Original Item: Only One Available. This is an exceptional example of a homefront WWII era children's novelty toy of a US Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps W.A.A.C. Soldier in uniform. The toy is made of composition material, which was a popular material for toys during that era. However, not many of these dolls survive today due to the fragility of the material, making this a rare and impressive find.

Despite the age of the toy, it is still in good condition, with the paint and uniform showing minimal signs of wear and tear. The stitching is also well-preserved, indicating that the toy was cherished and well-cared for.

This toy is a testament to the ingenuity and creativity of toy makers during WWII, who managed to create interesting and engaging toys despite the limitations of the war effort. It is a valuable addition to any collection of WWII memorabilia or vintage toys.

A composition doll is a doll made partially or wholly out of composition, a composite material composed of sawdust, glue, and other materials such as cornstarch, resin and wood flour. The first composition dolls were made in the 19th century.

Composite dolls were marketed as unbreakable, compared to earlier more fragile dolls. However, over time the composite material deteriorated, leaving many older dolls with small cracks and flaked surfaces. Some dolls were given a protective coating of varnish to delay deterioration.

We suspect that the doll was manufactured by Freundlich Novelty Corp, despite the lack of any markings to support this claim. Our belief is based on a comparison with several other dolls that were produced by the same company and are almost identical to this one. The doll has an overall length of approximately 16 inches.

Ralph Freundlich began his career in the doll business with the Jeanette Doll
Company from 1923-29. He was an officer of the company for at least part of that time. Freundlich also had his firm, the Silver Doll Company, making composition mama dolls, from 1923-24. When he left Jeanette, he started Ralph A. Freundlich, Inc. in New York City.

The company made composition dolls of medium quality, with lots of personality and novelty appeal.

In 1932, Freundlich had trouble with the law after averting a strike at the factory by entering into an agreement with the union, then refusing to comply with terms which his company had agreed. The company moved its manufacturing plant to Clinton, Massachusetts, in 1934, but the New York Supreme Court ruled that Freundlich could not avoid its legal obligations to the union that way.

The company’s promotional material boasted that the Clinton plant was “the largest doll factory in the world.” They employed as many as 600 people at one time and had home workers to sew doll clothing as well.

In the 1940s, the company was known as Freundlich Novelty Corp.

After a fire destroyed the factory in 1945, the company declared bankruptcy and its assets were sold. Ralph A. Freundlich died in June of that year.

A lovely example that comes more than ready for further research and display.