL pear so his big size can be determined. I purchased this wrangler at an antique show for a price so low it doesn't matter, but since he was called Tom Mix I'd like to know.
I can't find any big dolls of Tom Mix online. Is this an amateur sales stimulator put in a toy shop? I dunno! All his duds are homemade (and old) and there is on six-shooter made of lead. He WAS a cowboy, as the hard composite boots are attached (as are the hands and noggin) but the body is soft. The kerchief appears to be a found object, and the holster is handmade. The chaps and vest, leather, have cool leather applied stars. He really isn't very cuddly...so I don't think he is a doll. I think some kind of display thing.
So is this Tom Mix, or a city slicker posing as him? I am going to put him on the Collector's Weekly "Show and Tell" pages and call him a unsolved mystery. Someone will know. Was there a commercial trade figure or toy 24 inches tall of Tom Mix?
Cowboy doll with homemade clothes. Collection Jim Linderman
Hotpoint got their name from their first product, the electric iron in 1911. The hottest point was the point. They dicked around with General Electric for a while, but now it is fully owned by Indesit, an Italian company.
I have no idea why Hotpoint had to sell to GE when their marketing was as good as the goon above…(snicker) but his name was "HOTPOINT MAN" and he dates to the 1930s. They propped him up in stores to keep the kids busy while Mom and Dad bought modern appliances, and I think they sent a few home too. Gee...a doll you just couldn't help to love.
Hotpoint Man was designed by Joseph Kallus of Cameo and today he is pretty rare apparently, so i'll just make do here with his head. Kallus was a sculptor and designer who is associated with the Kewpie doll.
"In 1916 Kallus himself founded the Rex Doll Co. to produce composition Kewpie dolls, as supplies from Germany were halted by the war. These dolls were distributed by Borgfeldt, who controlled all production rights to Kewpie dolls and figurines. With permission from Borgfeldt, the Rex Doll Co. also made a line of composition Kewpie dolls that were distributed by the Tip Top Co., a distributor of carnival prizes." according to the website of the Cameo Doll Company
Well, the guy above ain't no Kewpie, so I guess Kallus could design cute AND creepy!
Believe it or not, and if you can believe Wikipedia, Hotpoint branded products are made by GE Consumer in Louisville, Kentucky. In the United States!
Head of Hotpoint Man Composition sales stimulator doll circa 1930 Collection Jim Linderman
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