tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047557606653771556.post7699622973103616369..comments2024-03-28T11:41:16.501-05:00Comments on Black Doll Collecting: MIBDH: The Shindana Story and One of Its Main CharactersBlack Doll Enthusiasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07534871309015210903noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047557606653771556.post-8881467951512719152019-08-15T15:59:57.640-05:002019-08-15T15:59:57.640-05:00Oh good. Zuri is a girl.
dbgOh good. Zuri is a girl.<br /><br />dbgBlack Doll Enthusiasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07534871309015210903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047557606653771556.post-41599514575713411552019-08-15T15:46:41.077-05:002019-08-15T15:46:41.077-05:00I found the answer to my question I posted last ni...I found the answer to my question I posted last night. The bottom of the box has numbers for either 'black' or 'white', lol. It's a white Zuri. Still not sure if this is supposed to be a girl or a boy?Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15276123800536454398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047557606653771556.post-42675178214900791022019-08-15T05:36:15.657-05:002019-08-15T05:36:15.657-05:00Shindana did make some white dolls. Dear Friends,...Shindana did make some white dolls. Dear Friends, reportedly, was a line of white vinyl dolls with cloth bodies available with blonde, brunette, and red hair. I believe the hair was rooted. The Little Friends, that you mentioned, represent dolls of different ethnicities. I believe the line included a boy and girl as African American, Asian, Caucasian, and Hispanic. <br /><br />Baby Zuri is a girl. The name means beautiful in Swahili. The doll you described is obviously a rare white version of the doll. I was able to find a photo of another white Baby Zuri <a href="https://images.app.goo.gl/8vUstLDMDUc1rHp1A" rel="nofollow">here.</a><br /><br />dbgBlack Doll Enthusiasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07534871309015210903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047557606653771556.post-44744164440108271572019-08-14T22:30:32.329-05:002019-08-14T22:30:32.329-05:00Hi, trying to find out more info on a 1972 Baby Zu...Hi, trying to find out more info on a 1972 Baby Zuri, yellow top and bottom with white lace on the edges, is this a boy or girl (blue box, maybe means a boy, lol)? Also, this doll has light skin color, blue eyes and molded hair that is a strawberry blonde color. So...I'm confused because I cannot find any evidence that they made any doll other than African American until later when the Little Friends collection came out, so....either they did do a Caucasian baby Zuri or is this possibly to represent an Albino African American doll? Because I'm leaning towards its to represent Albino...BUT...I really would like to clarify one way or another. Thanks so much, MelissaMelissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15276123800536454398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047557606653771556.post-91319002025959316702019-03-30T19:31:40.616-05:002019-03-30T19:31:40.616-05:00Thank you for sharing the story of your sweet Baby...Thank you for sharing the story of your sweet Baby Zuri. He is a precious doll. It's wonderful that your mother has incorporated him into her collection. <br /><br />dbgBlack Doll Enthusiasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07534871309015210903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047557606653771556.post-91244014216575562262019-03-30T14:51:16.571-05:002019-03-30T14:51:16.571-05:00One of my first (of *many*) baby dolls. My very fa...One of my first (of *many*) baby dolls. My very favorite was my Baby Zuri Shindana doll I got when I was around 3 years old. I swaddled 'him' and took him everywhere like a good 'Little Mommy'.<br />My mother tells me a story about us attending church one day and an elderly woman asked to see my 'little baby' covered by his baby blanket in my arms. When I pulled the cover away from my beautiful baby 'boy', beaming like any proud momma would...my mother says the look on the woman's face when she saw I had a colored baby doll was priceless. Unbeknownst to me, realistic looking ethnic baby dolls were very rare in the 70s...even more was the idea of race/racism. I just thought 'he' was the most beautiful baby I ever had. I owned several baby dolls, but for some reason the way he was designed was almost nearly perfect to real.<br />My mother still has him in her collection.wakeeladeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04046799034705253181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047557606653771556.post-3534259867129194162018-12-21T13:20:00.777-06:002018-12-21T13:20:00.777-06:00Please keep in mind that an item is only worth wha...Please keep in mind that an item is only worth what someone is willing to pay. A price of $1789.00 or even $500 can be asked for Shindana's Janie, but it is highly unlikely that anyone would be willing to pay as much. The best rule of thumb is to use doll reference books that provide current values and/or use eBay searches for completed/sold dolls to find out the average selling price. The selling price is the key, not the asking price. <br /><br /><br />dbgBlack Doll Enthusiasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07534871309015210903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047557606653771556.post-25680840062289091872018-12-21T13:16:25.474-06:002018-12-21T13:16:25.474-06:00Jas 1984, thank you for your observation. "W...Jas 1984, thank you for your observation. "While Shindana is well known for being the first US company to mass produce ethnically correct Black dolls," the Saralee doll by Ideal is the first "anthropologically" correct black doll. Unlike Shindana, Ideal did not produce a variety of ethnically correct Black dolls. Their manufacture of dolls that look like Black children extends only to the Saralee doll and the family of Saralee dolls that were not produced. <br /><br />dbgBlack Doll Enthusiasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07534871309015210903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047557606653771556.post-90782328013655864872018-08-14T01:23:52.074-05:002018-08-14T01:23:52.074-05:00Hi my name is Trina and I have a Shindana 1969 dol...Hi my name is Trina and I have a Shindana 1969 doll her name is Janie I believe I want to sell her , she is in very good condition I have pictures of her if you want to buy her she is one of the rare ones I am selling her for $500.00 I noticed the same 1969 doll on EBay for $1,789.00 but she is new they said !!!! If interested send me an Email at Hotqueena2004@yahooAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07188890861016792980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047557606653771556.post-57091227515865215212018-06-26T18:35:21.596-05:002018-06-26T18:35:21.596-05:00I would think the Saralee doll would predate the B...I would think the Saralee doll would predate the Baby Nancy as the first correct Black dolljas 1984https://www.blogger.com/profile/02844266171160761823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047557606653771556.post-28771107193481074252018-05-03T21:02:55.871-05:002018-05-03T21:02:55.871-05:00My mother named me after this company, she put a l...My mother named me after this company, she put a little twist on the spelling, but has always told me about the beautiful collection of dolls.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16385884347753302707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047557606653771556.post-16251761337605095752017-01-14T02:48:42.488-06:002017-01-14T02:48:42.488-06:00The photos on Pinterest were from a past eBay auct...The photos on Pinterest were from a past eBay auction. You will have to go to ebay.com, search for "Tamu" or Shindana dolls, to see if there are current listings to bid on or "buy now" if that feature is offered.<br /><br />Here is a <a href="http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.Xshindana+tamu.TRS0&_nkw=shindana+tamu&_sacat=0" rel="nofollow">link</a> to some current Tamu listings.<br /><br />dbgBlack Doll Enthusiasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07534871309015210903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047557606653771556.post-16564391429066326172017-01-13T22:21:51.383-06:002017-01-13T22:21:51.383-06:00Hi I just saw a collection start with Pinterest I ...Hi I just saw a collection start with Pinterest I saw my daughter's doll 1969 Shindana African American baby doll on there for sale on EbayAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14065680212972889241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047557606653771556.post-50967706945964208852015-12-22T09:01:30.098-06:002015-12-22T09:01:30.098-06:00Hi Becca,
Thanks for taking the time to read this...Hi Becca,<br /><br />Thanks for taking the time to read this article on Shindana Toys, Inc. I am not quite sure why the company went out of business, but I can speculate that things went for a downhill turn after Louis S. Smith’s tragic death. It is possible that financial woes began shortly prior to his death and his death impacted management, which eventually led to the company closing its doors. <br /><br />The dolls, when found MIB, are true treasures that keep the legacy of the company alive (in doll form). <br /><br />dbgBlack Doll Enthusiasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07534871309015210903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047557606653771556.post-83864975969989950592015-12-22T07:15:52.791-06:002015-12-22T07:15:52.791-06:00thanks for the great article. Do you know why the ...thanks for the great article. Do you know why the company did not continue in business? Their dolls were so amazing! How tragic about Louis Smith and his daughter. Did his demise have something to do with the company not continuing?queenbeetv88https://www.blogger.com/profile/17162930578546480313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047557606653771556.post-492586362762315562015-03-24T04:08:56.440-05:002015-03-24T04:08:56.440-05:00Thanks for your comment. I enjoyed reading your c...Thanks for your comment. I enjoyed reading your connection with Shindana dolls. It is nice to know of someone, other than my daughter, who owned the dolls as a child. <br /><br />The fire must have been quite devastating for you and your family. I hope you are able to replace your childhood Malaika. Versions of the doll are currently listed on eBay. Prices will vary as some sellers have prices that are more than inflated. $25 to $30 or less is a decent price for one in good to very good condition. With box they will be higher.. There is one listed without box now for $32. Here is the <a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Shindana-1969-Operation-Bootstrap-Malaika-15-Doll-Rare-Original-/251885891709?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3aa591b07d" rel="nofollow">link</a>. Good luck in your search.<br /><br />dbgBlack Doll Enthusiasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07534871309015210903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047557606653771556.post-48273418705344453372015-03-24T02:53:27.074-05:002015-03-24T02:53:27.074-05:00I had many Shndana dolls. My aunt knew Robert Bobo...I had many Shndana dolls. My aunt knew Robert Bobo, President of Shindana toys. He gave my sister and I a "JJ" doll, Red Fox doll, Baaby Nancy doll and a Kim doll to name a few, but the doll I remember most was the african doll. I thought she was beautiful!!! I got her for Christmas the year our home burned. I was devastated to have lost her in the fire and have wished for that doll ever since!!!!! I am 50 years old now and I still think of that doll. From time to time I search the internet to find her. Doing so is what brought me to this site.It's so pleasing to see the preservation of the history of Shindana Toys. Shindana toys holds special memories for me. I can remember visiting the toy factory and seeing all those dolls that looked just like me...I'll never forget it or Malaika.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16145574885445299290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047557606653771556.post-88236537441998327742014-11-10T18:15:43.605-06:002014-11-10T18:15:43.605-06:00Jimmy "JJ" Walker is among several perso...Jimmy "JJ" Walker is among several personality/celebrity dolls made by Shindana. Most accurately captured the likenesses of such people as Marla Gibbs, Dr. J, and O.J. Simpson. <br /><br />dbgBlack Doll Enthusiasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07534871309015210903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047557606653771556.post-67294921019594177262014-11-10T16:20:41.742-06:002014-11-10T16:20:41.742-06:00I remember when I started seeing Shindana dolls in...I remember when I started seeing Shindana dolls in the Sears and Montgomery Wards catalogs in the late 60s. (They may have been in only one or the other, but we used to get both catalogs year in, year out, so I tend to blend the offerings into one big cosmic 60s, 70s toy catalog memory.) I also recall the Shindana dolls were clearly identified as being from Shindana, a word that was interesting and odd on the tongue. I remember how different it was to see dolls that were not just white dolls colored brown, but dolls intended to represent actual black people and black characters. (Wasn't Jimmy Walker eventually produced by them?) I liked to draw, and loved to draw people, so I was very interested in good representation of faces. These had real personality, like the best of the Mattel line.Eklectic1https://www.blogger.com/profile/05664037132783743841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047557606653771556.post-53894672421662043052012-09-25T04:54:29.110-05:002012-09-25T04:54:29.110-05:00Hi Larry,
Shindana made several 13-inch dolls. I...Hi Larry,<br /><br />Shindana made several 13-inch dolls. I would have to see a photograph of your doll in order to help you identify it properly. <br /><br />dbgBlack Doll Enthusiasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07534871309015210903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047557606653771556.post-24599004328607535012012-09-24T19:58:28.378-05:002012-09-24T19:58:28.378-05:00I was given a very unique doll today for my daught...I was given a very unique doll today for my daughter to add to her collection. From what I have read she has great historical past and was hoping someone could help with her name and significance. The doll is approximately 13in tall made of vinyl and wearing yellow top with white lace red mushrooms and blue and white flowers. On her neck is stamped. Division. Of operation bootstrap Inc 1968 shindana. Thanks for your help, Larry grayAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14070607135114317551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047557606653771556.post-40828991354106544272012-02-23T13:09:11.452-06:002012-02-23T13:09:11.452-06:00So did your mother name you Shindana?
dbgSo did your mother name you Shindana?<br /><br />dbgBlack Doll Enthusiasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07534871309015210903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047557606653771556.post-12562219495392449302012-02-23T12:44:02.782-06:002012-02-23T12:44:02.782-06:00In 1974 my mother while driving down Central Ave p...In 1974 my mother while driving down Central Ave pregnant stop at the toy company and asked if she could name me after the company. She was told yes and for a couple of years the company would send me doll for christmas. I am currently buying the dolls of Ebay.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047557606653771556.post-15722707343200504282011-12-03T18:36:13.529-06:002011-12-03T18:36:13.529-06:00In looking at the photo of the
Karen Kilburn's...In looking at the photo of the<br />Karen Kilburn's collection of<br />"Shindana" dolls, I would like to<br />know the name of the doll on the<br />top shelve (furthest to the left)<br />inside a yellow box. She appears to be Asian, although she could possibly be Hispanic or a lighter<br />skinned AA doll. Does anyone have any information on this doll, as far as her name & nationality? <br />Does anyone have a closer photo of this doll? Is she a Shindana? While I am quite familiar with Shindana dolls, I have never seen this one. She also appears to have a soft body, vinyl head, arms and legs, and rooted hair. How tall is this doll? Is she from a series of multi ethnic dolls, just as the "Little Friends Collection"?<br />I, for one, collect multi ethnic doll series. Any information would be both interesting and helpful!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6047557606653771556.post-45292275532762853092011-11-05T10:36:28.709-05:002011-11-05T10:36:28.709-05:00I have a Baby Nacy in its original box and it has ...I have a Baby Nacy in its original box and it has never been opened. Please email me at jackstefen3000@yahoo.com if anyone is interested.<br />Thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com