Arranbee Doll Company (R & B) was located in New York, made bisque, composition, rubber, hard plastic and vinyl dolls. They were a well known USA doll manufacturer who in their early years imported dolls and parts to be assembled in the USA, some of their bisque doll heads were made by Armand Marseille and Simon & Halbig, later they produced their own high quality dolls.   In 1959 Arranbee was purchased by the Vogue doll company, who had a history with them, and continued to use the R & B marking on dolls until early 1961.

Some Arranbee Doll markings are: 16, 23ARV, ARRANBEE, Circle P (Coty Girl), Circle X, R & B Doll Co, AM 341 or 341 K, AM 351 or 351 K, 49 R & B, 65 R & B, 210 Pat Pen, 250 R & B, Kewty, Made in U.S.A. Pat's Pend, Nancy, Simon Halbig Arranbee Patent No. 74720 Germany and many dolls are unmarked.

Here are some Arranbee dolls we have found.

1924-1950's My Dream Baby or Dream Baby, 9- 24" tall, bisque head (shown on left) on a cloth or composition body, on the earliest dolls the bisque dome head with glass sleep eyes and painted hair was made by Armand Marseille (mold 341, 351, add a K and it was on a composition body), later they used composition heads (shown on right) on cloth or all composition body, some have rubber hands at the end of a cloth arm, larger sized dolls have composition arms and composition legs to above the knees with blue or gray tin sleep or painted eyes, with painted upper lashes, open mouth or closed.   Lots of variety in the various Dream Baby doll, some even came with a wig over the molded hair, their were both open & closed mouth versions.  The early Armand Marseille bisque doll heads can be marked: AM Germany 341 3 1 2K, AM Germany Arranbee, AM 351 4 Germany Arranbee.

1930's Dream Baby, 11"

all composition head with molded hair and jointed body, sleep eyes, open mouth, doll mark R & B Doll Co.

1926 Bottletot or Bottle Tot, 13" tall, all composition and cloth, came with it's own bottle held in it's right hand.  This was a later version of one of their bisque head dolls.

1926 Bottletot, 13"

1930's Kewty, 14-15" tall, all composition, jointed neck, shoulders and hips, bent right arm,  molded painted hair, blue sleep eyes, closed mouth, doll mark  KEWTY, and is shown in original clothing.  Clothing & wrist tags say Nancy.

The Kewty doll is similar to the Nancy doll, but has it's own marking, some do not attribute this doll to Arranbee but to a small factory called Domec in Pennsylvania which produced carnival dolls.  Dolls shown are the Domec Kewty version who has a closed smiling mouth and somewhat googly like eyes, with a molded lock of hair on the forehead and bow loop.

1930's Kewty 14"

1930's Marianne, 24-27" tall, composition shoulder head, arms and legs to above the knees, cloth stuffed body an upper legs, jointed shoulders and stitched hips.  Human hair wig in long cork screw curls, glassene sleep eyes, open mouth with four upper teeth.  Came wearing an organdy dress with matching bonnet, socks and leather shoes.  Doll is unmarked, but her dress has a label which states her name:  Marianne an Arranbee doll.  This doll appears nearly the same as a composition doll marked Perfect  (for the Perfect Toy Mfg Co) on the shoulder plate, is 18" tall, has a mohair cork screw wig, tin sleep eyes, is wearing a Marianne Arranbee organdy dress absolutely the same style as shown here, with the label.  So what to make of it?

1930's Marianne, 24"

1930's Storybook Dolls, Dutch Girl & Dutch Boy, 9-10" tall, all composition, molded hair or wig, wore an appropriate costume for character portrayed.  Shown is a 9" tall Dutch Girl in costume with yarn hair over her molded and painted hair, original clothing, and wooden shoes.  Also in the Storybook series were: Bo Peep, Cowboy & Cowgirl, Jack & Jill, Little Boy Blue, Mary had a Little Lamb, Snow White & a Pirate.

1930's Storybook -

Dutch Girl 9"

1930's Nancy, 11 - 22" tall, Effanbee's Patsy competitor or look a like, all composition or composition head & limbs on a cloth stuffed body, molded short hair, some with hair bow loops, painted eyes, tin painted sleep eyes, or glass sleep eyes, the 16" tall doll had sleep eyes and sometimes had a wig over the molded hair.  Their is quite a bit of variation in the molded hair of these dolls, as several different dolls were used over the years.  Some have short even across bangs, others had wavy slightly curled bangs and Doll shown has the bangs swept across the forehead.  Marked: Nancy,  ARRANBEE DOLL CO., R & B or unmarked.  Many competitors also made Nancy like dolls.

1930's Nancy 16"

1930-1940's Nancy, 14-22" tall, she's either all composition or composition and cloth body, sleep eyes, open smiling mouth with four teeth, she is shown in her original human hair wig and clothing, but the hair bow has probably been replaced.  Marked: R & B, Nancy or unmarked.

1930's Nancy, 20"

1932 George and Martha Washington, 12" tall, part of the Cherrie Historical Doll Series, this pair of dolls were created to commemorate George's 200the birthday.  All composition (used the Nancy body), jointed bodies, wigged, have painted facial features, shown in original clothing.  Marked: Arranbee Doll Co.

1932 George & Martha Washington, 12"

1938-1940 Debu'teen, Southern Girl, 11" tall, jointed all composition body, sleep eyes (some have painted eyes), wigged with closed mouth, wearing a very detailed ensemble of striped blue taffeta gown with scalloped hemline, long white cotton slip with cutouts & white on white embroidery, matching white cotton pantaloons,  white socks with black oil cloth shoes with cut outs, also crocheted fingerless gloves & big straw picture hat.  This same attire has been found on the larger Debu'teen dolls too and came in different colors.  Some are marked: R & B others are unmarked.

Vogue's Dora Lee doll 11" tall, probably used this Debu'teen doll mold, dolls are unmarked, shoes had Dora Lee's name stamped in ink on the sole, clothing is untagged - so this is the only thing that differentiates the dolls.

1938-1940 Debu'Teen, 

Southern Girl, 11"

1938-1940 Debu'teen Greek Costume Doll, 14" tall,  jointed all composition body, sleep eyes, mohair wig with closed mouth.  This doll  appears to be a male doll dressed in a Greek Crete costume - is as close as we've' come to ID the clothing.   Wearing a factory made blue velvet vest with gold braid trim that is hand stitched, red velvet pants with more gold braid trim, white batiste shirt with huge pleated sleeves with multi ribbon trim, black with gold trim oilcloth boots are glued over the pants and feet. Outfit has never been off the doll as the boots are non-removable and the shirt is hand stitched closed at the collar.  Doll is unmarked. There were also Nancy Lee 17" composition dolls dressed in costumes, one is shown on page eighty-five of the Arranbee book by Suzanne DeMillar, it is actually a pair of boy and girl dolls dressed in Norwegian costumes.              Photo courtesy of **its**mine.

1938-1940 Debu'teen

Greek Costume Doll, 14"

1938-1940 Debu'teen, 11-22" tall, all composition, or (shown on left) composition shoulder plate and composition limbs on a cloth stuffed body (see next photo but with straight legs), may have single or multi stroke eyebrows, sleep eyes (some have been found with painted eyes), wigged, jointed at neck, shoulders and hips. Marked: R & B on neck and some have the marking on the dolls inner upper arm or inside upper leg, too, or unmarked.  Debu'teen shown is 18" tall, in original sheer brown with white polka dots dress and suede shoes.

1938 Debu'teen 18"

1938-1940 Debu'teen seated, 22" tall, composition shoulder head, arms and legs on a cloth stuffed body, same Debu'teen face with sleep eyes, smokey gray eye shadow with a small upper lid, two or three stroke eyebrows, painted lower lashes, real upper lashes, wig maybe of mohair, several colors have been found, her knees are slightly bent.   Doll is marked: R & B on neck and sometimes inside the upper arms has the R & B mark or unmarked.

1938 Debu'teen, 22"

1938-1946 Nancy, 11-27" tall, all composition or composition shoulder plate swivel head and composition limbs with a cloth body, Princess Elizabeth head mold, may have single or multi stroke eyebrows, sleep eyes, wigged, jointed at neck, shoulders and hips, open mouth with four upper teeth or with a closed mouth. Marked: R & B, Nancy or unmarked.

1938 +Nancy,  11-27"

1938-1946 Nancy Lee, 14, 18" tall, or 21" tall, fully jointed body, all composition, human hair wig, sleep eyes, closed mouth, marked on head: R & B or Nancy but can be unmarked too.  Shown in a floral gown that is part of the Southern series.

1938+ Nancy Lee 18"

Southern Series, Floral dress

1938-1946 Nannette or Nanette, 17- 23" tall, composition head on shoulder plate with a cloth body, jointed at neck & shoulders, Mama dolls with a crier in the body, human hair or mohair wig, painted tin or glassene sleep eyes, most have a closed mouth, but dolls have been found with open mouth with two upper teeth, too.  Marked: under the upper arms R & B, body is unmarked.

1938 Nannette or Nanette, 22"

1938-1946 Sonja Henie, 20" tall, used the Nancy Lee head mold, all composition doll with blonde mohair wig similar to the doll face shown on right, came dressed in a pink satin & tulle skating costume, possibly other color skating attire.  Marked same as the Nancy Lee doll: R & B, Nancy or unmarked.

1938-1946 Sonja Henie, 20"

ca. 1938 Nancy, 17-18" tall, or possibly Ideal's Pigtail Sally, all composition jointed body at the neck, shoulders and hips, composition head with mohair pigtail wig in; blonde brunette or tosca, sleep eyes, open mouth with four upper teeth. Doll came dressed in different fabric dresses with pinafore and matching head scarf, white socks and oilcloth shoes.  Doll is marked on back: 18 -.  Photo courtesy of Aeflock, thanks for asking about your doll, sorry we didn't figure out who she truly is.

ca. 1938 Nancy

or Pigtail Sally, 17-18"

1939 Rosalie, 13 1/2, 18 or 24" tall, may have been a Sears Exclusive, all composition or composition head & limbs on a cloth body (usually found on the larger size dolls, uses the Debu'Teen body), glass like sleep eyes, brunette wig of mohair on the smallest size and human hair on the larger dolls, inside washer jointed arms and legs, wore a brown dotted organdy dress with gold bolero, leather like black belt, cotton poke bonnet with ribbon strap, white rayon socks, white underpants and leather like snap buckle shoes.  Marked same as the Debu'Teen: R & B, or unmarked.  Photo on left is a Sears ad for Rosalie.

1939 Rosalie 18"

Photo courtesy of Maureen

1940's Little Angel Baby, 11, 17 & 21" tall, composition head and limbs, cloth body with crier, molded hair, blue or brown sleep eyes, closed mouth.  Marked on neck: R & B.

Photo courtesy of Fabbiopablo.

1940 Little Angel, Baby 17"

1947-1950's Nanette, 14 - 21" tall, some are walkers, all hard plastic (later dolls have vinyl heads), sleep eyes, wigged (human hair, mohair, floss, dynel all colors), jointed at neck, shoulders and hips, sometimes marked on head: R & B, or unmarked. 

On right is shown a Nanette 14" tall, all hard plastic, original brown dress, socks, shoes and hangtag. Nanette has many outfits for her wardrobe.     

1957-1959 Nanette 14"

1948 Princess Elizabeth and Baby Charles, 14" tall, all hard plastic with mohair wig with attached silver crown.  She is dressed in a gown of pink chiffon with flocking, full long slip with matching panties & pink oil cloth shoes.  Baby Charles wears a christening gown of the same pink flocked fabric.  Marked: R & B.

1948 Princess Elizabeth

 and Baby Charles

ca. 1950's Nancy Lee, 14-20" all hard plastic jointed body, sleep eyes, wigged, closed mouth. Is shown in a Bride's dress, but had a variety of outfits from casual to formal wear.  Marked: R & B, or unmarked.

ca. 1950's Nancy Lee, 20"

1950's Little Dear or Little Angel, 8", 11" or 12" tall, vinyl head with rooted hair, sleep eyes, closed mouth, hard plastic jointed body.  

Photo courtesy of Patkan, doll is shown pristine & all original.

1950's Little Dear or 

Little Angel, 12"

1951 Dream Baby, 16, 18 or 21-22" tall, baby doll crier, vinyl head, arms and legs, cloth body, came dressed in christening gown or shirt and diapers with pink or blue blanket.  

Other dolls made during this time were: Sweet Pea, Angel Face, & Angel Skin.

1955 Dream Baby 22"

1951 Angel Face, 16-25" tall, chubby all vinyl jointed body (some with extra elbow & knee joints) or pink cloth stuffed torso, molded & painted hair or rooted saran hair, open smiling mouth some with teeth, drink wet doll, sleep eyes.  Some markings are:  R & B + 19BBS,  & R & B + 22BBS and possibly others.

1951 Angel Face, 20"

1951 Nancy, 22-24" tall, made of vinylite plastic head and limbs, cloth torso body, brunette or blonde dynel glued on wig, walker, Mama crier, she wore a pink checked taffeta child like dress "just like her little mother wears" with white pinafore, white socks and black Mary Jane shoes.  Came with a set of curlers or card.

Photo courtesy of Ruth (and thanks for asking about your doll).

1951 Nancy, 22"

1952-1959 Nancy Lee Toddler, 14-16" tall, has a child like toddler body, all vinyl five piece jointed body, saran wig glued on, blue sleep eyes, closed mouth, (kinda reminds me of the Terri Lee doll), came dressed in several different outfits.  The 1959 Dolls have a different face mold & came with a Dutch bob hair style.  Marked: Arranbee.

Photo courtesy of Flozdolz and is shown pristine and all original.

1952 Nancy Toddler, 16"

ca. 1952 Nancy Lee in Cinderella outfit, 14 or 20" tall, vinyl head, arms & legs, hard plastic body, sleep eyes, floss wig - this one is a beautiful blonde in an upswept elegant style, wearing a gorgeous off-white satin gown with petal type bodice at the waist, trimmed with gold braid and gold stars embroidered across the full skirt, marked on head: R & B. 

Photo courtesy of Linda.

1952 Nancy Lee, 

Cinderella 14"

1954 Nancy Jane, 14" tall, hard plastic jointed body, strung doll, closed mouth, wigged, came in a suitcase with a wardrobe of the same clothing sold with the Nanette dolls.  Doll is marked: Made in USA and possibly R & B on neck.   Without her tags or original packaging she will not be easily to identified, as she closely resembles other dolls with the same markings. Both photo's courtesy of Andrea/Andy.

1954 Nancy Jane, 14"

1954-1957 Littlest Angel, 11-12" tall, hard plastic, jointed knee walker doll, rooted vinyl head or hard head with wig, came wearing panties, socks and shoes. She has a huge wardrobe that could be purchased separately, usually marked R & B.

1954-1957 Littlest Angel, 11-12"

1955 Nanette Ballerina, 14-15" or 17-18" tall, sleep eyes, painted lower lashes, wigged, jointed at neck, shoulders and hips, wore a tutu, some with embellishments of stars and circles or maribu trim, some have flowers styled into their hair do and ballet shoes. 

1955 Nanette Ballerina 14"

1955-1957 Sweet Pea, 12" tall, (Littlest Angel's baby sister) all vinyl drink wet baby, short rooted hair, wore a diaper, blue sleep eyes, marked: R & B.

1955 Sweet Pea 12"

1956-1957 Surprise Doll, 11-12" tall (Special Promotion Doll a Littlest Angel doll with brown sleep eyes and long rooted lemon blonde hair with straight bangs), all vinyl jointed walking doll, came in a presentation box, dressed in her Sunday - American outfit along with "The Surprise Doll" book authored by Morrell Gipson.  Also, available separately and based on the book were the international outfits of: Monday - Britain/English, Tuesday - Russia, Wednesday - Italy, Thursday - China, Friday - Holland/The Netherlands and Saturday - France.  Should be marked same as the other Littlest Angel dolls R & B.

1956-1957 Surprise Doll, 11"

1956 Taffy, 18 or 25" tall and looks similar to the Cissy doll by Madame Alexander, has a hard plastic hip pin walker body with chest grill, straight legs, vinyl head with sleep eyes, rooted hair, closed Cissy type mouth.  Marked: 18ARV R & B or ARV25 R & B.

1956 Taffy, 18"

1957 Coty Girl or Miss Coty Girl, 10 1/2"tall, (Coty cosmetics advertising doll) all vinyl, sleep eyes, rooted hair various colors, fashion doll with high heel feet, pierced ears, shown wearing a lovely red taffeta and lace formal gown, with blonde rooted hair, but their were many other hair colors available. Marked on neck: P within a circle.  Marked on underarm: 10 1/2R.  Little Miss Revlon competitor.

1957 Miss Coty Girl, 10 1/2"

1957 Nanette Fashion Doll, 15 & 18" tall, hard plastic body with swivel waist & high heel feet, vinyl head with rooted hair, sleep eyes and pierced ears.  Competitor of Ideal's Miss Revlon doll - and looks very similar too.   Most of these dolls are unmarked and were not made for very long.

1959 Cody Girl Deluxe, 18" tall, looks like the above doll, may have a markings of a V + a number like Valentine dolls.  This doll is very rare.  She wore the same outfit as available for the smaller sized Coty girl; black tulle & satin  cocktail dress with black hat, stockings & black high heel shies.  Both of these dolls had wardrobes that could be purchased separately, many of the outfits were just like those for the smaller Coty Girl.

1957 Nanette Fashion Doll, 18"

1960's Wee Lil' Imp, 8" tall, all hard plastic with jointed body, carrot red hair, sleep eyes, freckles, dressed same as the above mentioned doll but smaller, like Vogue's  Ginny doll, who is now owned by R & B.

1960's Wee Lil' Imp, 8"

1961 My Angel, 17", 25" or 36" tall, hard plastic jointed walker body with a soft vinyl head, rooted hair, sleep blue eyes, closed mouth, came dressed in a variety of dresses, (by Vogue using mark: R & B/15, R & B/16 or 19 on the vinyl head.).

1961 My Angel, 17"