Vintage Walking Dolls
Sold in 1954 for.................................$10.95
Weight.................................................1.5 lb
Height..................................................18 in.
Color plastic.........................................Cauc
Hair Color.............................................Various Color wigs
Manufacture........................................Advance Doll and Toy Co.
Year of Manufacture...........................1954-1956
City of Manufacture.............................West Haven, Connecticut
Motor Drive...........................................Key Wound Coil Spring
Doll Classification.................................Walker only
Body/arms/legs.............................Hard Plastic
Head......................................................Hard Plastic and Vinyl in 1956
Shoes.....................................................White riveted plastic
Internal Structure and Gears..............Metal Mechanical
Total Generations.................................4
Other Dolls from Wanda/parts......................Black Maybelle Doll and leg braces and shoe plates for Mr. Atom Robots
There were at least 4 generations to the Wanda line from 1954-1956. The first have adjustable toe rollers to turn in various degree of a circle or straight line. These were what seems like a problem because Wanda's are top heavy anyway and adding turning capabilities to the already unstable doll seems like a can of worms. The second generation did away with the turning rollers and went to a straight line wider roller. The torso's were attached by 2 screws on each side of her body, these are the most sought after, replaced later by one screw in front and one in back. Also the sashes on the first gen were of what I have seen, a burgandy sash with gold letters saying " Wanda the Walking Doll". 2-4th gens changed little with exception of 2 rivet shoes to 3 to finally 4 rivets. The sashes on generations 2-4 being all white with the words " Wanda the Walking Doll" or "Wanda the Unaided Walking Doll" The dresses seemed to change little over the 3 years other than color and looking like a terri- cloth material. The main garment colors used were pink, yellow, white, blue and green and usually with a matching colored hat. Also there was a Wanda in a bunny suit made called "Wanda Wabbit" around 1955-56. The fourth generation did away with the hard plastic heads and opted for a vinyl head instead. The Wanda Ski Dolls and Wanda Majorette Dolls started around the 4th generation and didn't last long. Maybe availability of ski's? So, if your Wanda has small 4 holes shoes and has pink laces and dark socks like image below, has the body held on by 4 screws (2 on each side) it's a first generation Wanda made in 1954 and generally was a plain cardboard box with blue letters or the Christmas look wrap box that said "Wanda the Walking Doll" with stripes.. If it has 4 rivet shoes and a vinyl head, it's a fourth generation and made in 1956. Wanda's never had the all white boxes in 1956 like the Winnie's did.
Sold in 1954 for.................................$10.95
To the right are First Generation shoes. Notice the "laces" which were not available on the generation 2 thru 4 versions. The laces were available in Pink, White, Yellow and off Gold. These were made of paper thin plastic and had 5 rivets on each foot. There was a Left and a Right Shoe.
To the right is an internal frame to a first generation Wanda (not the Wanda Ski Doll). Notice the extra framework and 4 screws on the sides. These hold the Torso panels to the frame.
to the right are the first generation rollers on the bottoms of Wanda's feet. Notice the steerable front or toe rollers.
To the right are the shoe plates from a #640S Wanda Ski Doll. Notice the two holes between the two rollers. These were for attaching the snaps from the ski's. I have seen more of these on the vinyl head dolls of gen 4. They also used the same foot plates on the 1956 Mr. Atoms
To the right is a First generation Wanda box. Notice it is a smaller plain box with Blue lettering. The First gen Winnie boxes had the same type of blue lettering.
To the left is a 4th Generation Wanda Vinyl head doll with the two ski holes in the foot plates. She is commonly known as a #640S Wanda Ski Doll. The same could be said for the Wanda Majorette Doll made the same time. This was made in 1956. Commonly sold in a green box.
To the left and the bottom were considered Holiday Wanda Special in-store displays called Wanda Wabbits. These came out on Easter in 1955 and were used in stores as displays as the writing on the box was inside out. These were the only two colors available. Purple and Yellow. They were basically a Wanda with a sort-of rabbit two piece jump suit. These are very sought after with original box and tags.
What Generation of Wanda do I have anyway?
First Generation Framework
Second Generation-on Framework
