EFFANBEE HONEY TINTAIR DOLL

c. 1949-1951

   The Effanbee Honey Tintair Doll was made by the Effanbee (F&B) doll company from about 1949 to 1951. (I could be off by a year in either direction...I'm writing this from memory.) She was/is all hard plastic and strung. I don't know if she was available as a walker. She came in several sizes: 14, 16, 18 and 20 inches.

   She's basically the same "Honey" doll as any other Effanbee Honey doll, except that she is platinum blond. Effanbee used the same face and body as all of their other Honey dolls.

   My doll is marked on the lower back of her head beneath her wig and on her upper back -"EFFANBEE."

   She was sold in a box with accessories: a plastic beauty salon cape that tied around her neck, two bottles of vegetable-based hair dye which could be used to dye her hair carrot red and dark brunette, and a tag with rubber curlers to curl her hair.

   Her hair was a glued-on wig cap with artificial platinum blond Dynel fibers sewn down onto it. The consistent hair style for her was very curly bangs, parted in on top in the center, brushed down smoothly into a row of curls going from her ears extending around the back of her head. If the hair was brushed out, the strands would be very wavy, almost like crimped hair. The Dynel fibers are very smooth and soft, almost like mohair.

   The hairstyle was finished off with either a glossy satin ribbon tied into a bow on top of or to the side of the head, or with two little bows at the temples above the curls on either side of her face. Too, too cute!

   The Tintair has a beautiful peaches and cream complexion with rounded rosey cheeks and matching blush on the backs of her hands and on her knees, bright red cupid's bow mouth and matching finger- and toenail polish, large (usually) "grey" eyes, light brown one-stroke brows, full upper brush lashes, and lower painted lashes.

   I've seen a few different styles of dresses on this doll. The dresses usually have short puffed gathered sleeves, either a high rounded neckline or square neckline, with a fitted bodice, and a full, gathered above-the-knee skirt (imagine Ideal's Toni doll dresses).  This doll's dress was a peach taffeta party-frock with delicate ribbon trim and attached bloomer underpants, and black velvet ribbon around the waist as well as matching ribbons in her hair. (This dress is the only one of its kind I've ever seen on a Tintair and is not the usual style.) One very common style is white with a square neckline, puffed sleeves, attached underpants, and delicate pastel polkadots embroidered all over it. A pastel pink, yellow, blue or lilac ribbon was tied around the waist with one or two matching ribbons sewn horizontally near the hem of the skirt. She would have a matching satin ribbon in her hair. The dresses came in taffeta and organdy, and may have come in other fabrics as well.

   Her socks would be above-the-ankle and made of rayon, sometimes with a very pale horizontal band of color near the top that matches a color in her dress. Her shoes are commonly black mary janes (oil-cloth?) with a satin bow on the toe, as well as being cream or pale pink. They may have come in other colors as well.

   A mint-in-the-box Tintair doll with all of the accessories runs around $750, depending upon size. I've seen auction photos for a 20-inch doll, mint-in-the-box, for about that. Price always depends upon the condition of the doll, if there is a box and the condition it's in, as well as if all accompanying accessories are present. I watch for the Tintair dolls on Ebay and have purchased Tintairs in very used condition for around $50. I've had to clean them up, wash their clothing, and restyle their hair, but when all is said and done, $50 for one of these gorgeous dolls is a great find!

   If you want a Tintair, just keep an eye on the Effanbee Honey Doll category here on Ebay. In the search box, type in Effanbee Honey Doll. Don't type in Tintair. Most people don't know what a Tintair is. They may know what a "Honey" is, so will put that into the title. Or, type in Vintage Effanbee Hard Plastic Doll.

    I guarantee you'll see at least one every two to three weeks, usually in the 14" size. You may see a 16 or 18-inch, and very very rarely the 20-inch version. The platinum hair is the give-away. Her hair may also be carrot red or dark brunette if the dye is still in her hair, but you'll know she's a Tintair by the dress she's wearing and the typical Tintair hairstyle.

   Her hair may be quite gray and frizzled from all of the home dye jobs, constant washing and brushing. Her hair can be washed out and reset, although not to 100% of it's former glory. The Dynel fiber relaxes over time.

   Don't expect to see one in mint condition, in the box, with all accessories more than once in a very blue moon! I know, I've watched that category like a hawk for about four years, and haven't seen more than a couple.

   (All of the information I have written here is based upon my own research using reputable doll books, internet sites, and photos I have seen and those I have taken of my own dolls, as well as closely observing Ebay doll listings. This information is not conclusive or to be taken as expert knowledge, but simply to share what I have learned with others, so they don't have to put in the large amount of time and effort I did to learn about this beautiful doll. The photos of this doll were taken before I sold her. She now resides with another doll collector. :)