Playthings of Childhood / The Doll's House

The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: a. “The joys of childhood; that fairyland of memories that hangs forever in our thoughts. An old rag doll or tin train played wonders with the imagination, and everything else was forgotten in -- Toyland.” “Joint dolls and crocodiles with movable jaws were found in the tombs of Egypt. In 1672 the first English toy invention was patented. Since 1852 patents have come from all over the world.” “Making a toy piano. Gluing and nailing frames together.” Woman worker gluing and fitting piano frames together - man at machine driving nails into frame. “Sandpapering and staining.” Worker at electric sander sanding frame - women workers at benches staining frames. “Varnishing.” Woman varnishing frame with spray gun. “Tuning and nailing keys to bridge.” Worker tuning and assembling tone producing pieces of metal - woman worker nailing keys to bridge. “Assembling and placing keyboard in position.” “With an action like its big brother --” Man playing small piano. “-- and a sound the neighbors will enjoy.” Worker placing back on toy piano. “Making a doll. The head and other parts are turned out of wood, making an unbreakable toy.” Doll heads on lathes. “Painting by spraying systems, which gives an even surface.” Worker spray painting doll heads. “An eye for an eye --” Woman worker hand painting eyes. “Making a swivel and placing it in a joint.” Worker making swivels, attaching them to arm joints. “Assembling and giving final touches to complexion.” Worker attaching arms and legs - worker spray painting headless doll body. “Dolly’s shoes are first cut from kid and then sewed together.” Worker spreading kid leather on table, cutting shoe with hand die - woman worker at sewing machine sewing shoes. “The shoes are formed with the soles and insoles, then glued and pressed together.” Woman worker using tiny shoe form. “Dressmaking.” Woman worker sewing doll clothes on sewing machine. “Passed by the Board of Censors.” Women workers dressing headless dolls, “After braiding hair on a string, it is sewed to a skull cap.” Woman worker braiding hair - sewing hair to cap. “Dolly must have a ‘part’ in her hair.” Worker braiding hair, sewing hair on cap. “-- and curls and everything.” Workers curling doll’s hair. “Looking for a little playmate.” Woman worker putting heads and shoes on doll. “Getting ready for little Bobby’s side-show.” Worker assembling wooden horses - view of circus toys in Humpty-Dumpty Circus. “A doll’s house.” Worker putting final touches to partially completed doll house - view of completed house. “In Toyland.” Baby and young girl sitting at small table having tea party, girl holding doll in arms. [1920] b. Little girl sleeping in bed, dreaming - doll climbing out of trunk, two other dolls climbing from trunk, climbing into doll bed, larger doll taking clothes from trunk, closing lid - doll powdering face in front of mirror, putting on hat, kissing sleeping dolls, leaving room - view of dolls in bed, dolls getting out of bed - doll sitting in front of tub of water, two other dolls taking bath - views of clown and elephant dolls performing - little girl waking up. [1920]