Of all the dolls in my collection, this doll is the one who has been with me the longest in life. I received her at the age of four after I had accidentally broken my brunette 1970 talking Barbie when I was three.
Name: Barbie (Twist waist, a.k.a Twist N Turn or TNT)
Year: 1971
Manufacturer: Mattel
Accessories: bathing suit, clear plastic "T" stand which doubled as a stool to sit on
Information and description: The Mattel Barbie line called "Twist N Turn" to collectors, was a basic level doll who came only with a stand and bathingsuit. Nothing deluxe, but these dolls were among the most gorgeous ever made in the Barbie line. They were elegant MOD era gems.
The twist waist Barbies were introduced in 1967 (patented in 1966). For this reason, dolls available in stores from 1967 - the late 1990's have a 1966 patent date on their backsides. Many people unwittingly list dolls from the 1990's as being vintage because of this, although there are some people who KNOW the dolls they hold are "dime a dozen" blonde junkers from recent history, but pretend not to know and will list them under "vintage", (stating the 1966 date) hoping somebody will click on their auction and maybe want them.
The first twist Barbies had very straight hair with bangs, but in 1969 they showed up with the fabulous Flip hair style. Barbara Eden fans will recall the many incredible wigs and falls she wore on I Dream of Jeannie in the 1968, 1969 and 1970 seasons of the show. Each season, Jeannie's flip seemed a big longer and the same seems true with Barbie! The first Flip TNT had a much shorter length than the 1970 doll and the 1971 had the longest and fullest of all (see picture below). Sadly, my childhood doll was VERY well loved and is suffering from severe hair loss. I felt that like the "Velveteen Rabbit", she earned her scars and flaws from being so played with and so well loved. I decided not to reroot her or do anything drastic to change her appearance.
The 1971 dolls had straight glancing eyes. This might not seem like a big deal, but prior to that, it was considered a sort of taboo to have a doll with straight glance eyes. Dolls either looked off to the side or they sort of stared off into space looking forward but not really at you. These dolls look right at you. Note also that the 1971 dolls tend to have "waxy face". As they age, they're faces become very shiny and translucent and discolored. This doll was in the sun and sat in my room as a child with sun coming in. I'm sure that contributed. Once I was 18 and on my own, I was able to embrace my nocturnal tendencies and I've always blocked the sun from where ever I lived. This doll has been in the dark since then.
This doll's story: I received my first Barbie when I was 3 years old. I will cover that story on the page I make for the 1970 brunette Talking Barbie. Suffice it to say that those dolls were made very flimsy and when Barbie ask me about going dancing, I made her dance. My mother (adoptive), said "We don't keep broken toys" and my beloved Talking Barbie went to the dump (a trauma I'm still not over!). the following year, around my birthday or so, a very nice neighbor down the block named Maureen, (may she rest in peace), gave me the 1971 Twist N Turn you see in the pictures. So while she wasn't my first doll, she is the one who has been with me the longest in life.
Since she was the oldest, after I'd gotten a few more dolls over the next few years, I decided that this doll would be the queen of all the Barbies. To this day, everyone who knows us refers to her as my Queen. My hope is that my daughter will keep this doll always and pass it on to her children (or eventually, a doll museum if she doesn't have any children).
Below my 1971 TNT is modeling Swirly Q one of my favorite MOD era outfits. I added those boots because when I was little, I chewed off her toes! Luckily, she was the only doll I did that too before I figured out not to do that. Sadly, she can't easily wear shoes.
The worn make-up and thin, badly cut hair - proof that my doll is a Well Loved Doll! Still, she is pretty and display worthy.
Notice below how the 1969 flip is shorter in length. It doesn't touch the shoulder.
Below, see how the Flip got longer. It about touches the shoulders.
Below, a stunning example of a 1971 Twist N Turn. She is not one of my childhood dolls, but I've had her in my collection for over 10 years. My brunette would have looked like this when she was new and the bathingsuit the doll is wearing is my childhood doll's suit. Notice that by 1971, the flip is long, full and luscious! I think the straight glance also enhances this doll's look. People sometimes refer to them as "Marlo Thomas" hair dolls, but frankly, the little "flip up" worn by Ann on "That Girl" wasn't anywhere near this much of a flip. I compare this to the falls and wigs worn by Barbara Eden on the last season of Jeannie.
Click here for more TNT flip pics!