Barbie's boyfriend Ken was introduced in 1961 and, for the first year, had "flocked" hair (fuzzy headed). This hair flocking easily rubbed off so Mattel changed Ken to a molded hair model in 1962. The hair colors available that first year were blonde, brunette, and a rare brownette color. Ken had blue forward-glancing eyes, mauve lips, and brown eyebrows.
He was made of hard plastic with a hollow torso marked: Ken T.M./Pats. Pend./c. MCMLX/by Mattel, Inc. He was dressed in bathing trunks, sandals, and sometimes a red and white beach jacket. The trunks were a solid red knit or red cotton with a white stripe up the sides, solid red cotton. The sandals are cork with a red vinyl strap. Other accessories included a fashion booklet, black wire stand, blue foil wrist tag, and a yellow towel (not found with all Ken dolls).
The box liner is in two pieces and is made of cardboard. The box top graphics consist of drawings of Ken in several of his early outfits including Saturday Date, Campus Hero, Tuxedo, Dreamboat, In Training, Terry Togs, Sleeper Set, and Casuals. There are also three drawings of Barbie doll in Enchanted Evening, Friday Night Date, and a coral swimsuit. Note that the black and white trunks depicted on Ken were never produced. Earlier boxes show the black and white trunks, later boxes depict Ken in red trunks. Boxes may or may not be marked as to hair color.
My flocked hair Ken came with his original store receipt from Grant's department store for $1.88 and was purchased on September 14, 1961. If you'd like to add a flocked hair Ken doll to your collection today it will set you back a bit more at about $20 for a nude Ken to approximately $175 for a boxed Ken with all the accessories.
Kathie, if Kens looked like this when I was a girl, I would have collected them! He's adorable!
ReplyDeleteEspecially at that price. Amazing.
Fascinating article, Kathie. (I love that you even have the original receipt!)
ReplyDeleteQuestion: what does the "brownette" hair color look like, in comparison to "brunette"? I don't think I've ever heard of brownette before.
Hi Jen, I would describe the brownette Ken hair color as a "medium brown". It is pretty rare and very different from the almost-black brunette. If the two are held up side by side it is easy to tell the difference.
ReplyDeleteFYI: The photo shows the stand stored dangerously, particularly for a flocked Ken. The stand should be right side up and facing forward. The base of the stands needs to be resting on top of the lower cardboard liner piece and the "prongs" sandwiched from behind and inside the folded neck section of the upper cardboard liner piece. That way it reduces the chances of the metal rubbing either the clothing or the doll's head, especially when the bagged booklet/accessories rest between the stand and the back of the doll.
ReplyDeleteThis doll was photographed in "as found" condition.
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