Dee an Cee Dolls, Cheerio Toys, Regal Dolls, Wrebbit 3-D Puzz, Melody Toys, Senitt Puppets - 9th in Canadiana Series
Post WWII many Canadian Toy Companies flourished. Dee an Cee or D&C Dolls was created in 1938 and continued until 1964. Dee Cee was acquired by Mattel in 1962 who closed Canadian production in 1964. Dee an Cee was the first Canadian Toy Company to advertise on television! Their motto was "Quality Above All". Dee Cee acquired the rights to produce the Canadian versions of American Character Dolls.
One such doll was "Sweet Sue".
Rooted Strawberry Blonde Hair, the back of her neck marked "DEE CEE"
She has blue sleepy eyes, flat feet so she can stand very well and her original red polka dotted dress!
For more details please click HERE
Another popular doll company was Regal Doll Company Canada Ltd, in Toronto Ontario Canada. Established in 1959 by Solomon Frank Samuels and brother Ben. Solomon Samuels was also one of the original founders of Reliable Toy Canada in 1920.
An example of a Native Canadian Eskimo or Inuit Doll c1960's made from vinyl and plastic.
Saucy side glancing inset brown eyes!
Her back embossed with "Regal Canada". She would have originally been dressed in a reproduction of a Native Eskimo or Inuit costume.
For more details, please click HERE
Cheerio Toys and Games Ltd was incorporated in 1938. In 1955 all but one trademark was assigned to Duncan (Samual Dubiner), including "Yo-Yo". Cheerio Toys is one of the premier Toy company's for which the Yo Yo is a sought after collectible! Cheerio was known for making plastic dollhouse furniture and gym sets.
Here is an iconic dollhouse piano and bench marked "Cheerio" on the song book/music.
A lovely marbled brown plastic with decal keys & music book. For more details please click HERE
Wrebbit was founded in the early 1990's by Paul-Emile Gallant and was the new innovation of a 3D Jigsaw Puzzle known as PUZZ 3D. Made from sturdy foam backed pieces, the 3D puzzle was a brand new take on the flat table top design.
A rare WORKING Cuckoo Clock 3D Jigsaw Puzzle, still sealed! Dated 2001.
For more details, please click HERE
Gallant sold to Irwin Toys in 2001 but he purchased the company back within a year. He sold it again to Hasbro in 2005. The last report known, was that Wrebbit Canada was being resurrected in Canada in the spring/summer of 2012!
Melody Toys produced stuffed animals in Canada c1960's. No information is available on this Canadian producer. Animals are rare to find!
A champagne plush teddy bear with stunning blue eyes made in Canada by Melody Toys.
For more details on this bear, please click HERE
Senitt Puppets, Carnarvon Ontario Canada was established in 1978 by Catherine Senitt to produce Wrinkles Dog Puppets. Senitt was the inventor of the popular 1980's craze Wrinkles Dog Puppets licensed to Canadian Toy Manufacturer Ganz Bros for USA and Worldwide distribution. Now discontinued by Ganz, Senitt is the only current maker of original Wrinkles Dog Puppets! Catherine was born in 1945 in Rochester NY and emigrated to Canada in 1966. Wrinkles were based upon the dog breed Shar Pei.
In various sizes, this is the largest Ganz produced Wrinkles Puppet of the rare Moogy Moose!
Wrinkles by Ganz have a leather neck tag with a gold number, and the ear is embroidered.
Their head has the opening for your hand to use as a puppet. Moogy Moose is copyright 1982. For more details, please click HERE
Another rare example is the Stuffle Bag. A Wrinkles Dog made to be a duffle bag! Large & roomy this item is very hard to find! Also produced by Ganz.
For more details, please click HERE
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Mandy
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Very informative and charming. Thanks Mandy. All the best.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mandy. I'm a Canadian and didn't know of all of these toy companies. Proves there's always something new to learn. I, too, have read that Wrebbit is back in business & I think that's a great thing.
ReplyDeleteWow great toys made well by Canadian companies, very informative! The Native American Eskimo/Inuit doll is adorable! I wonder if Regal and Reliable Canadian companies were related in any way... I have several Reliable dolls (they were my Mother's) and the Reliable brand is on the backs of all of the dolls and looks quite similar. Take a look at my blog post on vintage dolls when you have the time. It includes several Reliable, Dee Cee, other Canadian-made dolls and dolls made outside of Canada as well.
ReplyDeletehttp://trinketeer.blogspot.ca/2014/02/vintage-dolls.html
Cheers! :)
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DeleteThe Reliable Canada company was founded by SF Samuels in 1920 & he brought in his brothers/family. He was also one of the co-founders of Regal Toy Company in 1959. Regal was sold to the Samuels family in 1979. Reliable ceased business in 1991. This may explain similarities between the two company's dolls! SF Samuels was also instrumental in founding the Canadian Toy Association and his bio appears on their website. E Pullan was established in 1945 and was sold to Mattel in 1967 (one of your other dolls). Hope this helps!
DeleteYes, that sounds right, and it definitely explains the similarities. It's amazing how nice some of these old dolls look when taken care of. I prefer them to some of the new models sold today, but that just goes to show that I'm a bit of an old soul, haha. Thanks again, great post!
DeleteI have three dolls made by CANADIAN DOLL MFG. CO. LIMITED. What do you know regarding this company?
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Nancy