Newbie Here, Lots of Questions

[amyjoy]

Just wanted to say Welcome [img]smile.gif[/img] [img]smile.gif[/img] [img]smile.gif[/img] !!!

[jrtmom3274]

Welcome to the addicition! "Just one" is a rather foreign concept around here, that's for sure. I joined this board almost 2 years ago, after getting Kit from my Mommy for my 30th birthday. At the time, she had only Kaya. Now, I have 8, and she has 4 (the most recent, a mini Brenda, girl of 1961, which I made from AGoT 23 for Christmas).

I just wanted to let you know what I know about the furniture. I have Felicity's bed (purchased July 2005) and Kit's desk (purchased March 2005). My mom has Josefina's table set (purchased at the MCM sale 2005). They are all Mattel produced and all solid wood. I have seen all the trunks up close, opened and examined them at AG Place Chicago, and they are wood as well (with the exception of Molly & Samantha's, which have never been wood). If you decide to get furniture, I think you'll be amazed at the quality. Josefina's is exceptionally nice, so you are starting out with a great doll to collect for!

Heather

[mystere]

Hello! [img]smile.gif[/img] I'm afraid I can't help you on the "just one"- it's impossible- mine always beg for friends!

As for the PM vs. Mattel, these are the things I've noticed. This information will be going on my website soon (I'm currently building it and it will really launch in a few weeks). So if anyone has stuff to add, I'd appreciate it, especially about Molly, because I don't collect her.

Kirsten:
White-bodied- made in W. Germany, light ash blonde hair, close clipped hair in back between the braids, slightly different face mold. Vinyl is softer. Eyelashes are light brown and soft.
PM made in China- light ash hair is slightly darker, beige body, hair is less closely clipped in back. Face is slightly fuller. Vinyl is softer. Eyelashes are light brown and soft.
Mattel- honey blonde hair, face mold is different- wider, fuller, and more flat. Vinyl is harder. Eyelashes are dark and stiff.
(What I've noticed with my two and a couple I've sold.)

Samantha:
White-bodied- Made in W. Germany, hair is light brown, very curly, and very long (to her butt). Eyes have more "depth" to them- this is hard to explain, but the pattern on the glass eyes is different from PM and Mattel, and more life-like. Vinyl is soft and cheeks and lips are quite rosy. The bangs are rather heavy. Eyelashes are very long, curled upwards, and soft.
PM- Hair is still lighter in color than Mattel, but darker than the WB dolls. The hair is less curly and not as long. The glass eyes vary depending on the age of the doll- some of the dolls have the earlier eyes like the German dolls and some have a newer eye that is less life-like and more mottled (has some lighter orangey flecks). The bangs are not as heavy. Vinyl not quite as soft, but softer than Mattel. Eyelashes are regular length, brown, and soft.
Mattel- Hair is significantly darker. The face mold is slightly different. Eyelashes are dark and stiff.

Molly- I've sold a couple Molly dolls but had far fewer around than the other girls. I have noticed the early PM Mollys have lighter hair than the Mattel girls. Also, the PMs have soft light brown eyelashes whereas the Mattels have dark stiff eyelashes.

Felicity- the biggest differences
Made in W. Germany- true red hair (not auburn- it's very bright and distinctive), muted green eyes, face mold is less wide, flat, and full than the Mattel dolls. Eyelashes are red and soft.
Later PMs- auburn hair, bright green eyes, face mold similar to Mattel, eyelashes are red and soft.
Mattel- auburn hair, bright green eyes, face mold is fuller, wider, and flatter than German ones. Eyelashes are dark and stiff. Until 2005, Felicity had her Rose Garden gown as a meet outfit.

Addy:
W. German: These dolls, whose outfits are tagged 1986, are relatively rare. I'll post pictures of mine soon compared to a 1993 China made Addy. They are relatively light in color and their face molds are quite different from Mattel and even early China made PMs- it is more narrow and less flat. Addy's hair is very full and poufy, and is more textured than Mattel dolls. Her eyelashes are dark brown and soft.
PM China made: Face mold is in between the narrowness of the W. German dolls and the fullness of the Mattel dolls. Eyelashes are dark brown and soft. Hair is of the more textured type.
Mattel: Face mold is fuller and wider. Eyelashes are black and stiff. Hair is less textured.
As someone pointed out a few days ago, Addy's coloring can vary considerably between a gray tint, a light brown tint, and a dark brown tint.

Josefina:
The only difference I recognize between my PM Josie and a Mattel Josie I had for a while is that the PM has slightly softer vinyl. Josie's coloring varies considerably and some have a gray tint, others a nice rosy coloring. From what I've seen, Mattel's coloring on Josie has been better than the very early ones. I enhance mine with a little blush. [img]wink.gif[/img]

Kit:
I've heard there were an early batch with soft light brown eyelashes and different freckles, but I've never seen one. I have a c. 2000 Kit whose sweater is tagged "Made in China for Pleasant Company." That would indicate she's pretty early (she's also stamped Pleasant Co.), but I can't see any difference between her and the Mattel ones. She has stiff dark lashes.

Hope that helps with at least some of them!

There are also numerous PM v. Mattel changes to clothing, accessories, etc. I would check out Meg's Collecting Guide and Curt Danhauser's Collecting Guide. They show some of the changes and retired versions of things (like Kirsten's first edition school dress and such).
I believe someone already gave the link to Curt's site. I just checked, and Meg's site isn't working currently. I'm not sure if that will change in the future. I hope so- it was really a good one! [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Gombe Gal]

Welcome to the board! [img]smile.gif[/img]

Originally posted by LindaB from VA:
Finally, and most important--how do you stop at just ONE American Girl?????

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Well... you don't! [img]tongue.gif[/img] I tried to stop at four, and I couldn't even do that!

[wildpony]

Welcome! And no...you can not just stop at one [img]eek.gif[/img] you keep falling in love with new dolls [img]tongue.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/heart.gif[/img]

That was sweet of your husband to get you Josefina, she is so beatifull [img]smile.gif[/img]

[AmericanGirlLover2982]

Welcome to the board! You will like here very much and have come to the right place. Everyone has already pretty much answered your questions. And no you cannot stop at 1 dollo, LOL its addicting I started with Limited Edtion 2003 Kaiely and said no more dolls but then I found Samantha and fell in love her and from there it went to Nellie, then Felicity, then Elizabeth, and Baby Polly and the doll collection keeps growing and growing. 10 is my limit I think. Soon I will need a seperate room for my doll things. LOL [img]wink.gif[/img]

[img]graemlins/rose.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/heart.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/kiss.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/rainbow.gif[/img] Welcome again!!