Horsman Dolls 1950s

1957 Horsman Cindy doll face, 19"

Edward Imeson (E. I.) Horsman opened a toy company in New York city in 1865 and became a leader in the toy industry.  In the early years they produced a variety of composition dolls wearing wigs, molded or painted hair, sleep or painted eyes.  By 1909 they used a new formula to make "Can't break Em" dolls like the Billiken.  From 1957 until 1986 Irene Szor designed dolls and clothing for Horsman. 

About 1980 the Horsman name was sold to an Asian company which produced dolls under the name Horsman Ltd., the dolls today are made in Hong Hong, China. 

1951 Horsman Fairy Skin doll or Horsman Super Flex doll, 18 1/2" tall, a soft plastic doll, rooted hair, blue sleep eyes, shown in original outfit with hang tag, this is also the Shadow Wave doll with saran hair that can be washed and curled, doll is unmarked.  Horsman's competition to Ideal's Magic Skin dolls.

1951 Fairy Skin doll 18 1/2"

1951 Horsman Hanes Advertising Baby doll, 18, 21, 22" tall, possibly other sizes too, vinyl head with molded hair, vinyl lower arms, closed eyes, yawning mouth, cloth stuffed body and limbs.  Came dressed in a two piece sleeper set in blue, pale green, or pink with a Hanes tag.  Doll is marked Horsman or unmarked.  Advertising doll for Hanes.

1951 Hanes Baby doll 18"

1953 Horsman Cindy Strutter doll, 20, 23 and 26" tall, child doll, soft Fairy skin vinyl, with either molded hair or dynel synthetic fiber rooted hair, glassine sleep eyes, closed mouth, this doll has flat feet. 

1953 Cindy Strutter doll, 23"

LuAnn Simms, 

TV Guide cover 1954

1954 Horsman Cindy Strutter doll, 14, 16, 18, 20, 24, 26 and 28" tall, jointed hard plastic walker body and hard plastic head, wigged in many hair styles, but often pigtails and bangs, sleep eyes, open mouth with teeth, flat feet, doll often marked 160, 170 or 180 some with the Horsman name above the number.

1955 Horsman Cindy Strutter doll, 16, 18, 20, 24 and 26" tall, same as above doll. 

In 1956 Cindy Strutter, became just "Cindy", she no longer has a walker mechanism, has a more mature face, a one piece slimmer torso and legs body, jointed at the neck and shoulders, with high heel feet, 18 and 20" tall.  See below for doll image and description.

1954-1955 Cindy doll 18"

1955-1957 Horsman Baby Precious doll, 11-21" tall, one piece stuffed vinyl body, Ruthie like head mold in vinyl with rooted short curly hair, sleep eyes,  bendable, posable Super-Flex legs, some have jointed vinyl arms and others bendable Super-Flex arms.  Marked on neck: Horsman

1955+ Baby Precious doll 15"

1956 Horsman Lifesaver Candy Doll, 11" tall, an advertising doll, all vinyl, used the Betty one piece stuffed body jointed only at the neck with the Ruthie or Betty head mold, has pastel hair colors of pink, green or blue rooted hair, sleep eyes, came with a miniature roll of lifesaver candies attached at the doll's neck doll marked on neck Horsman 20. 

Doll shown has the pastel pink rooted hair and is in her original clothing.          

1956 Lifesaver Candy Doll 11"

1956+ Horsman Cindy doll, 16-17" tall, high heel fashion doll, one piece flexible bendy body, vinyl head with rooted hair, sleep eyes, closed mouth, part of the Cindy family of dolls, had many outfits available.  Shown in a ballerina outfit, doll marked Horsman 81.

1956 Cindy doll, 16-17"

1956-1987 Horsman Ruthie doll, 12 to 21" tall, vinyl head with rooted braided hair, blue sleep eyes, jointed hard plastic body & limbs, shown with original outfit, socks, shoes and tag, doll marked on neck T + doll height number, this doll mark T-18.  The Ruthie head molds were used on other Horsman dolls, too.

More Horsman Ruthie doll marks F14, T12, T14, T16, T17, T18, T21 and 6064

1961 Ruthie doll, 18"

1957 Horsman Cindy Ballerina doll, 18-19" tall, vinyl head with pink rooted hair, sleep eyes, closed mouth, jointed body and super flex jointed ankles, doll marked 82 Horsman. 

1957 Cindy Ballerina doll 18-19"

1957+ Horsman Cindy doll, 10 1/2" tall, Little Miss Revlon like, part of the Cindy family of dolls with high heel feet, jointed body, rooted hair, sleep eyes, closed mouth.  Had extensive wardrobes that could be purchased separately, doll marked Horsman.  

See also the Cindy and I doll noted at bottom of page who is unmarked.

1950s Cindy doll, 10 1/2"

1957+ Horsman Cindy doll, 14" tall, think this size is quite rare, shown are three lovelies, all in original outfits, ballerina's tights are replacements.  Vinyl head with rooted hair, sleep eyes, closed mouth, jointed body, high heel feet.

Photo courtesy of Whatsnot2like

1950s Cindy doll, 14"

1957 Cindy doll, 19"

1957 Horsman Pete doll and 1957 Horsman Polly doll, both 13" tall, black dolls, one piece stuffed vinyl body and limbs, both have a vinyl head with molded hair and painted features, marked: 1957. Pete is shown in his original outfit.

1957 Pete doll, 13"

1957+ Horsman Couturier Doll, 20" tall, fashion doll, hard plastic and vinyl, rooted hair, sleep eyes, high heel feet. 

ca. 1957 Horsman purchased the Paris Doll Company and renamed it as the Couturier Division of Horsman, used their patents for jointed knees, and lots of beautiful new fashion designed by the young fashion designer: Irene Szor who worked prior at Eugenia, Sayco and Paris Doll Corp. By 1958 this division simply became Horsman.

1958 Couturier Doll, 20"

1958 Horsman Perthy doll, 13" tall, all vinyl doll, fully jointed, straight short blonde rooted into the top of his head hair, tiny glass eyes, when you push a soft spot on top of his head his hair stands up, squeaker or cryer, doll marked Horsman.  Pewrthy's hangtag said "Horsman's Perthy (Percy to you)".

About 1961 this same doll was sold as Li'l Happy Fella an Oriental Asian boy doll.

1958 Perthy doll, 13"

1958 Horsman Tear Drop Tammy doll, 15" tall, hard plastic with vinyl head, rooted hair, sleep eyes, open mouth, jointed body, shown MIB with her accessories and clothing.              

Photo courtesy of Jean

1958 Tear Drop Tammy doll, 15"

1958 Horsman Tweedie doll, 12-13" tall, vinyl head and rigid body, rooted short hair, sleep eyes, closed mouth, was used in advertising "Tweedie Toiletries" by Lenthneric and had designer clothing, doll marked 38 Horsman or Horsman.

1958 Tweedie doll, 12"