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Richwood Enterprises was
located in Highland, Maryland USA and was a small family operation,
they sold hard
plastic dolls in the 1940's - 1950's.
This is their Cindy Lou
doll who is a 14" tall doll, made of hard plastic, often is found
with a jointed body
with hip-pinned legs & head turning walker, but also as a
non-walker, saran wig, sleep eyes with the doll mold of the Mary Hoyer dolls.
Dolls were sold in a taffeta slip, panties, socks and shoes with tiny
curlers or as a dressed doll. It's believed by collectors that
Richwood bought the Mary Hoyer doll mold "blanks" with the generic mark: Made
in U.S.A. (please see the Hard
Plastic Marks page - for other mfg's. who used this marking),
inside a Circle on their back. (without the Mary Hoyer
name), and then wigged and re-dressed them ... and maybe painted
the faces, too. The lip paint on the Richwood Cindy Lou's is often
darker and more vibrant than on the Hoyer dolls, but cheek blush
is often pale or non-existent. These dolls
may sometimes be mistaken for the Hoyer doll which commands a higher
price and has more documentation
available. Dolls may only have been available on the East coast
of the USA, which is where they were located.
Left,
Cindy Lou in a red skating outfit with auburn braided wig. She is wearing ice skates so she looks a little taller.
Right,
a Mary Hoyer doll in a white and turquoise skating outfit
with a wig of medium length auburn hair.
Photo courtesy of Lina
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Left
is Mary Hoyer with medium length auburn wig, in a pale pink ballerina tutu with satin bodice
and tulle, pleated crown and ballerina slippers.
Right,
Cindy Lou with auburn braided wig wearing a pink crocheted skating outfit
and ice skates, which make her a little taller, but both dolls
are 14" tall.
The
two Mary Hoyer, Cindy Lou comparison photo's are courtesy of Lina's
personal doll collection. Thanks for sharing with us,
great dolls! |
Here
is a photo by Andrea showing the Cindy Lou walker dolls hip-pinned, hinged leg
construction. Also note the extra ridge under the back
neckline, which is part of the head turning mechanism. These
were originally meant to be a walker version of the Mary Hoyer
doll - but for whatever reason Hoyer chose not to use this
walker body type - and instead sold all of the dolls to
Richwood. Richwood also bought the non-walking body type from
Hoyer, too.
Thanks Andrea!
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 Fashion
booklet showing:
Sun Dress,
School Dress
and
Daytime Dress.
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 Fashion
booklet showing:
School Dress
Daytime Dress
and
Evening Dress.
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 Fashion
booklet showing:
Nightgown and Negligee
Skating Costume
and
Ski Suit.
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 Cindy Lou
in the Ski Suit
Felt hat, mittens,
and jacket; gabardine-type pants, oilcloth ski boots attached
to wooden skis and ski poles with oilcloth straps to wrap
around the mittens.
The jacket has the
tiniest buttons (1/8", I think) in the front under a
flap...so tiny I can't get the top one fastened! There's a
back belt on the jacket with a tiny button, too. The
turquoise-colored pants snap in the back and have stitched-in
creases. Photo courtesy
of Andrea.
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 Cindy
Lou wearing the outfit Dress Coat
along with her matching red
felt hat.
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Fashion
booklet showing:
Dress Coat
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| Fashion
booklet showing:
Dress Coat
Christmas Coat
and
Formal Evening Dress.
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 Cindy
Lou wearing her Christmas Coat.
Photo courtesy
of Andrea.
Christmas Coat,
includes the red with white faux fur hat, red coat with white
faux fur wrap collar, white muff and red boots.
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 The
lovely fashions of Cindy Lou represent the highest style and
finest quality available on any 14" doll.
Her wardrobe of teenage
American clothes is fully removable and is made of the finest
materials. The clothes are available separately so that
a complete wardrobe may be obtained.
The beautifully constructed
saran wig maybe washed, combed and curled. Each doll
comes complete with tiny hair curlers.
Cindy Lou, Model CL 900 and
description, and Tea Dance Dress.
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 Fashion
Booklet showing:
Beach Outfit
Lounging Pajamas
and
Shirt and Shorts. |
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