One of the best known doll makers in the US was the Arranbee Company (also known as R&B). The company brought several high-quality models made of composition, vinyl, rubber, hard plastic, and bisque. It was founded by William Rothstein in 1919 in New York City. In the company’s early years, they imported bisque doll parts, especially doll heads, from German companies such as Simon & Halbig and Armand Marseille. They offered bisque and composition dolls including shoes, wigs, doll body parts, and hospital dolls.
Soon after, around 1925, Arranbee began producing his own toys and even became a supplier to the Vogue Doll Company around 1927. They opened their own factory producing mostly composition dolls in New York. Vogue’s 11-inch Dora doll and the 14-inch or 17-inch Sportswoman doll series were a pair of dolls supplied by Arranbee and repackaged by Vogue. Arranbee also began producing hard plastic dolls in the 1940s and maintained the popularity of vinyl dolls into the 1950s as well.
Arranbee dolls are still known for their high quality materials and clothing. However, a big change occurred in the company when its founder, William Rothstein, died in 1957. The Rothstein family continued operations, but only for a short time. They then sold the company to the Vogue Doll Co., which kept its name until 1961. Most Arranbee models are properly marked and identifiable, making it easy for collectors to identify vintage Arranbee creations.
Some of her doll collections that include the year they were first made are:
1) The baby of my dreams (1924)
2) Little Bottle (1926)
3) Nancy (1931)
4) Debutant (1938)
5) Around the World and Storybook Dolls (1930s)
6) George and Martha Washington (1932)
7) Baby Angel (1940)
8) Nanette (1947)
9) Princess Elizabeth and Baby Charles (1948)
10) Angel Face (1951)
11) Sweet Pea (1955)
12) Miss Coty Girl (1957)
13) April Showers and Lil Cupcake (1957)
14) Little Devil (1960)
These are just a few of the most popular dolls that Arranbee made and released between 1919 and 1961. Collectors wishing to verify authenticity should search among these marks on the doll body: 16, 23ARV, ARRANBEE, Simon & Halbig/Arranbee, AM 341 or 341 K, AM 351 or 351 K, Circle P, 49 R & B, 65 R & B, 210/Pat/Pen, 250 R & B, Made in USA/Pat’s Pend and Nancy. However, there are dolls that were produced that do not have any type of mark. Antique collectors may only need to refer to Arranbee’s list of famous dolls and examine their authenticity based on the description of the dolls.
