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In 1945 Elliot and Ruth Handler formed a partnership with Harold Matson to manufacture picture frames. The two names Matson and Elliot have been 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 liked to play with adult paper dolls rather than child or toddler dolls. The little girls seemed to like a doll they could look to as a role model for when they have been grown up. Ruth realised that there could be big commercial chances in the adult doll market. She discussed the idea with her husband but he felt that it will be too expensive to begin making the dolls.
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 that them offered for much less at times. Later editions fetch proportionately less. You can generally purchase dolls in the 1969 to 1972 vary 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 have been made and many are undoubtedly still out there undiscovered.
Soon after this Ruth made a trip to Germany and purchased a doll often 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 general and well loved toys ever made.
