The Web's Number One Doll and Dollhouse Resource

If you’ve recently recovered your childhood dolls from storage, you might be dismayed by how ratty and played-with they look. You probably remember them as being beautiful and brand-new. However, as tempting as it is to have a doll hospital restore them to like-new condition, hold that thought – your doll may be worth more in original condition, even if it’s played with.

Determining Your Doll’s Condition

The first step to deciding whether to restore your vintage doll is determining her condition. The only time I would ever consider restoring a doll is when she is in poor condition. Most of the time, a doll in flawed original condition is worth more than a doll that has been newly restored -- especially from a collector’s viewpoint.

If your doll has these flaws, you should consider having her restored:

• Cut or missing hair
• Severely scratched or missing paint
• Eyes that have fallen out of their sockets
• Missing or broken body parts
• Ripped or moth-eaten clothing
• Mold or mildew

Basically, only if the damage is severe and/or extensive should you consider having the doll restored. And even if you do have her restored, only do as much restoration as needed to fix the flaws. For instance, if all your doll needs is a new wig, don’t have her repainted too!

Leaving Well Enough Alone

There are many cases where a doll isn’t badly damaged enough to justify restoring her. Remember, leaving her in original condition is almost always preferable to having her "redone."

• Hair that has lost its curl somewhat
• Minor rubs scratches in the paint
• Faded face paint and cheek blush
• Sleep eyes that stick
• A walking mechanism that only works sporadically
• Clothing that just needs "freshening up"

Fixing these problems would require further compromising the doll’s originality. Remember, only have something repaired if it is damaged so badly that the original condition is already beyond salvage!

The Difference Between Doll Repair and Restoration

Some doll repairs are so minor that they will not affect the doll’s value. These repairs can be made as they are needed, without significantly harming the doll’s original condition.

• Restringing a doll when the original rubber band is loose or broken
• Cleaning surface dirt from the doll with a gentle doll cleaner (harsh cleaners will remove the paint)
• Combing and restyling the hair when it has completely lost the original set and/or has gotten badly tangled
• Gently soaking the original clothes in cold water and Biz when they are badly soiled
• Replacing missing accessories with appropriate vintage or original replacements

The most important thing when you are repairing or restoring a vintage doll is to use your common sense. If you have any hesitations or think that the doll may be better left the way it is, you’re probably right. Remember, a doll in original condition is always preferable to one that has been restored!

Dollhouse components can be defined as the building structures like the body, doors, windows, trimmings moldings and siding. Almost all the dollhouse components are made of basswood.

First of all you should consider the materials used in the basic body structure of the dollhouse components. The basic dollhouse component is the shell and the most common materials used to make it are plywood, gatorboard and plywood.

Luan plywood is and inexpensive and inferior quality plywood that is more likely to chip and also warp because of its thickness of 1/8.”It is also available in the ¼” thickness but is most commonly used in the 1/8” thickness.

The second type of plywood used in the shell of the dollhouse components is the birch plywood. It is a fine quality and expensive plywood that is mostly used in making cabinets is why it’s called “cabinet plywood”while making the doll house components. It is available in 3/8” and ¼” thickness.

People prefer MDF or medium density fiberboard as material for the shell of the doll house components, as it is of a higher quality with the same price.it also gives a better finish over the other materials.

Gatorboard is the latest material used in the basic body of the doll house components. it ‘s strength and ability to keep away moisture lies in the fact that it’s sides have a harder coating than foam core although it is like it.

Doll house components such as the doors, windows and trimmings are composed of luan plywood and MDF. other materials used for doll house components are basswood, resin and jelutong.

Basswood is a soft wood that is used to make doll house components such as miniatures.

For doll house components such as trims, carved doors and windows, resin is used. It can be painted to make it look like wood.

Jelutong is also used in doll house components. It is harder than basswood.