Arranbee R and B Dolls 1940s+ USA
The Arranbee Doll Company (R & B) was located in New York city, they sold 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 1958 Arranbee was purchased and became a division of the Vogue doll company, who had a history with them and continued to use the R & B doll marking until early 1961.
Arranbee dolls 1924+ | < 1940s+ >
Arranbee R & B – Antique to Vintage dolls identified
1940s Arranbee Little Angel Baby doll, 11, 17, 21″ tall, composition head and limbs, cloth body with crier, molded hair, blue or brown sleep eyes, closed mouth. Doll marked on neck R & B. Photo courtesy of Fabbiopablo.
1947-1950s Arranbee Nanette doll 14 – 21″ tall, some are walkers, all hard plastic, later dolls have vinyl heads rooted hair, sleep eyes, wigged (floss, dynel in all colors), jointed at neck, shoulders and hips, doll marked on head R & B or unmarked.
shown a 1950s Nanette 14″ tall, in a original Beauty Shop blue dress with scalloped hem, socks, shoes and hangtag. Nanette has many outfits for her wardrobe.
1947-1950s Arranbee Nancy Lee doll 14-21″ 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, doll marked R & B or unmarked. I cannot tell the difference between Nanette and Nancy Lee plastic dolls, think it’s more about which original outfit she’s wearing.
1950s Arranbee Little Dear doll or Little Angel doll 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.
ca. 1951+ Arranbee Judy doll 15 or 19″ tall, all hard plastic, braided wig coiled over ears with metal knob hidden inside, to raise or lower the back section of hair like a grow hair doll, sleep eyes, open mouth with teeth, jointed body at neck, shoulders and hips, either size doll mark on on back Made in USA 170 or Made in USA 210, plus a red ink stamp on side of body Pat. 2,537,536 and the 15″ size is also stamped on neck RDEC2. Doll is possibly a Gimbel’s catalog mail order special. The Judy doll has to have the braided grow hair plus the red patent stamp and the 15″ size the red RDEC2 neck stamp or it’s another makers doll.
1951 Arranbee Nancy doll 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. Photo courtesy of Ruth.
1952-1959 Arranbee Nancy Lee Toddler doll 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, doll marked Arranbee. Photo courtesy of Flozdolz and is shown pristine and all original.
1954 Arranbee Nancy Jane doll 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. Photo courtesy of Andrea/Andy.
1954-1957 Arranbee Littlest Angel doll 10-11″ 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, doll usually marked R & B.
1955+ Arranbee Dream Baby doll 17, 18 or 21-22″ tall, baby doll crier, vinyl head with molded hair, one piece latex washable body or fully jointed baby body, sleep eyes or painted eyes, open mouth, came dressed in christening gown or shirt and diapers with pink or blue blanket. Doll marked on neck Arranbee or unmarked.
Other dolls made during this time were: 1955+ Angel Skin doll, Boy or Girl dolls each with deeply molded hair, closed mouth, one piece latex body, dolls marked R & B or Arranbee. The Boy doll was also sold as the New Boy Doll, 12-17″, as early as 1952.
Find Arranbee R & B doll values
1955 Arranbee Angel Face doll 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 doll markings are R & B + 19BBS, R & B + 22BBS and possibly others.
1955-1957 Arranbee Sweet Pea doll 12″ tall, Littlest Angel’s baby sister, all vinyl drink wet baby, short rooted hair, wore a diaper, blue sleep eyes, doll marked R & B.
1956-1957 Arranbee Surprise Doll, 10-11″ 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, doll marked R & B.
1956+ Arranbee Taffy doll, 16, 18 or 25″ tall, is a hard plastic hip pin walker body with chest grill, straight legs, vinyl head with sleep eyes, rooted hair, closed Cissy type mouth, doll mark 82, 18ARV R & B or ARV25 R & B.
Belle Doll & Toy made similar Marjorie faced doll, Alexander Binnie or Winnie dolls, Sayco Glamour Bride or Bridesmaid dolls marked 85.
1957+ Arranbee Coty Girl doll 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. Doll marked on neck: P within a circle. Doll marked on underarm 10 1/2R. Ideal Little Miss Revlon doll competitor, Belle Doll & Toy made a Little Margie and Little Marjorie dolls, marked the same as Coty Girl.
1957 Arranbee Nanette Fashion doll, 15 or 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. Nanette fashion dolls are unmarked and were not made for very long.
1959 Arranbee Cody Girl Deluxe doll, 15 or 18″ tall, like the above doll, may have a markings of a V + a number like Valentine dolls. This doll is very rare. Cody Girl deluxe wore the same outfits available for the smaller sized Coty girl; black tulle and satin cocktail dress with black hat, stockings and black high heel shoes. Both of these dolls had wardrobes that could be purchased separately.
1960s Arranbee Wee Lil’ Imp doll 8″ tall, all hard plastic with jointed body, carrot red hair, sleep eyes, freckles, dressed same as the above mentioned Surprise doll but smaller, like Vogue’s Ginny doll.
1961 Arranbee My Angel doll 17″, 25″ or 36″ tall, soft vinyl head, rooted hair, sleep blue eyes, closed mouth, hard plastic jointed walker body with bendable knees, came dressed in a variety of dresses, doll marked R & B 15, R & B 16 or R & B 19 on the vinyl head.
Arranbee dolls 1924+ | < 1940s+ >
Additional Arranbee dolls not shown
1957 Arranbee April Showers doll or Lil Cupcake doll, both 11″ tall, soft vinyl head with molded hair, jointed baby body, sleep eyes, nursing mouth.
1960s Arranbee Lil’ Imp doll or Brikette’s Kid Sister doll, 11-12″ tall, (is actually a Littlest Angel doll with carrot red hair) hard plastic doll with jointed body, vinyl head with rooted hair, green sleep eyes and freckles, Arranbee is now owned by Vogue, doll mark R & B. See the R & B Littlest Angel doll.