My Name is Audrey, I am a Pedigree Pin- Up Doll from the 50s and I have Hard Plastic Disease. For Crazy Tuesday : Made of Plastic
My poor lovely Audrey. Although the disease was first spotted in Pedigree dolls, and was named'Pedigree Doll Disease' it was soon noted that the condition could affect other makes of hard plastic doll and the name was changed to 'hard plastic disease' (HPD).
Although relatively rare, collectors of hard plastic dolls must be aware of the condition and be alert for early symptoms. There are several theories as to the reason the dolls can develop this condition - a reaction of metal to plastic, due to rusting of the metal eye pieces or joining rods, poor storage conditions - a damp loft or warm, moist conditions, high humidity or being stored in a plastic bag.
Symptoms of HPD include indication a smell of vinegar or acetone, small vertical lines around the nose, roughening around the wrists, noticeable loss of colour - especially in a limb, pink or red blotches on the head, small bumps. Eventually the doll will warp, white crusty patches appearing on the surface of the plastic and the the doll will ooze a brown liquid. The plastic is literally dissolving.
The doll must be isolated from other plastic dolls as the disease can spread.
So that is why Audrey stands in a broken mug in the corner, hidden from others by a large dolls house. She holds too many memories for me to part with her - my Dear Grandma bought her for me from a Scouts Jumble Sale in the early 60s - and I played with her for hours as I did all my dolls. Audrey was such a delight - shy but very sensible and everyone loved her. I still love her! I last posted photos of Audrey on Flickr 12 years ago - she had HPD then - so it’s taken some time for her to reach this stage. I think I’ll gently give her a wash and see how much longer she lasts. Unfortunately I am of guilty of keeping her for too long in the attic with extreme changes in temperature. Luckily the disease hasn’t passed to my other hard plastic doll, Sarah Jane.
My Name is Audrey, I am a Pedigree Pin- Up Doll from the 50s and I have Hard Plastic Disease. For Crazy Tuesday : Made of Plastic
My poor lovely Audrey. Although the disease was first spotted in Pedigree dolls, and was named'Pedigree Doll Disease' it was soon noted that the condition could affect other makes of hard plastic doll and the name was changed to 'hard plastic disease' (HPD).
Although relatively rare, collectors of hard plastic dolls must be aware of the condition and be alert for early symptoms. There are several theories as to the reason the dolls can develop this condition - a reaction of metal to plastic, due to rusting of the metal eye pieces or joining rods, poor storage conditions - a damp loft or warm, moist conditions, high humidity or being stored in a plastic bag.
Symptoms of HPD include indication a smell of vinegar or acetone, small vertical lines around the nose, roughening around the wrists, noticeable loss of colour - especially in a limb, pink or red blotches on the head, small bumps. Eventually the doll will warp, white crusty patches appearing on the surface of the plastic and the the doll will ooze a brown liquid. The plastic is literally dissolving.
The doll must be isolated from other plastic dolls as the disease can spread.
So that is why Audrey stands in a broken mug in the corner, hidden from others by a large dolls house. She holds too many memories for me to part with her - my Dear Grandma bought her for me from a Scouts Jumble Sale in the early 60s - and I played with her for hours as I did all my dolls. Audrey was such a delight - shy but very sensible and everyone loved her. I still love her! I last posted photos of Audrey on Flickr 12 years ago - she had HPD then - so it’s taken some time for her to reach this stage. I think I’ll gently give her a wash and see how much longer she lasts. Unfortunately I am of guilty of keeping her for too long in the attic with extreme changes in temperature. Luckily the disease hasn’t passed to my other hard plastic doll, Sarah Jane.