u/PokeytheGwumph

I always check the doll section at the thrift stores, and usually it’s full of modern stuff and hobbyist repros. I guess I can understand why the store didn’t recognize this guy as the real deal, because there are *so* many bad hobbyist ones that get donated. He was there for over a week, and was 50% off, so I got him for $10. I guess he was overlooked by everyone else, too.

I always thought Bye-Los look like Bobby Hill on King of the Hill, so I’ll name him Bobby. My son said I should send him to the voice actress who does Bobby, but I think he’ll stay with me 😂

I’ll clean him up a bit, and I think I have a more period-appropriate outfit for him. I’d really like to give credit to this subreddit for teaching me how to recognize antique dolls—a couple of years ago, this guy wouldn’t have stuck out to me immediately in a pile of modern dolls.

I’m playing with Mattie’s hair style, and it’s crazy how much length can get eaten up with curls. This is fresh out of the curlers, and not styled further. Although this could be beautiful, I’m still going to experiment with longer waves, so that the sheer length of this human hair wig is showcased. What do you guys think?

It’s been quite the interesting journey to actually acquire this doll! She was posted on marketplace in April 2025, and when I contacted the seller, she realized that she had mistakenly listed it in our state, when she meant to list it in her parents’ state where the doll was located. She was uncomfortable with having her parents ship the doll, and wasn’t confident that she would be able to pack it adequately, either. At one point, she thought about bringing it back on the plane with her after visiting, but was too worried that the airline would force her to check it. Thelma is 30” tall, and would practically need her own seat. (EDIT: I re-measured her, and she’s closer to 32”)

So, I kept in touch with her, and a family member finally drove the doll from her parents house to here, and I was able to go pick her up today. The doll’s name is Thelma Lou, after her original owner—the seller‘s grandmother. She suspects that the doll was a gift from a family friend, as she doubts the family never would’ve ever been able to afford a doll this nice. Thelma was restrung and restored in 2000, and was wearing a custom, but obviously synthetic dress. Her wig is also synthetic, but I actually think it suits her fairly well. When I got her home, I dressed her in some of the Edwardian clothes I have. The underskirt actually came with my Minerva, and the top I believe is actually a shirtwaist for a slightly older girl. I had to do quite a bit of pinning and tying, but Thelma is large enough that I was able to make them work.

Mattie‘s hair has been cleaned and conditioned, and is ready to style. She came to me with her hair up in a bun, and I was surprised at how long it was once I took her hair down. I didn’t really care for her hair up in a bun, because it made her look kind of like an old maid. The newspaper in her head dated to 1913, so I’m looking for Edwardian girl hairstyles. I’d like at least part of her hair down.

Please suggest any styles that you think might work for her. I’ve included a picture of Edwardian teen styles, a pic that Willowwing suggested, and a photo of a chromolithograph that I have that would be appropriate, if you would like to vote.

I also wanted to reset her eyes, but when I tried to remove the plaster, it flexed the tin just enough to pop off a paint chip on her face. If you have any techniques that won’t jostle or flex the tin, please let me know. I’d rather her have crooked eyes than losing paint on her face, though.

I found this sweet little girl at an antique store today. I almost didn’t stay in the shop long enough to find her, because they had so many modern dolls priced at rather aspirational and ridiculous amounts. I was on my way out when I spotted another basket full of dolls on the floor. This girl, one of the only true antique doll that they had in the store, was thrown unceremoniously into the basket along with a bunch of vinyl dolls. I poked around through an adjacent trunk filled with clothes, and managed to find her hair, and an antique dress that may have been hers as well.

They wanted $95 for her, but I talked them down to $45. Now she can come home and hang out with her new big sister, once I get her restored. I also found two antique dresses that will fit the larger doll perfectly once she is embodied.

She does seem to be a bit put out about her treatment over the last century. I didn’t realize she was flipping the bird until I got home. I’ve never re-sculpted fingers before, but in this case I might!

I was searching for bodies for a different Simon and Halbig head that I acquired recently, and came across this one on eBay. It was the perfect size. When I was going through the description, the seller mentioned that the head actually still existed, but was broken. From the tiny bit of the head I could see from the pictures, it appeared that at least part of the face was still intact.

I contacted the seller, and asked if she’d be willing to send the doll with her head. She had originally intended on just getting rid of the head, and selling the eyes separately. As it turns out, she only has two broken pieces from her forehead, one of which the seller still had. The breaks are almost completely obscured by her rather voluminous wig. The seller was very happy to work with me to make her whole again.

A lot of my dolls have serious flaws that many collectors would reject, but I absolutely love them. She’s clearly been restored in the past, and although I might change out her wig, I’m very happy with her as is. I’m thrilled that the seller and I worked it out, so that this beautiful girl didn’t go into the dustbin of history.

My two lovely Simon and Halbig girls just arrived! I haven’t embarked on a restoration of this scale yet, and am aware it might take me a while (and a decent chunk of money) to acquire the correct bodies. They are larger than I was anticipating, so I’m sure that will add to cost as well, but thankfully they cost very little.

Left is S&H 1079 13 1/2, Right is K*R S&H 121 56.

Questions for the more experienced folks—I understand how to measure for eyes and wigs, but how do I use head measurements and/or mold size to choose an appropriately sized body? I’m guessing the 126 needs a toddler body, too?

Also—aside from trawling eBay, what are good sources for antique or high-quality repro bodies?