|
1928 Horsman Peterkin girl doll, 14"
Campbell Kid head mold |
The Aetna Doll & Toy Company owned by Benjamin Goldenberg, was located in New York
City, they purchased the American Doll and Toy Company 1892-1909 (advertised in 1907 that
they were the only makers of composition head dolls in the USA - made the
composition head Fluffy Ruffles doll 1907-1908), was also known as; The First American Doll Factory,
Goldstein & Hoffman and The Hoffman Company (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 doll heads were meant to
compete with the huge German market of imported bisque dolls that were
easily broken.
1914 to 1919 Aetna trademarked a new material called Adtocolite, this material was light, smooth and tougher than the
can't break em composition heads, which were distributed by
Horsman. The early Peterkin doll by Horsman is made of all adtocolite, when
the material cracks, circular bands can be seen, which is different
than the can't break em composition material, which usually
shows a spidery type cracking.
|
