The Heyday of the Composition Doll - 1930-1954
Decoration   Decoration
 

By the early thirties, the Reliable Toy Company had the largest doll-making factory in the British Empire and was supplying most of Canada's dolls. It displayed its products at toy fairs throughout the world, and was soon shipping thousands of dolls to countries such as Australia, South Africa and Scotland.

During the Second World War, Reliable made the Eaton's Beauty dolls as well as many army, navy, air force and nurse dolls. The Maggie Muggins doll was very popular after the war. In 1948 the company made the first Barbara Ann Scott doll, which sold well for five years, becoming Canada's most famous doll.

The Dee an Cee Company, established in 1938, made fine-quality composition dolls that soon gained a reputation for being beautifully dressed. Mattel Inc. bought Dee an Cee in 1962. Earle Pullan of Toronto started a company bearing his name in 1945 and began making composition dolls in 1947. York Toy Specialty Ltd. and the Freeman Toy Co. also made composition dolls in the forties.

Composition dolls were manufactured until 1955, but their popularity decreased as new plastics were introduced.

 
Decoration   Decoration

Shirley Temple doll

ca. 1935
Reliable Toy Company, Toronto, Ontario
All composition, all original
Courtesy of E. Strahlendorf,
Hamilton, Ontario
L2455.135

Reliable Toy was licensed by Ideal Toy in the U.S.A. to make the composition Shirley Temple doll in Canada for the Canadian market for a period of five years. The doll wore a Reliable label on its dress.
 

L2455.135 - Photo: Conservation
L2455.119 - Photo: Conservation Maggie Muggins

1947
Reliable Toy Company, Toronto, Ontario
All composition
Courtesy of E. Strahlendorf,
Hamilton, Ontario
L2455.119

Maggie Muggins was a character created by Mary Grannan in her storybooks, and radio and television shows.
 

Highland Laddie

ca. 1947
Reliable Toy Company, Toronto, Ontario
All composition
Original costume
Courtesy of E. Strahlendorf,
Hamilton, Ontario
L2455.025

 

L2455.025 - Photo: Conservation
998.25.5 - CD98-148-092 Mama doll

ca. 1948
Freeman Toy Co., Toronto, Ontario
Composition and cloth
Original costume
Gift of E. Strahlendorf, Hamilton, Ontario
CMC 998.25.5

 




 
What is a Doll? | Inuit Dolls from Prehistory to Today | First Nations Dolls
Settlers' Dolls - Dolls Made at Home | Antique China and Parian Dolls
Antique Dolls Imported from Europe | Eaton's Beauty Dolls
The Birth of the Canadian Doll Industry | The Heyday of the Composition Doll
The Vinyl Doll Era | Canadian Original Doll Artists | Mechanical Dolls | Web Sites | Credits