Welcome to Advance Dolls
​
This page is an inside look at "Winnie the Walking and Talking Doll" and all her accessories 1953-1956
This is a 1953 Winnie box in it's brown with blue letter attire. This was only available in 1953. Advance went to an all green box in 1954, then in 1956, went to and all white box with black and red letters.
The Phonograph speaker and you can see the drive belt that was powered by the coil spring. Below the speaker is the yellow record. (some were black)
Above is a 1956 Vinyl Head Winnie. This was the last year Winnie's were produced. They still walked and talked, that remained unchanged. The only part that did change was the outer body molds that covered her inner working. Advance started making the halves from a different more flexible plastic, but didn't realize that after a few years, these components would start to warp from heat. one distorted, would not fit together at all. The arms and legs remained the same. The heads in 1956 were made of a vinyl rubber, rather than hard plastic, which caused problems with the head mount warping as well. They were a large doll, 24" and weighed in at a hefty 4 1/2 pounds! She wasn't the most popular doll, but she is still a part of the doll wars history book. Different dresses were available thru Advance Dolls at that time for an extra fee.
This is the internal phonograph inside Winnie. It played special 3 1/2" records (lullaby's, poems and alike) and was supposed to be easily changed out by a small child using a screw driver. The phonograph worked for the long haul. Using a coil spring as the motor, it has lasted a long time, It didn't need batteries to operate.
This is a 1953-1954 Winnie. Notice the slight warping on her left side speaker holes. This wasn't as common as the later versions, but with heat or sunlight, they would warp as well.
The foot plates on every Winnie was virtually unchanged thru out the 3 years she was produced. Very simple rear lock rearward roller system.
A 1956 ad for Winnie Walker (vinyl head) Doll. This was the only year Advance made the Vinyl Head dolls.
1953 Advance Doll and Toy released Mr. Ardolino's patented 4 lb. 24 inch tall Winnie Walking and Talking doll. This doll was also a phonograph type doll designed by Thomas Edison in the late 1800's but instead of a cylinder Ardolino used a 3 1/2" vinyl record with the same mechanism that Tama would have, but also the additional walking mechanisn was added as well, making this doll more finicky than usual. Because she walked Ardolino adapted rollers on her feet that would only roll on her forward step, thus moving forward with every step. There was 4 different records (3 1/4 inch vinyl, yellow or black) available, so the child would have to change out the records thus causing more problems from broken drive belts to cracked body shells, as well as cut fingers from internal steel frame on Winnie. Winnie's voice was recorded by Edie Adams who was a singer and actress in the late 40's and 50's. Pictured Winnie from above, has the 1953 early blue letter box, which went all green in 1954. Dolls came with box, instruction for operation along with alternative dress order forms. The all white box was for their vinyl headed Winnie in 1956. 1954-1955 were green in color. Winnie was made 1953-1956
Above is a 1956 Vinyl Head Winnie
Here is what came with Winnie out of the box. 1953-1956 The 1 record that came with her (3 were available).(Winnie's voice was recorded by Edie Adams who was a singer and actress in the late 40's and 50's.) Instruction sheet, and instruction for operating the phonograph on her side. Later instructions were actually a Wanda instruction sheet retyped to read "Winnie." Unsure why this was done. An order blank for other dresses and vinyl records, and always, the full Advance Doll and Toy Co guarantee.
Nov. 30, 1954 G. ARDOLINO WALKING AND TALKING DOLL MECHANISM Filed Dec. 11, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOgL Anthonq G. Awdolmo ATTORNEYS Nov. 30, 1954 G. ARDOLINO 2,695,472
WALKING AND TALKING DOLL MECHANISM F 'iled Dec. 11, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. w I Anffionq Ardoflino ATTORNEYS Tia- E Nov. 30, 1954 cs. ARDOLINO 2,695,472
WALKING AND TALKING DOLL MECHANISM Filed Dec. 11, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. Anthonq Q.Avclohno United States Patent 6) WALKING AND TALKINGDOLL MECHANISM it Anthony G. Ardolino, ()range,'(loinn. Application December :11 1953,- Serlal No. 397,701
Publication number - US2695472 A
Filing date - Dec 11, 1953
Inventors - Ardolino Anthony G