October 21st & 22nd 2017 Coin-Op & Advertising
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/21/2017
22” A most unique doll created by Thomas Edison in the late 1880's that in theory was quite ingenious but in reality was a commercial failure. Edison utilized a wind-up mechanism encased within the tin torso of a doll's body that played a wax disc with a nursery rhyme. Surely this would appeal to the female child, not only having her bisque headed doll but one that sang to her as well. All too often the mechanism failed for one reason or another and it is quite the rarity today to find an example complete with a mechanism let alone one that still plays the nursery rhyme. The doll itself is of German manufacture utilizing a bisque head, wood and composition arms and legs and a tin torso with a removable front access panel. This example features a bisque head with blue glass eyes dressed in an elaborate replica outfit. Unfortunately the original phonograph mechanism is no longer present. Overall the original finish to the wooden and composition body parts (lacking 1/2 thumb) and the bisque head is without hairlines or cracks.
Correction: The mechanism and the cylinder that makes this doll fully functional is a limited edition item, manufactured in France. The garments were specifically made to be an exact replica taken from one of Edison's advertisements.
Condition: (Good - Very Good).
Item Dimensions: 22"T.