The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-12-17
DOLLS
MADE mi. S.
TAKE PLACE.
OF GERMANS
By BILL PRICE.

going to suit the tastes Of all the
grovn-ups. but the dear little Riddles
will like them, and they are the ones
to be made happy.
Reasons: Last Christmas there was
stili a goodly supply Of -mads-in-
Germany dolls. while this year the
little girls will only eoddls American
and japanese made dolls. and neither
make is up to what It will be a
year from now.
This brings up many interesting
facts known only to the doll and toy
buyers in washington's big stores.
Grown women never tire OF looking
at pretty dolls, and when they visit
Washington doll establishments the
memories OF childhood crowd thickly
upon them. Grown sons and daugh-
tiers, society activities, gray hairs.
and the other touches OF time cannot
deaden the remembrance Of the
Christmases OF yore. Next to the
sweetheart years. they are most pre-
eious.
Few Doll ssPIants" In 1914.
For many years Germany supplied
the bulk OF the best dolls and toys
coming to America In 1914 the Cen
sus Bureau took a census of the doll
and toy industry in this country. It
found several hundred small estab-
lishments devoted wholly to this in
dustry. but all of them turned out
goods to the value OF only $13.759.
It did find larger establishments de-
voted to other lines OF industry also
engaged In making dolls and toys.
The total valuation of the product.
however. was only 81 .6o9. 555.
In 1914 Germany shipped to this
country $1.701. BIB in dolls out OF
total exports from other countries of
81 ,S16.4o6. In toys Germany shipped
to the United States that year 5000
941, the total value OF both German
dolls and toys. coming here being
nearly five times the value Of those
made in the United States.
In the fiscal year ended January
80, 1915, nearly q year after the be-
ginning of the European war and
England and France had blockaded
German ports, the Germans slipped
through to this country. by way OF
Holland and other countries. dolls
valued at 81, 661 ,611 and toys valued at
,5.I25, 7s4.
Up to June 80 Of last year she got
through, to the United States dolls to !
the value OF S61T ,333 and toys valued |
at $1.75s,663. To the time that the |
United States declared war on Ger.
many in April, last. some OF her dolls |
and toys were still getting through, |
but the quantity was so small that |
there will be few German-made artI- |
Giles Of this description available this |
year.
American Makers FIN the GaD.
American and japanese makers are |
filling the gap in dolls and toys, but
the supply Is small for the coming
The German bisque dolls /
were unquestionably popular. The
faces were like those Of the cutest
American babies. The Germans had
perfected their dolls until little re-
manned to do. The processes were
kept secret.
Americans have not seen able, In
the short time available to duplL
cate the perfection OF the German
dolls, but they have done well. as
pecially In putting on the market
new designs that are attractive. II
the faces are not just what the old
people expected there are other
things about them which please,
The Japanese were quick to see
that Germany's market for those
things would eventually be curtailed.
and last year they began making
dolls ana toys for American markets.
me dolls they turned out for last
Christmas were lacking In several
things that American fathers and
mothers anmOhf Tka
ers' Tor Instances. could not get away
from slanting the eyes IN the dolls.
and American merchants told the
japanese merchants OF this defect
Inc dolls eyes must have the true
American shape. The Japanese hus-
tled since last year to remedy this
ana their dolls, now on the market
have overcome this defect, although
stu lacking In the eye touch given By
American manufacturers.
japanese Plan for 1918.
One OF the buyers OF dolls in q large
house told The Times
that she had been Informed by n
woman Just from Japan that the jap
anese are preparing to send to Amer
lea next year dolls that are much i'm
proved They secured large numbers
Of German bisque dolls and are using
them as patterns. They are buying
the hair OF japanese girls and using
this on the heads OF the ARTIFICIAL
babies. Most OF this natural hair rs
being bleached, that little American
girls may feel their babies are gem
Ilne.
There is no question, the buyer
said. that the japanese are to put up
4 struggle to take Germany's place as
a great exporter OF toys and dolls
70 the United states. American man.
Ifacturers promise to make an effort
10 hold the market for themselves
md have given assurances to buyers
hat American dolls next year will be
he edual of thOsa forr,.ri,. 1-----.a |