Tammy (doll)

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Tammy
Brand
Founded 1962
Manufacturer Ideal Toy Company
Slogan The doll you love to dress

Tammy was a 12" fashion doll created by the Ideal Toy Company that debuted at the 1962 International Toy Fair.[1] Advertised as "The Doll You Love to Dress", Tammy was portrayed as a young American teenager, more "girl next door" than the cosmopolitan image of Mattel's Barbie,[1] or American Character's Tressy.

[edit] History

The doll was loosely based on the character "Tammy" in the 1957 film Tammy and the Bachelor.[1][2] Tammy was produced in three versions: the first with straight legs, the second released in 1964 with bendable legs, and the final version released in 1965 was an older-looking doll titled "Grown Up Tammy".[1] Dolls released by Ideal that comprised "Tammy's Family" included Mom, Dad, brothers Ted and Pete and sister Pepper. Other "Tammy's Family" companion dolls included Dodi, Salty, Misty and Montgomery Ward's exclusive Patty and Bud, Tammy's boyfriend produced in small numbers near the time when Ideal ceased production of all Tammy Family dolls.

In 1965, Tammy's popularity waned and she was discontinued in early 1966. Although production of the Tammy doll was fairly brief, the doll inspired the United Kingdom's best selling teenage doll, Sindy. Sindy was released in 1963, one year after Tammy, and Pedigree Toys obtained permission to use Tammy's tag line, "The Doll You Love To Dress".

[edit] Today

Two conventions have been held in the United States for Tammy collectors.[1] The doll and its accessories are popular on online auction sites; for example, Tammy's boyfriend Bud sold for $500 on eBay and her original outfits still in their box have sold for $200.[3] However, Tammy does not command the high prices of Barbie – in 2001 a mint Tammy sold on eBay for $90, compared to an early Barbie in similar condition that sold for over $3,000.[4]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e Stephens, Kay. "Doll collectors relive their childhoods with Tammy, not Barbie", Associated Press Newswires, 2004-10-10. 
  2. ^ Mansour, David (2005). From Abba to Zoom: a pop culture encyclopedia of the late 20th century. Andrews McMeel Publishing, 478. ISBN 0740751182. 
  3. ^ Patterson, Jennifer. "Tammy who? Collector to show off little-known Barbie contemporary from early '60s", Neighbor, Chicago Daily Herald, 2004-04-13, p. 1. 
  4. ^ Rosenberg, Joyce M.. "Desperately seeking barbie ; Baby boomers go to antique dealers, fairs and web sites in quest for vintage dolls", Business, The Grand Rapids Press, 2001-10-21, p. 2. 
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