Urinating after fluid is bottle fed to a open mouth, Betsy will also coo when her tummy is pushed. By the 1940's Betsy Wetsy began being produced in several sizes, she could be purchased in her layette, with her bottle, and tub.
Not only known for wetting, Betsy was made with separated toes, she also wore a baby bracelet with her name spelled out in beads. A spike in popularity by the 50's made Betsy and common sight in American homes. She was made with molded hair, saran hair (as in the example shown first), and caracul hair like mine which is pictured last. Caracul hair is yarn-like plugs, it came in brown, blond or red. Betsy was one of the first dolls to be issued in a African American version and was recently named in "The doll of the century", a prominent listing that includes the names of 100 playthings.
Ideal reissued Betsy Wetsy in the 80's with it being marked "made in China" but she never caught on.
One interesting note about Betsy.....prior the her existence, Effanbee (another large company) had already produced a drink and wet doll called "Dy-dee", Besty Wetsy was a remarkable look-a-like. Effanbee sued Ideal for patent infringement, the judge ruled wetting was natural and could not be patented.
6 comments:
Ha! Cannot patent wetting? Good call on the judge.
really, what were they thinking?
She is so cute. What is it about dolls that you almost melt when looking at them? I think a lot of the dolls of today are ugly and just think, in another 50 years some ole lady will melt when looking at photos of them. Funny.
I had no idea that Betsy was that old!
Yeah Jean, I think those Bratz dolls are the ugliest things on earth to be called a doll. I would rather look at a troll doll then those things....
Hahah, how awesome! She is so adorable. I always wanted a Betsy Wetsy as a kid!
I had one as a child. I loved it till I found out that you can't give a doll real juice.
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