(click on the above picture to go to The Doll Hospital's Official Web Site)
Hi, and we live in Cairns, way up in North
Queensland
Sharon has two dolls "from her childhood" and she would
like to have these restored back to their original condition
One of these is a Pedigree doll (well, we are fairly sure it is!!)
and the other is by an unknown maker
What is the best way to go about having a quote done for the repairs??
If necessary, we would be prepared to send them down along with
notes from Sharon on what she would like done to each of them
Thanks, and I will wait for your reply
Geoff
Good Morning and thank you for your email
Yes, you are more than welcome to send the dolls down to us
Just include your telephone number, name and address and when
we recieve her we shall phone you with a quote
Repairs can take anything from one week through to three or four
depending on the extent of the restoration
In some cases even up to eight weeks
All payments can be made over the phone with a credit card, cheque
or money order through the post
Thanking you
Hi, and the dolls are on the way to you - posted
today
Yes, there are two coming down!!
I sent them registered post, and the cost was just under $15.00
As well as the parcel, I also posted a letter to you at the same
time and this includes an Australia Post Money Order for $15.00
to cover the return postage
Sharon has had these two dolls for between fourty and fourty-five
years
She has looked very carefully at each one, and her comments are
below
Now, we have absolutley no idea how much "Doll Hospitals"
cost, but we can appreciate the time and expertise required for
this type of work
We may not be able to have everything completed at once
After the dolls arrive and you have looked at them along with
Sharon's notes below, can you send us a "point-by-point"
quote for each section and, if we cannot get it all done at once,
we will then decide what to get completed during this first visit
I hope I have set out everything clearly for you, but naturally
contact us if you need any further info or if you have some better
suggestions
We will rely on your expertise
And if we think of anything more concerning Beverly and Goldilocks,
we will send you a note
Regards, Geoff
The Large One - "Beverly"
The Manufacturer
Is this a Pedigree doll??
We have looked at dozens on the internet, and Beverly looks to
be the same
Some of the dolls have Pedigree on them, some have Made in England,
while others have nothing at all
This one has Made in England on her back and again on her neck
We cannot check her head as the hair has been glued on!!! - and
there is more about that below
The 'Mama-Box'
Not working at all and a new one/repaired is required
Her Hair
When they were just little kids, Sharon and her sister gave Beverly
a hair cut!!! - and from what I understand, it was "fairly
brutal"!!
Sharon's Father glued on this replacement hair
Could a new wig of similar style and colour be quoted for??
The Walking Mechanism
She seems to walk okay, but the "bolts" joining her
legs to the body are sticking out on the sides
Her Eyes
Are two new eyes required, or do you feel that just new eyelashes
are required??
Her Face
There are hairline cracks around her eyes and nose, and Sharon
would like these repaired
General
An all-over clean
The Small One - "Goldilocks"
The Manufacturer
We have examined every inch of her, but cannot find any makers
marks or name
Can you tell us "who-and-where" she was made??
Her Eyes
Do not close properly all the time - seem to 'stick'
Can these be repaired??
Her Hair
I have already mentioned the other doll's hair above
And just a note here - Sharon's first job after leaving school
was as a ladies hairdresser!!
Seems like she did some early practise on her dolls!!
Goldilocks hair is a bit of a mess
Can new threads of hair be added, or should it be completely redone
in a similar colour and texture??
Her Face
Sharon would like her lips repainted
General
Goldilocks was played with a lot, and has discolouration on her
skin and in particular her hands and arms
Can this be removed??
"Goldilocks"
Manufacturer
Though it has no markings, Geoff is 95% sure it is a Pedigree
Doll - this style was released after the Pedigree dolls like Beverly
Quotation
$22.50 - all over general clean
$35.00 - new eyes
$35.00 - all facial features - see below
$40.00 - new wig
Total - $132.50
Would not repair the existing hair - is unable to work on it due
to the age of the doll
Would only shampoo/clean, etc
New wig suggestion - "Molly"
The existing hair would be cut off and the new wig glued on
Style and colour need to be selected by Sharon
"Beverly"
Manufacturer
It is a Pedigree Doll
Quotation
$22.50 - all over general clean
$40.00 - new 'mama' box
$27.50 - eye lashes
$36.00 - all facial features - see below
$50.00 - new wig
$27.50 - replace bonded elastic between arms - is now rubber band
$35.00 - repair and adjust neck for walking mechanism
Total - $238.50
New wig suggestion - short - straight - "Michelle"
New wig suggestion - long - straight - "Amy"
New wig suggestion - short - curly - "Molly"
New wig suggestion - long - curly - "Julie"
Wig would be removable
Style and colour need to be selected by Sharon
Work orders
50216 and 50217
Michelle
Amy
Molly
Julie
After Sharon had "studied" all
of the above information she had a few comments and questions
#01 - "I have decided I don't want a new wig on Goldilocks
as she then wouldn't be 'my doll' that I played with - can the
hair just be cleaned up but no styling"
Answer - "We can't do too much to the hair due
to the age of the doll - it will be left as is"
#02 - "What does "all facial features" cover in
the above quotes?"
Answer - "Cheeks, lips and eyebrows"
#03 - "I don't want too much blush applied to the dolls -
I have seen some pictures on the internet and they have been overdone
and look awful"
Answer - "We try to make the dolls look as when
they were first produced and new"
#04 - "What about the hairline cracks near Beverly's eyes
and nose?"
Answer - "Major splits and cracks on the seams
of these dolls can be repaired, but due to the nature of the material
they are made from, nothing can be done about the fine hairline
cracks that these dolls are susceptible to"
#05 - "For Beverly, I would like the "Molly" wig
in Blonde
Answer - "Okay"
#06 - "How long will the repairs take?"
Answer - "About two weeks"
Beverly - $238.50
- as per the quote
Goldilocks - $92.50 - which is the quoted price less the
cost of the wig
Total - $331.00
Paid by Mastercard on Tuesday 10th October 2006 - via phone
|
22" (56cm) English "Pedigree"
Walker Doll With mama-voice Made in England between 1945 and 1955 Dressed in an aqua dress with matching bonnet and pants (this wig and dress can be changed to any other colour) Restored Price - $340.91 This product was added to our catalog on Wednesday 24th March 2004 |