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Updated January 2012
Not So RaggedyAcresTM
by Gayle Garbarino
~ Heirloom
Quality Collectible Treasures ~
~ Georgene Novelties Inc. ~
1938 - 1963
~
Designed and Created by Doll Artist -Gayle Garbarino ~
Following the death of Johnny Gruelle,
his widow Myrtle Gruelle authorized
the Georgene Novelties, Inc to begin producing
the Raggedy Ann & Andy dolls in 1938.
Averill Manufacturing Company a New York, USA
doll manufacturer has a long and somewhat confusing history,
mostly due to the various names the company operated under such as:
Paul Averill, Inc.,
Madame Georgene,
and Georgene Novelties,Inc.
It was begun by a husband and wife team of
James "Paul" Averill and wife Georgene Hopf-Averill
with various family members, also being involved.
Georgene or Madame Georgene was the doll designer,
one of their doll trade names was Madame Hendren
which was used in some of the doll markings.
They also collaborated with the Geo Borgfeldt company,
Horsman company and several other doll artists.
They are probably best known for the cloth Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls
designed by Johnny Gruelle.
For More information or the history of :
GEORGENE NOVELTIES, INC.
The Georgene Raggedies were mass-produced in all sizes.
Three different designs of the "I Love You" shape of the heart printed on the bodies.
Tags identifying the dolls as "Georgene" are found sewn into the left side seam.
There appear to be at least four different tags/labels.
Georgene also made several styles of the Beloved Belindy doll
as well as the Camel With Winkled Knees
Georgene Novelties, Inc. were the first to use tin, and then button, eyes.
There were at least 6 different mouth shapes, five different eye designs,
and six different nose designs.
The sweet-faced dolls manufactured by Georgene Novelties
are favorites among Collectors because they
seem to capture the magic of Johnny Gruelle's illustrations.
****
Just Some of the Many
Expressive Faces of
the Georgene Novelties Raggedys
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Black Out-Lined Nose
First came the Black Outlined Nose Raggedy Ann & Andy dolls.
Georgene produced these dolls from 1938 to the early 1940's.
The dolls came in a variety of sizes (19", 23", 31").
Their rather long red noses were out-lined in black and their wigs were made of wool yarn.
Their outfits closed only with a small gold safety pin.
Andys pants and Anns apron had metal buttons .
Both Ann and Andy looked identical, with black shoe-button eyes, and their bodies were stuffed through a seam up the back.
Transition/Un-Lined Nose
Next came the Transition Ann and Andy, which are much harder to find. They were very similar to the earlier dolls except that the noses were no longer outlined.
Andy was given a white collar and buttons were added to his shirt.
Their wigs were now made of cotton rather than wool.
Awake ~ Asleep
From 1940 through 1946, Georgene also introduced
13" Awake Asleep Ann and Andy dolls.
These adorable dolls have an awake face on one side
and the other side is asleep.
Their noses were outlined in black until 1944.
They are considered to be choice pieces by Collectors as well.
War-Time Georgenes
Wartime Ann and Andy dolls were produced from 1943-1946. They were still offered in the same sizes, (19", 23", 31") with no outline on nose.
However, due to wartime fabric shortages, a variety of prints were used, not only for their clothing, but for their legs and feet as well.
Both Ann and Andy had identical faces. Georgene Novelties added 15" dolls in 1946 through 1950, to their current sizes of 19", 23", 31".
The dolls from this period are often referred to as the
  
Post-War ~ Silsby Smiles
Postwar/Silsby Ann and Andy Silsby was printed on some of the dolls tags and their boxes.
("Silsby" was Myrtle Gruelle's, new married name...her 2nd marriage ended in the late1940's and the "Silsby" was eventually removed.)
Ann & Andy dolls had identical faces. The "Silsby" Raggedies are also identified by their very curvacious smile.
Most but not all dolls made during this period had "Silsby" tags.
Fifties
Dolls often called " Fifties " Raggedy Anns Raggedy Andys by Collectors,
were produced from 1950 through the early 1960's.
Georgene Novelties offered an even larger range of sizes during this period......
15", 19", 23", 31", 48", 50"& 52".
Ann and Andy now had metal eyes, except for larger dolls who had plastic eyes.
There was a variety of facial designs, however, Ann & Andy had identical facial designs.
Their wigs were now glued to head rather than being sewn on.
Plain Tag ~ Finale
During the period of 1962-1963 (Final year for Georgenes!)
Georgene Novelties produced 19", 23", 31" Ann and Andy dolls.
These dolls are most often referred to as
"Plain Tag" Raggedy Anns & Andys
and/or sometimes
" Finale " Raggedy Anns & Andys.
Since Georgene's contract was ending, it is thought that the last dolls were given plain tags rather than the previously printed tags.
The tags were stamped with unusual names, which included:
"Wright," "Kirget," "Torcia," "Lapenta", "Tortuga", and "Semone".
Some say that these names may have belonged to employees of Georgene Novelties
that were in charge of finishing off the last of the dolls, once the contract ended.
Facial designs varied on these particular dolls, however, they are easily identifiable as Georgenes by Collectors.
Some of the same dress fabrics used on these finale Georgenes, were also found on several of the early Knickerbocker "Joy of Toy" Anns with New York body tags.
This was prior to Knickerbocker's mass production overseas.
Here are MY OWN reproductions of the Georgenes
Visit my FACES page for a close-up view of all the faces I offer.
~ Black Out-Lined Nose ~
~ Awake / Asleep ~
~ War-Time / Silsbys ~
~ Post-War ~
~ Fifties ~
~ Finales / Plain Tag ~
To learn more about the order in which the Georgene Raggedy dolls were produced.
And all of the other companies who produced them, please visit my page titled:
Doll Chronology
Here are a few of MY OWN re-creations of "Georgene Raggedy Anns & Andys"
To Learn more about ALL of the Raggedy Characters..............Click on their Link in the left-hand column.
Click on each picture to ENLARGE !!
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