Monday, February 19, 2007

Memories of a Constance Bannister Doll

year_born: 1947

memory: I was five years old. My father came home from work with a big, heavy box-for me! It opened in three pieces on the livingroom floor. My eyes widened in amazement-it was a beautiful baby doll-I had never seen one like her before. She was made of heavy rubber-with features so sweet and pure-hands just like a baby's-little tiny fingers and littler toes! I bit of hair-all rubber- sat atop her little head. I remember seeing babies faces all over the open box. My mother told me that a lady photographer took pictures of real live babies and then had dolls fashioned from these pictures-how babies smile, move, etc. I was so thrilled and excited to own this, what I later came to be none as, my CONSTANCE BANNISTER DOLL. Her name became Candy--all those years ago.

Candy is still with me-and my grand-daughter loves her, too. My hope is that Candy will be passed on down the line from generation to generation along with that person's own story about my Candy Girl-as I call her. She is a bit the worse for the wear and tear of all these years-I want to have her fingers repaired-if someone knows of a place catering to doll repairs in the Brooklyn NY area? I would be very grateful.

The only regret I have about Candy is that I did not keep the original box she came in! How wonderful that would have been. Yet, the memory of that night over fifty two years ago is as clear as if it happened last night. I would not trade Candy for all the sweets in the world! One last thought-she still cries when you squeeze her little tummy-real hard, now-after all-she isn't that young anymore.....

location: City
state_lived_in: NEW YORK

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

thanks for sharing your memories. while dressing my old doll, my 8 year old daughter asked me where "peggy" came from. so i googled 1950s doll images and found her - she's a constance bannister doll! i inherited "peggy" from my older cousins in the 1960s. she is the only toy/doll i have from my childhood and i'm glad that she is still with us.

Unknown said...

I too was born in 1947, but in Memphis, TN and the doll I played with most was one I called "Cathy." She is a Constance Bannister Sun Rubber doll as well. I retired 1 1/2 years ago due to a disability and have started sewing doll clothes. Right now I have two grandsons, but I'm holding out for grandaughters to share my dolls and dollclothes. Thanks for taking us down memory lane!

Anonymous said...

When I was 5 or 6 years old, my mother gave me a Bannister baby doll complete with a wardrobe of clothes which she had made on her old Singer. I am 63 now; my mother passed away 4 years ago at age 87. I still have the doll and all the clothes. She is one of my prized possessions.

Anonymous said...

I was born in 1951 and received a Bannister Baby for Christmas in the mid 1950's! I named my baby Trudy. I remember spending hours playing with her and giving her real water to drink from her bottle. (Unfortunately, I had to lay her on towels next to my bed for several days while she leaked from her joints!) I don't know if my mother gave her away when she moved, but I assume that is what happened as I was over 16 years old. In 2003, the last two members of my immediate family passed away eight weeks apart. I had no one left who shared my childhood. I looked online and searched for a Bannister Baby similar to Trudy and I found one! She now has a place of honor in my family room and brings my brother, mother, and father back to life for me when I look at her.

AG said...

I was born in 1953 and one of my earliest toy memories is of my baby doll, Connie. I now know her as a 1954 Constance Bannister baby! Reading about your Cathy, Trudy, other beloved names for these dolls really warms my heart. My Connie's eyes have become blurry-probably rust, as they are made of metal- but she is clean, dressed and happily living on my dresser. I love her as you all do your babies!