Effanbee Dolls

The Effanbee doll company was founded by Bernard Fleischaker and Hugo Baum, taking its name from the first initials of the founders' last names, F&B. The company was founded around 1910 and started producing dolls in 1912. At this time, doll makers had begun using composition to produce their dolls, so Effanbee became a leader in the composition doll market.

The best known Effanbee doll is Patsy, who was also the first realistically-proportioned child doll introduced to the toy market. Introduced in 1928, Patsy stood 14 inches tall and had bobbed molded hair and painted features. She was produced in composition from 1928 to the 1940s. Reproduction Patsy dolls were produced in vinyl beginning in the '80s, and a redesigned Patsy doll was introduced in 2012. Effanbee also produced Patsy companion dolls, including siblings Patsy Ann, Patsyette, Patsy Lou, Patsy Joan, and a brother, Skippy.

Effanbee produced many other dolls in addition to Patsy. One was the first hard rubber drink and wet doll named DyDee Baby. This doll was introduced in 1933. Effanbee also produced dolls in cloth, hard plastic, and vinyl. Most dolls are marked Effanbee or F&B, although some are unmarked. Effanbee has changed ownership several times since its founding and is currently owned by the Tonner Doll Company.

Quick Facts

• Patsy was the first doll to have her own manufactured wardrobe. She also had her own fan club, which is reported to have had 275,000 members
• Effanbee created the first hard plastic Kewpie Dolls in 1949. These were modeled from Kewpie predecessors in bisque, composition, and celluloid
• In 1977, Effanbee offered a line of Disney dolls. Included in the line was Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Prince Charming