Article Directory :: Sports & Recreation Articles Barbie Dolls--History Of A Phenomenon By John Mowatt Republish: EasyPublish™ Published: 05Aug2008 Word count: 408 Viewed: 770 time(s) Get Free Content For Your Site In 1959 the first Barbie doll was shown at the New York toy fair. Billed as "New For '59,The Barbie Doll:A Shapely Teenage Fashion Model Price $3.00." Thus was born the Barbie doll phenomenon which is certainly one of the greatest success stories in toy manufacturing. Prior to Barbie nearly all children's dolls were child dolls rather than adult figures. Barbie changed all this. In 1945 Elliot and Ruth Handler formed a partnership with Harold Matson to manufacture picture frames. The two names Matson and Elliot were combined to form the company name Mattel. Elliot started making doll house furniture out of the picture frame scraps of wood. This was the start of the Handler furniture business. About this time Ruth noticed that her daughter Barbara and friends preferred to play with adult paper dolls rather than child or baby dolls. The little girls seemed to like a doll they could look to as a role model for when they were grown up. Ruth realised that there could be big commercial possibilities in the adult doll market. She discussed the idea with her husband but he felt that it would be too expensive to start making the dolls. Soon after this Ruth made a trip to Germany and purchased a doll called Lilli. This adult type doll was based on a German comic strip. On returning to the USA she began work to redesign the doll working with a doll clothes designer. Soon the Barbie doll was born and was named after Ruth's daughter Barbara. The doll was patented by Mattel in 1958 and introduced in 1959. She was to become one of the most well known and well loved toys ever made. Barbie soon became a collectors doll and was avidly sought after by adult collectors. Between 1959 and 1972 Barbie underwent seven changes in her appearance and design. These Barbies made up to 1972 are recognised as vintage collectible dolls by their fans and are eagerly sought after. A 1959 Barbie in mint condition is worth up to $8000 although you will see them offered for much less at times. Later editions fetch proportionately less. You can generally purchase dolls in the 1969 to 1972 range for just a few dollars. You can still find the odd early doll,even the 1959 rarity,in places like garage sales and flea markets since about 300,000 were made and many are undoubtedly still out there undiscovered. Would you like to know where you can find thousands of Barbie dolls and accessories for $1 and up?Check this out http://www.collectbarbiedolls.com You will find a lot of informartion there about barbie dolls also. EasyPublish™ this article - publishers click here More articles by John Mowatt

Free Report! Ten Essential Secrets Of Article Marketing ... Grab Your Free Copy Now: We respect your privacy. Need Content? Regular Top Quality Content for your Blog, Ezine or Website ... Delivered Direct, For Free! Click For Details Arts & Entertainment Automotive Business - General Computers & Technology Finance & Investment Food & Drink Health & Fitness Home & Family Internet Marketing/Online Business Legal Pets & Animals Politics & Government Reference & Education Religion & Faith Self-Improvement/Motivation Social Sports & Recreation Travel & Leisure Writing & Speaking

More sports articles:

• 3 Great Tree Surgery Books (Richard Smith)
  If you're a tree surgeon then continuous professional development is something that helps many people in their jobs and reading a few books can probably help you do yours. However, if you just have a passing interest in tree surgery or need to do a job yourself then here are few places to look to get you started.

• What You Need To Know About Injuries And Cold Therapy Gel Treatments (Paul Malcolm)
  Both professional and recreational athletes who are involved in sports of any kind (often contact sports) might have a product in mind when someone mentions cold therapy gel. This is because they undergo muscle injuries and bruises on a regular basis. Cold therapy gel is a jelly like substance designed to mitigate pain by providing topical pain relief.

• What Supplies Are Needed On A Camping Trip? (Bob Helms)
  When going on a camping trip, there are certain items which may be needed to make the trip much more comfortable and safe. Your list may vary, but this article will give you an idea of some of the supplies needed. Of course there are always other options to be considered, but the main point is to remember that it's better to have and not need, than to need and not have.

• Learn About The Uses Of The Indoor Bicycle Trainer (Nedylka Dimit)
  Indoor bicycle trainer is a training tool used to train a cyclist while inside a home. This means that the cyclist does not need to leave the house in order to learn how to ride a bike. Trainers are very useful especially during winter seasons.

• What Is An Electronic Basketball Game All About? (Dimitar Mayer)
  Just like foosball is an indoor version of soccer, an electronic basketball game is a compact replica of the actual play with everything else like rules and skills remaining unchanged. In this game, there is a pitched games surface which facilitates the mini basketball to roll across to the player and bounce well especially when being shot into a hoop.

• Fishing 101: The Basic Essentials Needed To Start Fishing (Stacy Robinson)
  One of the most common topics of conversation of people of all ages and socioeconomic groups is fishing. Listening to people talk about their fishing trip and experiences is very exciting and fun. Llistening to some of these adventures may be enough to get you interested in fishing. If you don't know where to begin, that could be a problem. Here is a basic fishing 101 of the essentials that will have you out fishing in no time.

• Starting Out In Fly Fishing (Roy C Lloyd)
  In forty years of pursuing game, sea and freshwater fish, I've suffered and exhilarated through a number of stages. First, as is everyone at the beginning, I was a pure innocent, knowing nothing of the art of fishing. As time went by I collected a modicum of skill in enticing run of the mill fish to my lure. Then I accomplished the next stage of fishing for certain individual working fish and many times taking them. This made me an expert.

• Distinct Phases of Fly Fishing (Roy C Lloyd)
  There are three distinct phases of fly fishing: 1 - Dry or floating fly. 2 - Wet fly and streamer. 3 - Nymph and Larvae. Dry fly fishing is the easiest insofar as performance is concerned. Good results is another factor. Nymph fishing enacted properly is the most difficult of the three and requires the most skill and know how. Wet fly fishing is the best known and at one time was practically the only manner in which flies were fished.