You can find them by the dozens at almost every doll show. Those hard plastic dolls from the 1950's. They have no markings, most only have joints in the arms, and the clothes are often missing or in poor condition. They are called Gas Station dolls because many gas stations gave them away as promotional items with a tankful of gas. The same sort of dolls also came with boxes of chocolates or other promotional gimmicks.
My Aunt Shirley collected this type of doll. Now, my Aunt Shirley wasn't your normal grown-up kind of aunt. They didn't have labels in those days for people like my aunt, but even as a very small child, I understood that although Aunt Shirley was as old as my mother, she really was just a little kid like me.
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Friends and relatives would bring Shirley dolls as gifts when they came to visit, or after they had been traveling. It was never hard to know what she would like for her birthday or for Christmas. Each doll that arrived would be oohed and awed over, and then carefully placed in a spot of honor inside a glass fronted display case in the living room.
I remember standing in front of that case looking at all those beautiful dolls. My fingers just itched to touch them and play with them. But I knew with out doubt that I didn't dare even open those doors, or I would risk the wrath of a whole household of grown-ups. It just didn't seem fair that all those wonderful dolls were just to look at and never to play with.
Many years later, I inherited some of those same dolls that I had admired through glass. As an adult, I was totally unaware of their value. To me they were still precious things to be guarded from grubby little fingers. An occasion came up where a doll appraiser came to our small community, and offered her services for free appraisals. I took my treasured "antique" dolls to be appraised in some hidden room in the bottom of the local public library.
I have to say I was surprised, but not really disappointed, in the response of the appraiser. She explained to me how these dolls were commonly given away with a tank of gas, and that they can be found in great numbers and therefore have very little if any monetary value. In that moment, my childhood view was somehow shaken, as I realized how many people had tried to bring a little pleasure to my aunt's life, and that by treating their gifts as treasure's, they somehow were letting Aunt Shirley feel that she was a treasure too.
Although my little Gas Station dolls are not worth lots of money, They are some of my favorite pieces in my collection of family memories and heirlooms.
Gas Station Dolls
I have to admit a secret. I've never grown out of playing with dolls. I've been fascinated with making dolls much of my adult years. I've experimented with different forms, materials, and tools, and have never lost the need for making playthings in the shape of the human body. Sometimes I strive for realism, other times I seem to need to make dolls as tiny as my skills can allow. In the hopes that others might enjoy my doll designs, I created Small Doll World to market my line of doll making kits. Each kit includes an original doll design and pattern, and all the materials needed to create the doll. I call my kits Pixie Dixie Doll kits, named after my niece, Diana, who Grandpa called the original Pixie Dixie. You can view my kits at www.smalldollworld.com [http://www.smalldollworld.com]
© 2008 Small Doll World
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