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1914 Horsman Peterkin sister doll, made of the
adtocolite formula made by Aetna
see also;
Horsman Dolls 1909-1940's |
The Aetna Doll & Toy
Company owned by Benjamin Goldenberg, was located in New York
city, they purchased the
American Doll and Toy Company
(1892-1908),
also known as; First American Doll Factory,
Goldstein & Hoffman, The Hoffman Co
(owned by Solomon D. Hoffman) in
1909, after Hoffman's death Aetna acquired the famous patent and secret for
the "Can't
Break Em" composition doll heads. These dolls were meant to
compete with the huge German market of imported bisque dolls that were
easily broken.
ca. 1917-1919 Aetna trade marked a new material called
Adtocolite, this material was light, smooth and tougher than the
earlier can't break em composition heads, which were distributed by
Horsman. The Peterkin doll by Horsman is made of all adtocolite, when
the material cracks, circular bands can be seen, which is different
than the earlier can't break em composition material, which usually
shows a spidery type cracking.
Aetna supplied several USA doll
manufacturers with Can't Break Em doll heads, until they were acquired by Horsman in 1925, who they had been supplying
doll heads to for sometime, reportedly as
many as 4,000 a day. The Aetna Doll & Toy Company is
probably best known
for their "Can't
Break Em" dolls, early Aetna made dolls; composition
shoulder or socket heads are marked; F.A.D.F
, F.R.,
or E.I.H © A.D. Co.
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