Ramblings about my PM Sam & Molly

[ponydreamer]

I think there is a huge difference between the Mattel and PM dolls. I don't think one is better than the other, though. I only own one PM doll, but all of my DD's dolls are PM, as we collected them in the early 90's. Trust me...there is a huge difference between her dolls and mine.

As far as how to dress and display them? I am still mostly a purest, so I would dress the PM dolls to fit their era, when I wanted to. But I wouldn't sent any rules for myself as how to dress them. Just have fun with them, and dress them however you want, whenever you want. [img]graemlins/rose.gif[/img]

[heidiabigail]

I notice a huge difference in the dolls! The mattel ones have different vinyl than the old ones. It isn't just harder, it is colder? I think. It is probably easier to slip pants on over this new vinyl, but the face loses some depth and personality to me. Maybe it is the coloing too. It seems that the lips are brighter and more distinct now. I see a beautiful PM doll and I am an awful ****er for that face! The bodies used to be a lot softer. I wonder if this mattel vinyl is more durable? Seems like it would be harder to scratch.

Don't get me wrong, I love my mattel dolls too, but I absolutely adore my PM dolls.

[cami713]

I don't see a difference in quality. But I do see the subtle differences in the dolls.

I, personally, like the silkier hair of my M dolls, it's easier to manage, and less likely to get messy. And it looks so nice and shiny, I'd love for mine to be that shiny, lol!

Yes, the Mattel dolls have more makeup, but I do think it's a nice change from the much-loved pale PM dolls, my 96 AGT has no lip color, as you can see in my avatar. I really want to paint them, but want a very very realistic pinky color, and I'm having difficulties finding the right color. I think with the dolls, Mattel or PM it really depends on the doll when talking about the "makeup." My Lissie has a bit too much on her lips, I still think she's gorgeous, it just looks like a bit much for a 9 year old. I think my Nellie's lip and cheek coloring looks PERFECT, and I think there's a bit much on my PM Samantha, and I think the paint on her lips makes the shape look odd.

I also like the feel of the vinyl on both. The PM dolls (or at least mine) are softer, almost greasy (trust me, though, they aren't), whereas the Mattel dolls have a more matte feel. I really like both.

Not sure I could say which I liked better, PM or M. I love all of my dolls, no matter what they are. I do think MY Sam and MY Josefina are prettier than the ones in the catalogues, but that might just be that they're MINE, not so much that they're PM, because I also think my M Nellie and M Felicity are prettier than those in the catalogues. And I really like the Josefina face mold, so I've been liking more and more of the M dolls.

I do think there is way too much attention put on the differences, and what makes one better than another. I hope everyone loves their dolls for who they are. I know I love my M Felicity, I love her brown hair and neon eyes, that's just *her*. I think she's a gorgeous doll, even though I would like to have one who looked more like Lissie in the books.

[SanFen]

Thank you all for your thoughtful replies. I think I will just leave them as they are - AGT girls for now!

Sandy

[SanFen]

I have learned so much from this board.

I introduced myself a couple of months ago and told the story of how I adopted a Kit, Addy, Molly & Sam from a neighbor.

Kit & Addy are back from the hospital as good as new. . .

Mooly & Sam are pre-Mattel. I didn't know how to tell the difference right away, but over the weeks I see that they are so very different than the Molly & Sam I picked up at AGP. Molly was my first and Sam my second, so I've felt bonded to them for quite a while now. The "new" (older) dolls are incredibly cute as well. About a week ago, I was thinking that maybe I would sell the PM dolls - to pay for a bunch of stuff I got on eBay. Since yesterday though, I realize I can't do it! They are both dressed in AGT clothing and they are just too cute with their chubby cheeks. I guess I will keep them.

I am wondering if I should dress the PM dolls in the period clothing (if they fit!) and put the newer dolls in AGT clothes. What do you all think? I have a ton of Mattel clothing for both Sam & Molly and I don't even want to think about replacing everything with PM clothing! What a dilemma - however, if this were my biggest problem, I wouldn't complain. . .;-)

I now have a PM Lissie with red hair, a white bodied Kirsten and the PM Molly (has made in Germany 1986 tag) & Sam. I suppose I really should keep these girls together.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts. . .

Sandy

[Skittl1321]

Perhaps it's just me, but I think there is way to much of a fuss made over PM/Mattel. Dress the dolls in whatever you think they look cute in (and fit in.) If they are important to you as collectors dolls, don't play with them as hard, but it doesn't mean you can't display them in anything you want.

[moderator]

I also have to admit I don't fully understand the differences. [img]redface.gif[/img] I have been collecting AGs now for 16 years. My Molly is special to me since she was made in West Germany (before the fall of the Berlin wall!). Other than that, though, I don't really notice any differences between the dolls. The only big difference I noticed with my Kit doll is that she has a zip-tie around her neck, instead of string. But others here have said even Mattel dolls can have string. In my opinion, sometimes the older dolls look "different" merely because their lip and cheek colors have faded a bit. My Molly, for example, was a played-with doll and does not have rosy cheeks or lips. This doesn't mean she didn't originally have them--just that they wore off. (One great tip from Marie Osmond is to put some Vaseline on dolls' lips--this helps them look newer, especially if the paint is dull.)

A lot of what makes dolls special is the eBay market, which is a phenomenon in and of itself! [img]wink.gif[/img] It has made a market for these dolls (and other play dolls, such as My Twinn) that would not exist if not for the Internet.

So, all of this is just to say--do what makes you happy and that you won't regret! The dolls are great, no matter what country they were made in, or under what manufacturer. I promise! [img]smile.gif[/img]

Some day I think it would be fun if I uploaded my dolls' photos and had people guess what country they were made in. Then we could test the theories! [img]biggrin.gif[/img]