Evening journal., 1919-07-22
LITTLE GIRLS DOLL
SECRET IS SOLVED
Find Process for Making Clay
From Which Toys
Are Fashioned
WEALTH
OFFERED FOR FIND

! ALBANY, Cal. July PA discovery
which promises to bring Joy 10 the
heart Of many a tiny American along
about next Christrnas-and befors-hss
! Just been made here. II IS tho secret OF
making the clay from which bisque
dolls are fashioned, an art known only
/ to German toymakers until a Western
decorator hit upon the happy comblna-
tlon.
Blsque dolls, according 10 some thou
sands Of little mothers" who have
prattled their preferences into waiting
ears and sorawled them on sheets Of
letter paper intended for the eyes OF
Santa Claus, are by far the most at
tractlve dolls IN the world.
Consequently, when the German ma
ton went 10 war and the other nations
declared trade boycotts on the Teuton
because OF his inhuman methods Of
fighting, there was weeping and wall
Ing In many home because there were
No bisque dolls 10 be had.
Dozens Of substitutes were put on
the "kewpies." TEDDY bears,'
pickaninnles stuffed with rags and
other conoelts-btu none seemed TO
take the place OF the flaxen-haired
doll Of bsque, the secret for making
which was retained by the enemy toy
makers.
II. r. Epperson, a California decora-
tor, instead OF attempting to make a
substitute doll, began 10 experiment
with clay in the hope OF evolving a
/ blsque which Would be tho equal OF
that formerly exported by Germsny.
After five years of experiment, success
Ihas crowned his efforts. His blsdue
dolls, now being turned out at Albany,
arc said to be not only the equal but
the superior Of the German product.
Before the war began Epperson pur-
chased undecorated. or raw" blsque
dolls from Germany, painted them at
his little factory and sold them
throughout tho country, realizing only
small profit because OF the competi-
tion from overseas. Then hostilities
began and he found himself out OF
job,
Now he is fairly swamped with or
ders. News Of his discovery has spread
throughout the land, and toy dealers are
Offering him fabulous sums for his Sc
cret But Epperson is guarding that
precious knowledge WELL, in the mean |
precious knowledge WELL, in the mean
time turning out bisque dolls as fast
as he can and reaping the profits there
from.
As soon as his patents have been
made bulletproof, he says, he intends
into the secret, build a representative |
plant and go in for a vastly increased |
home trade and whatever export busi- |
ness there IS TO be had.
70 IS Epperson's hope that. With new
model American machinery and Amer /
can associates and co-laborers, he can /
urn out bisque dollies for prices low
enough 20 guarantee that every "llttle
mother" in the land may have one.
In the meantime the trade ban against
Germany has been lifted and it is prob
Ible that the German toymakers Will
20 trying, soon. 20 reopen the Ameri-
an market for their bisque dolls. But
he Californian has evidently beaten
hem 10 IL" and will have the advantage
u better commodity at cheaper rates,
dded TO the natural disinclination on
he part OF American merchants TO
purchase anything from unrepentant
iermany which can be had in this
country
The combination Of California clays
which Epperson has evolved for the !
manufacture Of his doll bisque Is de-
siared by experts to be the equal OF {
The clays Of Haviland. sevres and
other great china centers Of Europe. Il ..
VIII probably be used later in the |
mauiacture Of commercial china as
well as dolls.